COMPUTER DESCRIPTION...

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1 Conventions used in this document: Keyboard keys that must be pressed will be shown as Enter or Ctrl. Controls to be activated with the mouse will be shown as Start button > Settings > System > About. Tips will be shown in this format. The Table of Contents is interactive. Click on any topic to go directly to that section of the document. You can return to the table of contents at any time by holding down the Ctrl key while you press and release the Home key (Ctrl + Home). Table of Contents COMPUTER DESCRIPTION... 3 OPTIONAL HARDWARE COMPONENTS... 3 COMPUTER SOFTWARE... 3 INTERACTING WITH THE COMPUTER... 3 HOW THE COMPUTER COMMUNICATES WITH YOU... 4 USING A MOUSE... 4 TOUCH PADS... 5 TOUCH SCREENS... 6 THE COMPUTER KEYBOARD... 7 CONTROLS IDENTIFYING A CONTROL WINDOWS DESKTOP Desktop Icons Start Menu All Apps Menu Start Screen Power Options Boot Up the Computer Shutting Down the Computer Restart the Computer Update and Restart or Shut down Windows Taskbar Windows Taskbar Icons Cortana Search System Area Hidden Icons Action Center START SCREEN INTERFACE (TABLET MODE) Page 1 Revised 9/11/18

2 Start Screen All Apps Screen Tablet Mode Controls Tablet Mode Menu Tablet Mode Taskbar Page 2 Revised 9/11/18

3 Computer Description The name computer is generic and encompasses a number of different types of interactive devices. Desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones are all considered computers. These computer devices have major differences but also share common characteristics. Every computer device must have: A case that houses the computer components. Some cases are all inclusive such as a smartphone or tablet and others are more flexible with the capability to add peripheral components to the computer. A processor that performs all of the operations and electronic circuitry that attaches the processor to all of the other computer components. Input methods that let you, the user, communicate with the computer. A screen that will display information to the user. Software that has all of the instructions that tell the computer how to operate. A storage device that provides durable storage for the software and information files. Optional Hardware Components Additional components called peripherals can be attached to your computer. Peripherals add additional capabilities for the computer. The number and types of peripherals that can be attached are dependent on the number of external connections available on the computer. Examples of computer connections are shown at Hints. Types of peripherals include: Printers Speakers Scanners Cameras External storage devices And many, many more. Computer Software Computer software is what makes the computer seem intelligent. There is a main software that controls the computer called the Operating System. We will be using the Windows 10 operating system. There is also additional software called Programs and Apps designed to help you accomplish specific tasks on the computer. Interacting with the Computer Everything you can do on a computer is accomplished by executing commands that are already preprogrammed for you. Each and every command is attached to an individual interactive object that you can activate to execute the commands instructions. Our objective is to learn where those commands are located, what each command will do, and how to activate the command. A computer has different devices you can use to communicate with it. We will discuss the basic communication methods used. Any of the more specialized communication devices will have a user s manual you can refer to for their operation. Page 3 Revised 9/11/18

4 How the Computer Communicates with You The computer s primary method of communication is by displaying information on the computer monitor s screen. You can also receive some audio communication, which is usually various sounds indicating an action being taken. The information displayed will include a number of interactive objects that you can activate to perform tasks. The information on the screen will change as you interact with the computer. When the computer requires specific instructions from you it will automatically display a message on the screen along with the interactive controls required for you to respond. Using a Mouse The mouse is the primary input device to communicate with the computer. The computer screen will display various interactive controls. Each control will have instructions that will execute when the control is activated. Using the mouse is the fastest and easiest way to activate controls on the screen. The mouse is called a Point and Click device and directly controls the cursor on the screen. Use the mouse by moving it on the desktop. As you move the mouse the cursor on the screen moves in the corresponding direction. There will be many interactive objects, called controls, on the screen. You move the mouse until the cursor is pointing at an interactive object. While the cursor is pointing at the interactive object on the screen, you activate it by pressing a mouse button. A basic computer mouse will have three controls, a left and a right button, and a scroll wheel. A more expensive specialized mouse may have additional controls but we will only discuss the basic mouse here. Left Mouse Button Scroll Wheel Right Mouse Button Mouse Controls Mouse Action Left Click Double Click Result The left mouse button is used to activate or select a control. Point at an interactive object on the screen and without moving the mouse click the left button once and release it immediately. The interactive object will be activated and will execute its instructions. The convention is to say Click rather than Left-click. We will use Click to indicate a left-click in the rest of this discussion. Some interactive objects will require you to click twice on an object. Point at an interactive object on the screen and without moving the mouse click twice in succession on the left button. This will require some practice. Page 4 Revised 9/11/18

5 Mouse Controls Mouse Action Click and Drag Right Click Scroll Result Some objects can be moved on the screen to a new location. Point at the object and click and hold down the left mouse button. Keep holding down the left mouse button and move the mouse to drag the object to a new location. An outline will be visible to indicate where the object is while you are moving it. When ready simply release the left mouse button and the object will drop in the indicated location. A right click on an interactive object will always display an alternative menu if it is available. An alternative menu contains shortcuts to commands that directly affect the object you were pointing at when you right clicked. This is the easiest way to find the correct command for an object. Point at an interactive object on the screen and without moving the mouse click the right button once and release immediately. The menu will appear on the screen close to the mouse cursor. Move the cursor into the menu to select from the available commands. The wheel between the left and right mouse buttons can be used to scroll the content on the screen up or down. Point at the area you want to scroll. While pointing at the area roll the scroll wheel forward to scroll up and roll the scroll wheel backward to scroll down. Scrolling is very common on internet pages. The scroll function is only available if the screen content extends beyond the screen boundary. Be careful to hold the mouse steady while you click. You must be pointing at an object to select it. Use your index finger to left click and your middle finger to right click. Tip - Should you click or double click an object to activate it? You will soon learn what to do for most objects and if you are ever in doubt. Try a single click. If a single click does not work, then use a double click. Touch Pads A touch pad works similarly to a mouse and controls the cursor on the screen. Instead of moving the mouse you slide your finger on the pad to move the cursor. Left and right buttons are available and work like the left and right buttons on a mouse. Some touch pads will also let you tap or double tap on the touch pad to activate objects on the screen. Touch pads are predominantly available on laptop computers. You are not limited to only using the touch pad and can also attach a mouse to a laptop computer. Once a mouse is connected you can use either the mouse or the touch pad as you wish. Page 5 Revised 9/11/18

6 Touch Screens Touch screens let you control your computer by swiping or tapping the monitor s screen with your finger or a stylus designed for a touch screen. Just like the touch pad you can attach a mouse and use it in conjunction with the touch screen capabilities. In fact, you can have a touch pad, a touch screen, and a mouse and use all three on the same computer. This lets you select the method you are most comfortable with. Many newer computers have touch screen capability. Check your computers documentation if you are unsure if you have touch capability. You can use your finger or a stylus designed for a touch screen to activate the controls. The stylus will have a soft tip to emulate your fingertip. There are many styles available and can be purchased at any retailer offering computer accessories. Do not use a hard tip stylus. A hard tip stylus will not function correctly and may damage your screen. Finger Control (Touch Screen Only) Finger Option Mouse How to Do What it Does Equivalency Tap Click or Double Click Tap the object designated with your fingertip. Press and Hold Right Click Press your finger down and leave it there for a few seconds. Pinch or stretch to zoom Touch the screen or an item with two or more fingers, and then move the fingers toward each other (pinch) or away from each other (stretch). Slide to scroll Scrolling Drag your finger on the screen. Slide to rearrange Click and Drag Press and drag an item in the opposite direction you would scroll. (For example, if you would scroll left or right, drag the item up or down.) When you've moved the item to the new location, release it. Activates the object. Shows info to help you learn more about an item. Opens a menu specific to what you're doing. Shows different levels of info. A good place to explore this is the Start screen. Visually zooms in or out, like with pictures or maps. Moves through what s on the screen. Moves an item. A good place to explore this is the Start screen. Page 6 Revised 9/11/18

7 Finger Control (Touch Screen Only) Finger Option Mouse Equivalency How to Do Swipe to select Right Click on an object Slide an item a short distance in the opposite direction compared to how the page scrolls. (For example, if you would scroll left or right, slide the item up or down.) A quick, short movement works best. What it Does Selects an item, like a photo or tile on Start. This often brings up app commands. The Computer Keyboard The keyboard will be your secondary method of communicating with the computer. You will use it to both enter data and to execute some commands. The computer keyboard has many similarities to a standard typewriter keyboard. The character keys are in the same place and you will find that the Shift, Caps Lock, Space Bar, and Tab keys all work the same. However, there are many new specialty keys applicable only to use with the computer. Shown in the example is the standard 101/102 computer keyboard layout. This is the most common layout. You may have a somewhat different layout, especially if you are using a laptop, but you should be able to find most keys by referencing this guide. Some keyboards will have additional keys available that will access special functions. We will not cover those keys in this discussion and you should refer to your user manual for details on their use. The oval keys at the top of the sample keyboard are examples of non-standard keys. Laptops will often have an abbreviated layout that will remove select duplicate keys such as the numeric keypad. They may also relocate some keys due to space limitations. Laptops can also have a special key called the FN key. Holding down the FN key will change the function of specific keys. Refer to your user manual for details. This applies to most laptops with a screen size less than 17. Laptops with a screen size of 17 usually have a full-size keyboard layout. Page 7 Revised 9/11/18

8 Keys used for Computer Specific Actions Key Name Key Use Non-Standard Keys These keys are not part of the standard keyboard. They have been added by the manufacturer for specialized functions. Refer to your user manual. Escape Key When pressed can clear an unexpected item from the screen. Function Keys Backspace Key Labeled F1 to F12 these keys can have special functions or sets of instructions attached to them. Pressing the correct key will activate the function. Their function will vary from program to program. Used to erase characters to the left of the Insert Point. Page 8 Revised 9/11/18

9 Keys used for Computer Specific Actions Key Name Key Use Movement Keys These keys help you move quickly through a document or erase objects. Abbreviations stand for Home, Insert, End, Page Up, Delete, and Page Down. Numeric Keypad Contains dual function keys. Dual keys can function as movement or number entry keys and are usually labeled with both functions. They are controlled by the Num Lock (NL) key. Enter Key Used to enter data you have keyed in or to activate a highlighted object on the screen. Alt Key Ctrl Key Windows Key The Alt key does nothing by itself and is only used with another key in combination. To use the Alt Key you hold it down while you press and release the other keys in the combination. For example, the key combination Alt + Q may quit the active application. Either Alt key can be used. The CTRL key also does nothing by itself but is used in a combination. To use the Ctrl you hold it down while you press and release the other key. For example, the key combination Ctrl + C will copy the selected item to the clipboard. Either Ctrl key can be used. The Windows Key will open the Start Menu. Page 9 Revised 9/11/18

10 Controls The monitor s screen can display a wide variety of interactive objects. The interactive objects displayed will depend on what actions you are taking with the computer. You will always have available on the screen all of the interactive objects and their associated commands to manage what is visible on the screen. Interactive objects are all part of a group called controls. From this point on we will use the name Control to refer to an interactive object. Controls are designed into a number of basic types of controls. Each type of control will behave the same as a similar type of control. Some types of controls are standalone such as buttons and others will be compound controls such as menus and lists. Individual controls can also be grouped onto a specialized control type called a Control Group. A control group helps organize the controls so that those that take similar actions can be easily located. Identifying a Control Virtually every control will give you an indication that it is a control by changing its appearance or by changing the shape of the cursor whenever you point the cursor at the control. Most controls also have a small pop-up called a tooltip that contains additional information about the control. The tooltip will appear if you hover the cursor over the control for a short period of time. Typical Control Identifiers Identifier Not Selected Selected Highlight when selected the control changes color or highlights itself Cursor Change When the cursor is pointing at a link it changes shape. Note that the control also changes color and a tooltip is visible. Tooltip gives you additional information about what will happen if the control is activated. Page 10 Revised 9/11/18

11 Windows Desktop The first screen that will be displayed after the computer is turned is called the Windows Desktop. The desktop becomes your workplace and has controls that will let you access the various areas of the computer. Desktop Icons Windows Desktop Start Button Cortana Assistant Taskbar Icons System Tray Page 11 Revised 9/11/18

12 Desktop Icons Desktop Icons are controls that have commands to open a program or area of your computer. They can be activated with a double-click. The desktop icons are optional and each icon can be added or removed. This will let you customize your desktop to suit the way you work with your computer. Start Menu The Start Menu is an integrated menu control and contains all of the controls to open every program or app, you have access to, on the computer. Activate the Start Button, located in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, to display the Start Menu. All Apps Menu Start Screen Users Windows Settings Power Options ALL APPS MENU The All Apps menu has controls that are sorted in alphabetical order that will let you open and use any program or app installed on your computer. Additional controls can also be created and placed on the desktop, start screen, or taskbar to easily locate and open your favorite or most used programs. Page 12 Revised 9/11/18

13 START SCREEN The Start Screen is another customizable area to place controls to open your favorite or most used programs. Activate any control on the Start Screen with a click. POWER OPTIONS We of course need to be able to turn on our computer, and when done, turn it off correctly. The computer has a procedure that you should follow to turn off the computer. Do not use the power button on the computer to turn it off. Using the power button to turn off the computer can cause problems the next time you turn on the computer. BOOT UP THE COMPUTER When you boot up (turn on) the computer it will go through a boot up procedure. This procedure will: Check the status of the computer and all of its components. Apply any updates. Load the Windows Operating System. Load any background programs such as your Antivirus and Internet Connection. Display the desktop on the screen when ready. To turn on your computer: 1. Be sure power is being supplied to the computer. 2. Press the largest most important looking button on your computer. It is often marked with this symbol. 3. If necessary, turn on your peripherals such as the monitor. 4. When prompted, select your Windows Account Name and enter your password in the password box to login. 5. Wait for the computer to finish booting and display the Desktop. SHUTTING DOWN THE COMPUTER When you shut down the computer properly it will go through a Shutdown procedure. The Shutdown procedure will: Close any open programs. Clear out all memory and settings. Turn off the computer when everything is OK. Do not use the power button to turn off your computer. To properly turn off your computer follow these steps: 1. Open the Start Menu with a click on the Start button located at the bottom left corner of the screen. 2. The Start Menu will appear above the start button. Page 13 Revised 9/11/18

14 3. Point at and activate the interactive Power button. 4. Point at and activate the interactive Shut-down button. 5. The computer will perform a cleanup and then turn itself off. 6. Do not use the power button to turn off the computer except in an emergency. How often should you turn off your computer? Should you turn it off each time you leave or keep it running constantly? The answer lies somewhere in between. You must turn off your computer occasionally for it to do a cleanup of accumulated stuff that will slow it down. On the other hand, it is not necessary to turn it off every time you leave the computer. Computers that run on batteries, such as laptops, may need you to connect the battery charger if they are left on for extended periods of time. Personally, I make it a point of turning the computer off at least once a day. I normally do not leave it running overnight. You can extend that period to a couple of days if you want. The main reason that people got in the habit of leaving the computer on for extended periods was because it took a long time, 3 or 4 minutes or perhaps longer, for the computer to start up and be ready to use. With Windows 10 the startup time is greatly reduced. I have had Windows 10 startup and ready for use in a matter of seconds on a normal basis. The length of the startup time can be increased significantly if the computer has to apply any updates. Most updates are applied as the computer starts up. This is a necessary process and you shouldn t delay the update to avoid a longer startup time. Updates are infrequent and should not be a big issue. RESTART THE COMPUTER A restart of the computer is used to reset the computer or apply updates. It will turn the computer off and then immediately boot it up again. 1. Open the Start Menu with a click on the Start button located at the bottom left corner of the screen. The Start Menu will appear above the start button. 2. Point at and activate the Power button. Page 14 Revised 9/11/18

15 3. Point at and activate the Restart button. 4. The computer will turn itself off and restart automatically. UPDATE AND RESTART OR SHUT DOWN Windows will automatically update your computer periodically for Windows security and enhancements. Automatic update is the default setting in Windows 7 and is the mandatory setting in Windows 8.1 and 10. Updates are downloaded and then scheduled for installation at a time that the computer is not in use. The installation of a Windows update may be available when you turn off your computer. If an update is downloaded and available when you are ready to turn off your computer, you will be alerted to it in the power options. The Update notification has been removed with Windows Update An update will still install automatically. You can select either Update option to install the update: Update and shut down will partially update the computer and then turn it off. The update will automatically be completed the next time you turn on the computer. Update and restart will partially update the computer and then immediately restart the computer to complete the update. Either update procedure takes about the same time to complete. You will see a message not to turn off your computer during the update. There will also be a progress percentage shown. You can leave the computer unattended during the update process. When the updates are completed your computer will either turn off automatically or display your log in screen and you can sign in and continue using your computer. Windows Taskbar The Windows Taskbar is normally located at the bottom the Desktop. Page 15 Revised 9/11/18

16 WINDOWS TASKBAR ICONS Only select program and app controls will be available. Program and app activation controls can be added (pinned) or removed (unpinned). Some basic apps will have been added and their controls placed for you with the installation of Windows 10. Activate any program or app with a single click of the appropriate taskbar icon. CORTANA SEARCH Cortana is a search box that can be both typed into or voice activated. Results will appear directly above the Cortana search box. Cortana will search both your computer and the Internet for results if you type in your request. Cortana will only search for Internet results if you use voice activation. SYSTEM AREA The system area, also known as the notification area, contains information about what is happening on the computer. HIDDEN ICONS The computer has many programs running in the background, such as your antivirus program. These programs load automatically when Windows starts. You can view the programs running in the background by activating the show hidden icons control. Page 16 Revised 9/11/18

17 ACTION CENTER View the Action Center by activating the control. The Action Center will display messages from Windows and your Programs and Apps in the upper section. It also has quick access to some of your settings in the lower section. Page 17 Revised 9/11/18

18 Start Screen Interface (Tablet Mode) The Tablet Mode interface is usually utilized by users who use a touch screen. It is not required that you use this interface and you can use the Desktop interface if is available to your device. This interface is very similar to a Smartphone interface. All of the features displayed in Tablet mode work very similarly to the same features available in Desktop mode. Controls for programs and apps can be pinned to and removed from both the Start Screen and Windows Taskbar. Tablet mode can be activated with the Tablet Mode control located in the Action Center. This control will toggle between Desktop and Tablet mode each time it is activated. The dark blue color indicates that Tablet Mode is selected. Expand Menu Pinned Tiles All Apps Pinned Tiles on Start Screen Tablet Mode Users Documents Pictures Windows Settings Power Options Cortana Assistant Taskbar Icons System Tray Page 18 Revised 9/11/18

19 Start Screen When you are in Tablet Mode the Start Screen is the default screen. The Start Screen in tablet mode will be displayed full screen. Its layout is similar to the integrated Start Screen used in Desktop mode. All Apps Screen Tablet mode will replace the All Apps menu with a separate All Apps Screen listing all available programs and apps. You can scroll through the list to locate a program or app to open. All Apps Menu Tablet Mode Tablet Mode Controls Tablet Mode has a menu and a taskbar that contain controls to manage the screens. TABLET MODE MENU The Tablet Mode menu is located at the left-hand side of the screen. Its default view in compacted. The menu view can be expanded by activating the button at the top of the menu. The User, Settings, and Power controls function exactly as they do in Desktop mode. Page 19 Revised 9/11/18

20 TABLET MODE TASKBAR The Windows Taskbar can display your taskbar icons or not. The Windows Start button will only display the alternative menu when right-clicked. All other controls function exactly as they do in Desktop Mode except for the Back and Keyboard controls. The keyboard control will display a touch keyboard at the bottom of the screen so you can type if you do not have an attached keyboard. Page 20 Revised 9/11/18