TaosNet Computer Basics

Transcription

1 TaosNet Computer Basics Copyright 2012 TaosNet LLC - All Rights Reserved Worldwide Week One Hardware vs. Software; Operating System (and Rule Number Three). Hour One Hardware vs. Software. Parts of computer. OS vs. Software vs. Data Introduction Hardware vs. Firmware vs. Software The Computer Ports and Busses Peripherals Keyboard Keys Operating System vs. Programs The Desktop Intro to Menus and Window Controls Exercise: Assemble machine for use.

2 Welcome to Driver's Ed The purpose of this document is to introduce you to computers in a comprehensive, concise way. Your goal should be to understand the information in this handout, which is designed to accompany an eight hour basics class. Even if you are not shown the information that follows, it is complete and if you read it a number of times the important vocabulary, noted in bold type, will become familiar to you in the proper context. This is not a class for Windows, nor for the Macintosh. Rather, this class outlines COMPUTER fundamentals. These fundamentals are the same between computers like controls are the same between cars. Another car may not have the same look and feel, but you still expect to find the steering wheel and turn signal in a logical place. This guide is intended to cover what is the same between computers, and since they change constantly anyway, to prepare you for the differences you'll see now and in the future. Currently this manual is not illustrated. If you use it with your computer in front of you, and with the information you already know, you will be able to compare it with the real example of your own computer and work. Once you attend our class, this handout will serve as reference. In the mean time, it is designed to be complete self-help. If you learn the information and vocabulary in this tiny basics course, you will be further along than MOST other users. Have fun and keep learning! Computer Basics Hardware - The Physical Parts of the Computer - Hardware Hardware vs. Firmware vs. Software, The Computer, Ports, Busses, Peripherals

3 Hardware vs. Firmware vs. Software Hardware is the physical part of the computer that has mass and takes up space on your desk or floor. It generally consists of the computer and its peripherals. Firmware is software that tells the hardware how to operate in the most primitive basic way. It resides in a programmable chip inside the computer as opposed to being in more volatile memory or non-permanent file storage. Software is the programming instructions that allow the computer to perform its various functions. The core software is the operating system and its drivers that allow the hardware to work with other programs or applications. These programs in turn give a computer the ability to help you perform specific tasks. The Computer The CPU or Central Processing Unit is the chip that manipulates the data - your files - and manages the software and hardware dealings with each other. This often refers to the tower or box that holds the circuitry as well. The Hard Disk is the semi-permanent filing cabinet that stores the operating system, the drivers for your hardware, and all your files. Having more hard disk space means that you can keep more of your work available for ready access at any given time. The Memory is the volatile space the computer uses for short-term manipulation of your files; generally more memory will improve performance with all else being equal. Having more memory means that you can run more programs or have more files open at once. The Monitor is the screen that allows you to see your work and interact with the computer. Computers have special hardware that drives the monitor; these are generally called Video Cards and these also generally have their own memory. A better video card with more memory means that you can display video bigger or faster for use on a larger monitor or for gaming applications where speed is helpful. The Power Supply is usually a line lump (as opposed to a wall wart) for most laptop and other portable computers. The power cord on a desktop leads to a heavy duty power supply inside the desktop computer's case. Either of these drop the house A/C (Alternating Current) to lower level D/C (Direct Current) voltages that the CPU and other parts of the computer need. That's why the laptop power supplies are also called A/C adaptors. Ports and Busses A Port is a way to get information into or out of the computer. Usually a port will have a certain type of connector socket designed to prevent inserting the wrong type. Common examples would be keyboard, mouse, video (for TV or multiple monitors), game control (or other specialized input devices), printer, modem, audio or power ports. A Bus is a way to get information around within the computer; these will often have an 'opening' or port to the outside as well. Common examples would be USB and USB2 (Universal Serial Bus), SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface - pronounced

4 "scuzzy"), the old ADB (Apple Desktop Bus), and others. A Slot is another kind of Port; these are generally differentiated by their shape. Slots are used for camera Memory Cards and sometimes CD/DVD players. Some slots are internal such as those for memory and video cards. Peripherals Peripherals are additional pieces of hardware that live at the edges or periphery of the system to give it special functions. Even though the keyboard, monitor and mouse are considered - and may even physically be - part of the computer itself, these are actually peripherals. Other common peripherals include printers, scanners, sound systems and music players, external disk drives and thumb drives, cameras, and so on. The Keyboard, Mouse and Other Input Devices The Keyboard is how you type commands or data into the computer. Back in the old days, we didn't have a Mouse or Trackpad and had to use Keyboard Commands or typed instructions to the computer. This method is generally not as necessary nowadays, but gives gurus more direct and specific control over certain parts of the operating system and files. The keys you are likely to find on most computer keyboards include: Modifier Keys, used in concert with or immediately before another key or mouse click, change that action's behavior: Shift (Modifier) Key - Hold to get capital letters or the symbols above the numbers. Hold down while clicking to select more than one object in the Macintosh Finder. Click on the first and shift-click on the second item in a list to select contiguous items (everything in between). Option or Alt (Modifier) Key - Use like a Shift key to get other letter combinations like accented characters on a Macintosh. On Windows machines, press in a word processor before typing the four digit code combination to get alternate and accented characters. Windows or Apple Command (Modifier) Key - Invokes the Start menu on Windows. Used as a modifier key on Macintosh computers (as opposed to the Control key on a PC) to type common menu shortcut commands like Save, Close, Select All, Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, Print, Open and Get Info. Command-click on a Mac to open mini dock items in a new window. Control (Modifier) Key - Use in the Windows Explorer to select multiple items. On a Mac, use to invoke contextual menus like right-clicking does in Windows. Used in Windows to invoke menu shortcuts. Caps Lock and Num Lock Keys - Caps Lock allows you to SHOUT without holding down the Shift key. Look for this key to be on if your password suddenly doesn t work anymore. The Num Lock key will change the far right number pad back and forth between numbers and cursor control. This key may be on if suddenly your notebook computer types the wrong keys.

5 Other Keys Escape Key - Press to cancel or interrupt actions that can be canceled or interrupted. Space Bar - Press to safely wake up a sleeping machine. PRESS ONLY ONCE at the end of a sentence in a word processor (TYPEWRITERS take two). Function Keys - These will have different functions(!) in different programs - sometimes you can program them to do what you want, as on recent Macintosh computers or if you have software that allows you to create Scripts (which themselves are really tiny programs!). Tab Key - The Tab key is the easiest way to move around the screen - if there is more than one thing to be selected, like icons or text boxes in a database or web page, the Tab key will move sequentially through the items selecting each in succession. It can also be used for text formatting chores in a word processor where tabs are also used as on a typewriter. Control-tab in Windows or Command-tab on Macs to switch between open programs. Arrow Keys - Allow you to move around on the screen in a word processor. These keys will also be used often in multimedia programs like Adobe PDF Reader, Presentation software or anywhere else a back-and-forth navigation system is used (next photo, previous photo etc.). Other Special Keys - On larger desktop keyboards there is often a navigation section of the keyboard with special keys for Page Up and Page Down, Forward Delete (as opposed to Backspace or normal Delete), and Home and End keys for moving around quickly in software designed to take advantage of these keys. Here s where you ll find the Help key too, if the programmers were considerate enough to implement it! All Those Letters! - The standard keyboard layout, called QWERTY after the left hand letters in the top row, was designed on purpose NOT to be efficient - original typewriters could not keep up with the speeds early typists were able to achieve. If you wish, computers can be set to different layouts. The most popular alternate layout besides those for other languages is the Dvorak keyboard layout, named for its inventor. Typists skilled at using the Dvorak layout can type faster than those using any other layout. Number Pad - Arranged more like an adding machine than a telephone keypad, this is usually the fastest way to type in numbers. The Num Lock key will switch this back and forth between numbers and cursor control on desktop keyboards; on a laptop often some of the letter keys do double duty to get this function - look at the legend at the top of each key! Some keyboards will have additional buttons for other features like multimedia program control and easy web access. These keyboards will come with their own software and instructions regarding their special features. The Mouse or Trackpad is how the pointer is moved across the screen, and with its 1 to 3 Button(s) most commands are given to the computer. Some computers will also have Trackball controllers or a Joystick.

6 Operating System vs. Programs Software - The Virtual Parts of the Computer - Software Operating System vs. Programs, Installing, Updates and Perpetual Change When you first turn on the computer, you are presented after a couple minutes with the Desktop. This metaphor is used thoughout computing to refer to the space that you see that has icons, folders, menu bar(s), and dialog boxes that allow you to interact with the computer. The Operating System is the software that loads when you start up, or boot, a computer that gives you this Graphic User Interface or GUI, pronounced "gooey." Programs or Applications are the other pieces of software represented by icons on the screen that allow you to do things to and with your files. The Operating System that came with your computer may not be the only option to run your hardware. Linux is an example of an alternative to Windows or the Mac OS that allows you to run your computer with a third-party operating system. The Desktop OS - The Operating System - OS The Graphic User Interface (GUI) and the Desktop Real-World Metaphor Interacting - Pointing, Clicking, Dragging, Selecting, Menus, Dialog Boxes, Icons, Buttons RULE NUMBER ONE - Select Something, Do Something To It The Human-Machine Link - Getting to know the mouse, keyboard and what to say when. If you understand the parts of the screen and windows and what to click on when, you realize you re really in control here. Like your physical desk with its papers, pens and pencils and whatnot, the Desktop of the computer is a representation of your workspace that can show what's in the computer. It is really a special folder that is generally always open and on display at all times.

7 The look and items on the desktop can be fully changed to reflect your style and work habits. Commonly found on the desktop are the icons for certain programs and the icons for files and folders that are your work. Icons are the pictures that represent these programs, files and folders. There is also some sort of way to get things out of the computer in the form of the Trash or the Recycle Bin. Also often represented on the desktop by icons somewhere will be the computer itself or its disks. There is also the main Operating System Menu (Windows Explorer or Macintosh Finder), and a Taskbar or other type of Dock that you can customize for ready access to your work and programs. Window Controls When you double-click on a file or folder icon, a window opens up to show you what that file or folder contains. Documents that you are working on will appear in windows; disks and folders open into windows too. Windows can be moved around on the screen by dragging the Title Bar at the top of the window. This is where the name of the window is displayed. If a window is hidden behind another window, simply clicking on any part if it that shows will bring it to the front. Otherwise look for a Window menu. The Windows that display the contents of your computer have a number of standardized controls that it pays to understand: Close Box - the [X] or Red Light in the upper corner of the window that Closes the window. NOTE that especially on a Mac, closing the window is NOT the same as quitting the program. Some programs will continue to run even with no windows open. Zoom Box - the [ ] or Green Light in the upper corner of the window that Zooms the size of the window to full size and back to where it was again. Minimize Box - the [_] or Yellow Light in the upper corner of the window that places the window in the Taskbar or Dock. Resizing Tab - the tab in the lower right corner, or sometimes the edges of a window itself, that allow you to resize the window by dragging at the tab or window edges. Scroll Bars - the movable sliders at the right or bottom edge of a window that is too small to show you all of its contents. The slider can be moved deliberately to a certain position, the arrows at the end of the slider can be clicked on to scroll, or the empty space above or below the slider will move one screen at a time when clicked.

8 Hour Two Computer Controls. Operating System Navigation and Vocabulary. Disk and File organization from OS perspective. System Preferences and Controls Menus Pointing Clicking Dragging Selecting Dialog Boxes Check Boxes vs. Radio Buttons Exercise: Pointing, Clicking, and Dragging - Tangrams or other games to practice mouse control. Pointing When you cradle the mouse in your hand and move it around or draw your finger over the trackpad, the pointer arrow or cursor will move proportionately in the same way. POINTING IS THE FIRST STEP IN SELECTING SOMETHING. Run out of space? Pick up the mouse or your finger and move it back to continue in the same direction once you put it down again. The pointer will change shape to reflect what you can do with it. The Arrow is commonly used to select things; another common shape is an I-Beam when used for text editing. A Crosshairs shape is often used for drawing graphics. Moving the mouse pointer is done by sliding the mouse over the mouse pad. If you run out of pad, simply lift the mouse and move it to the other side of the pad in the air, put it down again and keep on going! Games are good practice if you re new at developing this kind of eye-hand coordination. Clicking A joystick controller is different in that it will have inertia or a way of accelerating across the screen. ANY of these pointing devices will have controls for their response speeds and other characteristics. Look for these settings in the Control Panels on a PC or in the System Preferences on a Mac. If you don t like the way it responds, change it! Once you've pointed at something, you Click on it to select it. The icon will highlight in some way to indicate that it is indeed selected.

9 Clicking is always done ONCE with the LEFT button on a multi-button mouse. Otherwise it's known as Double-Clicking, Right- Clicking or Center-Clicking. Clicking selects something. Right-Clicking brings up a Contextual Menu, the Context of which changes depending on what you right-clicked on. Double clicking will Open a folder or icon. YOU DO NOT need to double-click on links in web pages or s, nor buttons in dialog boxes - once will do. Triple clicking is a common text selection technique. One click inserts the cursor somewhere in text; two clicks typically selects a whole word; a triple-click will often select an entire sentence or line of text. Some programs even allow or recognize quadrupleclicking to select an entire paragraph of text. The computer is just a dumb tool, and you get to decide how to use it. For it to function you must first SELECT something for it to act on and then DO something to perform the action. This is known most simply as point-and-click. If you have a laptop with a trackpad, touching the pad with a single fingertip will allow you to move the pointer over the screen. Using the other hand to click can sometimes give you better results than trying to drive one-handed. Many track pads can be configured so that tapping on them activates the click as well. Dragging If you click on something to select it, you can keep the button held down to Drag that object somewhere. Dragging is how you put files in folders, move folders from one window to another, add pictures to s, and perform many other common tasks. When you Drag an object, the destination will generally be highlighted in some way to indicate where the object will end up when you let go of the button. This gives you much control over how things are organized. For instance, if you drag a photo to the address area of an you are composing, it will add it as an attachment. If however you drag it to the body of the , you can have it appear inline with the text so you can add captions and other commentary. If you drag something to another window on the same disk, the object moves there. Folders can be placed in other folders to organize your work the way you want. If you drag an object to a window on another disk, it will be copied there. THIS IS THE PRIMARY SIMPLE WAY TO BACK SOMETHING UP.

10 Selecting Menus Besides the the standard Point and Click way to Select a single item, there are many useful ways to Select multiple items. Many times it's handy to move or otherwise manipulate more than one thing at a time; this is called Multiple Selection. As described in Clicking above, you can use the technique of clicking multiple times to perform text selection. Just as with text, Command-A or Control-A will usually Select All in most software that allows selecting. Dragging the cursor across text from one position to another will select the text in between. This Selection Rectangle also works to select groups of icons. Think of it as a kind of lasso that reins in things from corner to corner or end to end. Graphic programs will often have a Lasso Tool that reflects this capability. Clicking on one item then Shift-Clicking on another in a list will Select everything in between, too. This is known as Selecting Contiguous Items. To Select discontiguous items (not all together in a list), you use Control-Clicking on a PC or Command-Clicking on a Mac. This allows you to perform other tasks with multiple items that may not all be together in the window view you have selected. Combining these techniques allows you much flexibility. One common method is to select a large group with Shift-Clicking then deselect some with Control-Clicking. You may also change the way the Window is Viewed to change which selection method to use. What do you do when you're in a new restaurant? You look at the Menu. What do you do when you're in a new program? You look at the Menus. Menus are the drop-down or pop-up ways to select from a number of choices or commands that software gives you at any given point. Menus are generally grouped to make sense in some way. Common ones discussed below are File, Edit, View, Format, Window, Help, and others. These ultimately will become familiar to you just as you recognize Appetizers, Drinks, Main Courses, and Desserts. Menus use one word or a very short phrase to get their point across. This stresses the need to learn vocabulary and the graphic user interface which are designed for consistency from one program to another and even to a great extent from one computer operating system to another. If a Menu choice is greyed out or obscured relative to the other choices, it means that choice or action is not available for what you have selected. Click on a menu to see what it contains. Drag or Scroll up and down the menu to highlight the command you desire. Click again (or let up if dragging) to Select the menu choice and activate it. If a menu item has an elipsis (...) next to it, it will bring up a Dialog Box where you can make more elaborate settings. If a menu item has a key legend next to it, you can use that key combination to activate that menu item WITHOUT using the menu.

11 These Keyboard Shortcuts are very important to mastering the computer and working quickly with it. The symbol(s) with the key indicate which modifier key(s) invoke that command. Contextual menus are special menus that appear when you right-click or control-click on an item. They are called Contextual menus because the context changes depending on what you click on. This is as opposed to normal menus that show all commands and grey out the unavailable ones. Dialog Boxes A Dialog Box is a small window in which you interact with the software you are using. They are called Dialog Boxes because the computer uses them to ask you questions, tell you information, or get further input from you to clarify a process, command, or menu item that you chose. An important industry acronym to tell you about at this time is RTFS - This means READ THE FULL SCREEN. You can't answer the question properly if you didn't hear or understand it in the first place. Some dialog boxes are informational; the computer is telling you about some condition it thinks you want to know about. Most of the time these dialog boxes only have a single button to the effect of "OK;" you are simply acknowledging that you have read and understand the informational message. Other dialog boxes are expecting a simple choice - you are telling the computer to continue some action versus canceling it in many of these instances. The most common type of dialog box that you must master is the Save dialog box and the closely related Save As... which allow you to organize your work. These are also know as directory dialog boxes. At the other end of the scale are complex dialog boxes with many controls including menus, check boxes, radio buttons, and other controls. These are often used to set complex parameters for many variables at a time. Think of type controls in a word processor, image controls in a graphic program, or effects controls in an audio recording program as examples that would have many variables. Check Boxes Check box controls in dialog boxes are square. Selecting them highlights the box, often with an X or symbol. Check box controls in dialog boxes allow you to choose ONE OR MORE of a number of related options where the choices ARE NOT mutually exclusive. Think "Do I want my ice cream sundae with sprinkles, with nuts, or with both?" A check box for nuts, a check box for sprinkles - select either, neither or both. Check boxes by their nature can be set or not - choosing one will not necessarily affect other options. Sometimes choosing a check box will allow other related sub-options to appear. Just as with menus, if an option is greyed out, it is not currently available for selection. To Deselect a check box, just click it again. The highlighting will disappear to indicate that this option is no longer selected.

12 Radio Buttons Radio button controls in dialog boxes are round. Selecting them highlights the circle, similar to filling in the space on a standardized computer-read test form. Radio button controls in dialog boxes allow you to choose ONE FROM A NUMBER of related options where the choices ARE mutually exclusive. Radio buttons were named for the type that used to be on car radios - selecting one radio button automatically deselects the others. Radio buttons are often used when a choice between options MUST be made - the default option will already be chosen in this instance, and you may change it if you wish by picking one of the other options available. To Deselect a radio button, choose another one. Remember RULE NUMBER ONE - Select Something, Do Something To It - What you have selected determines what can be done with it, but then it's up to you. Homework: Apply to your machine. Spec your computer What ports do you have, and how many of each? What OS, how much memory, how much hard drive space? If you learn the information and vocabulary in this tiny basics course, you will be further along than MOST other users. Have fun and keep learning! Copyright 2012 TaosNet LLC - All Rights Reserved Worldwide