Conversational Computers Conversational Computers – As in learning another language, there is Advanced learning where you have to learn all the ins and outs of that language, verbs, nouns, sentence structure, etc or there is Conversational – German, Spanish, French, etc. where you simply learn how to speak the language, make certain statements or ask certain questions. Conversational Computers is the same way, all we want to do is teach people how to use a computer, to not be afraid of one and to use the standard programs associated with using computers. We don’t teach why, we just teach how.

First – The Computer in General There are five main parts to the Computer 1. The Computer itself 2. The Monitor 3. The Keyboard 4. The Mouse 5. The Printer

The Computer (CPU) The Computer, the Brains of the operation. CPU – Central Processing Unit

The Monitor How you view everything that the computer does.

The Keyboard You can do everything from the keyboard You can type a letter

The Mouse Using the Mouse with a computer makes almost everything easier.

And – the Printer Print what your doing on paper.

Lets talk about the Computer The Computer does all the thinking. Myth – Computers don’t think. Keeps track of (Records) Files Controls things Displays – on the monitor Internet (email) Sounds Other devices

Hook it up Plug it in Hook up the Monitor Keyboard Mouse Printer Most external devices have their own plug configuration for easy hookup. Turn it on. USB Ports

Turn it on In order for you to use a computer you must turn it on. And – You might have to turn on some of the external devices also. On buttons are usually on the front of the CPU

The Monitor For your viewing pleasure Tells you everything you want to know about your computer or what you’re doing. You will have to turn it on also.

The Keyboard Allows you to perform all actions on your computer (But… the mouse makes it easier). Type a letter Build a Program Draw a picture Do calculations Etc.

Buttons you should know about Escape Key Function Keys Backspace Key Delete Key Caps Lock Key Enter (Return) Key Shift Key Control (Ctrl) key Alt Key Start menu (Microsoft) Key Arrow Keys Keypad Keys (Some keyboards don’t have one).

The Keys – Esc - Escape Esc – if you’ve opened a menu you don’t want. Esc – if you highlight something you don’t want. Esc – to deactivate something. Esc doesn’t fix everything but it helps.

Function Keys – F Keys The Function keys perform different tasks, i.e. there are about four different ways to do the same thing. F1 – Usually Help, F2 – Usually puts your cursor at the end of a phrase. F5 – Find a page or RUN. The rest depends on the program you have open.

Backspace and Delete keys Backspace – put the cursor at the end of a word or phrase and remove data one character at a time. Delete – put the cursor at the beginning of a word or phrase and remove data one character at a time. Backspace – end Delete - beginning

Capslk – Capital letters lock Basically a toggle on or off. As on most typewriters, locks the capital letters on. Or off.

Shift – Ctrl – Alt keys The Shift key allows you, like the typewriter, to put capital letters or symbols, However, in combination with other keys, can make other things happen. Ctrl – Control key – in combination with other keys makes different things happen For Instance – Ctrl and the B key causes whatever is highlighted or active to be Bold .

The Alt key Best as I can tell, Alt stands for Alternate. When you press the Alt key, letters or numbers are assigned to each function of the program so that you can use the keyboard as opposed to the mouse to make something happen. Also used in conjunction with other keys, makes things happen

The Start button menu Key Opens the Start Button menu. Or – Just click the Start button to make the Start menu appear.

The ENTER (Return) Key Yes, as in typing the return key does what a typewriter does. In the case of computers it is the most important key you will use. It makes things happen.

The Arrow keys Moves the active object or cursor around.

Key Pad Basically allows you to Ten Key or just add numbers to your data. Some keyboards don’t come with a key pad.

The Mouse – Computers made easy The Mouse has three controls 1. The – Left – Mouse button 2. The – Roller 3. The – Right – Mouse button This is also the way you hold a mouse

The – Left – Mouse button Is the button that you’ll use most. The Left mouse button Allows you to move things around Activate things Highlight things Draw Etc.

The - Roller Works the same way as a right side scroll bar. Allows you to move up or down in a document Might allow you to resize things Has other functions (We’ll talk about scroll bars later)

The – Right – Mouse button May have more than one function. Basically – Brings up Menus (We’ll talk about Menus later).

And finally - Print something The Printer allows you to print what you’ve typed or drawn. Some Printers – Allow you to – Scan, Fax or Copy

The Mouse There are several statements that go with the mouse Click Click and Hold Double-click Drag and Drop Highlight Scroll Right-click Move your mouse

Lets start with “Click” Click means Move the mouse pointer over something and click the Left Mouse button one time. Click a button Click an Icon We’ll talk about Icons later. Click etc. Click the Left Mouse Button

Mouse Pointer It’s the little arrow that moves around on the screen in conjunction with the movements of your mouse.

Click and Hold Means to hold down the Left mouse button.

Double-click Means to click the Left mouse button twice – quick. Click-click! Quickly

Drag and Drop Means – Hold down the Left mouse button on something and move it, letting go of the Left mouse button when the object you’re moving is in the position you want it.

Highlight Most commonly used when you want to do something with words or numbers. Notice the area in the red box, it has a blue background. That whole area is Highlighted.

Highlight cont. The area with the blue background means you can do anything you want to that section of words Change Font We’ll talk about Fonts later Shrink / Enlarge Move words around Change the Font Color Etc.

Scroll Use the roller ball on your mouse to move up and down in a document. A scroll bar does the same thing but you have to click and hold the scroll bar to move it up and down or side to side.

Right-click Means to click the Right mouse button. Depending on where you have your mouse pointer, if you Right- click you might open a menu pertaining to that object.

ICON’S Icons Icons are often what is located on your Computer Desktop You’ll recognize your Computer Desktop, it will be the first thing you see when you turn your computer on. Icons

Font’s A “Font” is the lettering, the Characters you use if you type a letter. In the computer world, Characters start with 0-9 then letters of the Alphabet. A B C D etc. Then grammatical symbols and so on. And – Each Font has a size and Name.

Font’s Cont. Notice in this example, Font’s are in a menu. Notice that the type of Font you choose is shown in the menu how it will look on paper or on your monitor. “Wingdings” are symbols that you probably won’t understand.

Let’s summarize Move your mouse around, your mouse pointer moves in conjunction with your mouse. Click, Click and Hold, Double-click, Scroll, Drag and Drop, Highlight. Turn the computer on. Turn on any other devices that should also be turned on. What are ICON’s? What are Menu’s? The Computer is the brains of the system.

When you Print When you want to print, go to the File Menu or the Microsoft button depending on the version of the program you are working with.

Printing Cont. The Microsoft Button Microsoft Button

When you click print… Usually – A dialog box appears allowing you to choose other printing options. Then click the OK button.

A Few other things Files vs. Folders Folders contain Files Folder File

Files Everything to do with computers is in Files. When you type a letter it can be saved as a File. Anything you save has to be saved as a file. Anything you use, has to be a file and has to be opened. If you saved a letter in a File you can open it later to edit it.

Files Cont. You also get a dialog box when you open or save a File. You also do this from the File menu or the Microsoft button.

Files vs. Folders Cont. It’s easy to tell the difference between a File and a Folder.

Give a File a Name You can name a file anything you want. You can’t give a File the same name but give it a slightly different name and it’s fine. Click Save Save

Now you know what you need to know to operate a computer. Saved a File Once you’ve clicked Save, your File is saved on the computer Hard drive. If you want to know about Hard drives, you have to take my advanced class. Now you know what you need to know to operate a computer.