This course is designed to inform new users how computers work, upgrade existing users knowledge of computers and fill in any gaps advanced users may have. This course is beneficial for all levels of computer users no matter how well they think they know how to use them.
Man has created computers in his own image (figuratively more than physically). Computers are basically based off of the human nervous system, the brain, and a few senses and functions. A computer has a kind of brain, it can process information and has memory. Computers can hear, speak, and communicate through a number of methods. In many ways computers are just like us. Some important distinctions include the fact that computers cannot make a decision without a humans assistance, whether that be a programmer or a user, computers are not active thinkers, they are reactive devices.
When I was a child computers were glorified calculators and typewriters. I knew as a child that they had finite abilities including calculating, responding to input, generating random numbers, and most importantly to automate redundant tasks. Since the dawn of the internet computers now fulfill another role, that of communication, the art of sharing information.
Still after all these upgrades and magnificent improvements of technology computers are still useless without an operator. I like to stress that computers need us for them to be complete. They are stupid. They are also frustrating no matter how good you are with them. With knowledge, the more you know, the more questions you have. With computers the more you know, the more trouble you can get into...
This sounds daunting, so I'll start out with this. If to err is human, then computers are broken before you ever turn one on. Computers are made by humans and are imperfect. If a computer makes you frustrated rely on the fact that it's not good enough for you, and not the other way around.
Files are stored on Hard Drives and Removable drives CD's, DVD's, and USB devices.
Bits and Bytes. Ones and Zeros. What does all this mean when it comes to the average user.
1 bit is 2^1 (two to the power of one). It has two options, on or off, 1 or Zero.
Although the actual system is different using multiples of 1000 is accurate enough for humans.
Today's devices have tonnes of storage
Most common files found on computers are less than 1 MB in size. Larger video data can take up over a gigabyte, but most files are 50 megabytes and standard office documents like emails and word files only occupy around 100 kilobytes.
The keyboard came first. It's faster and more reliable than the mouse. The mouse allows for the ease of point and click and dragging and dropping, but it is cumbersome compared to the agility of our hands, and often barbaric as artistic tool.
The basis of all shortcuts is getting the job done faster. Two of the best ways to improve efficiency are learning how to navigate and select on a computer. Both of these tasks can be made easier using shortcut keys. Little memorization is needed to perform these tasks, it boils down to this simple theorem:
Modifier keys include the ALT, CTRL, and SHIFT keys most commonly, but also could include the Function key on a Laptop as well as the START key on Microsoft compatible keyboards (found between CTRL & Alt).
I generally don't preach the CTRL shortcuts except one. The one shortcut everyone should know is
Undo will remove the last action from a document as if it were never there. Many programs have multiple undo and can remove any changes made up to and sometimes over 20 actions back. A memory tip I promote is "Z is the last letter in the alphabet, and it's the last thing you did". Holding down CTRL and tapping the Z key will undo the last thing you did.
Actions vs. Options
The two mouse buttons can be spilt into two commands. The left click (to be pressed by the index finger) will command the mouse to do something (like select an item or active a button). The right mouse button (to be pressed by the middle finger) will show you some options. A context sensitive menu, a list of things you could do based on what you right click on.
It's important that the computer and you are focused on the same thing. Selecting is an important part of this. Knowing how to select using the mouse or the arrow keys with the Shift key, and sometimes the Ctrl key are important tools to eliminate frustration and accelerate workflow.
The cursor is the most communicative aspect of Operating Systems. By changing it's shape it can indicate many things. Some of a cursors indicators are very subtle. If using a computer was baseball, and we should keep our eye on the ball, the cursor is the ball. Keep an eye on it and notice the various shapes it assumes.
Use the CTRL key to increase navigational key distances. Use SHIFT to select ranges of files or folders, use CTRL to select or deselect individual files or folders.
Using Internet Explorer one can travel around the world wide web learning all sorts of things as well as being offered products from all sorts of companies as well.
Files and folders are labelled with Icons and Names. When operating within files it is more reliant to click or double click on an icon rather than the name. Filenames can be changed by clicking twice on the letters within it. Clicking a files icon will always select or activate it and never try to rename it.
Computer hard drives and devices are full of files and folders. Files are data containers or programs to run software on a computer. Folders store files in them.
All files and folders have properties. Names, time of creation, last modification, icons, locations and more are contained in both file and folder properties. By right clicking any file or folder the option to view it's properties should be the last available item in the context sensitive menu.
All files to operate windows are contained within the Local Drive (usually C:) on a computer. The C: drive contains all the files needed to operate Windows and other programs within it. Windows explorer allows one to view the contents of a storage device like a hard drive or removable disk.
Bread crumb in toolbar.
Common files types include jpg, txt, doc, exe, psd, pdf, gif, rtf. It's not necessary to know the definition of each acronym but it can be helpful to either know the use of the file type or a place to find out.
Computers can be connected together and files transfered between them. The world wide web is a giant network connecting the world's computers together. Offices often has smaller internal networks called intranets that are private from the general public.
Data can be moved by Cutting and Pasting in a new location. Data can be duplicated by copying and pasting.
Often data can be moved by clicking and dragging the mouse. Holding the CTRL key down while clicking and dragging will produce a copy in many programs. Right clicking and dragging is also a known technique in some programs as well.
Automation of Redundant Tasks. Why look when your computer can. The find and replace system in most programs is extremely powerful and should never be overlooked. This kind of work is exactly what we invented computers for.
Where to begin. The start menu offers ways to access programs, the shutdown process, the control panel, the search features, recently used documents and more.
Like adjusting the seat, temperature, radio station and paint job of a car and even modifying the engine.