COMPUTER BASICS

Goals and Objectives

• Be introduced to basic components of
the computer
• Learn common computer terms
• Become familiar with basic
computer hardware and software
• Become familiar with the computer
mouse and keyboard
• Learn about the desktop
Introducing the Computer
What is a Computer?
An electronic device that accepts input,
processes data, provides storage and
retrieval and provides output for the user.

You can use a computer to type

documents, send email, browse the
internet, handle spreadsheets, do
presentations, play games, and more.
 Hardware/Software
 A computer is made up of only two
components: hardware and software.
Anything you buy for your computer can be
classified as either hardware or software.

 Hardware: is any part of your computer that has

a physical structure. If you can touch it, it is
hardware.

 Software: the brains of the computer, is any

set of instructions that tells the hardware what
to do and helps the user accomplish a certain
task
 Hardware
 Hardware consists of two components, input
and
output devices.
– Input Device
An input device allows us to put information
into the computer.
Examples include: Mouse, keyboard,
microphone, flash drive or scanner
– Output Devices
An output device displays (or puts out)
information from a computer in either a visual or
auditory format.
Examples include: Monitor, Speakers,
headphones or printer
Basic Computer Equipment

Monitor

Speakers

Console

Printer Keyboard

Mouse
 Console
 Console: The console, or system unit, is the heart of your
computer. It houses many electronic components, serves as
the main connecting point for other devices, and shields all of
the vital working parts of your PC, from dust, dirt, static
electricity, etc.

by Shonda
Hodge
 Console
Power
SD Card
Button
Port
CD/DVD
Drive (Play CD/DVD
ony) Drive
(Play/Write)
Microphon
USB
e Port
Ports

Headphon
es Port
 Monitor
Monitor: displays the text and
graphic information generated by
the console
 Mouse
 Mouse: pointing device that allows you to select
and manipulate objects you see on your monitor.
– Left Click - used to select or place cursor where you want
it on the page
– Double Click - used to open a program
– Drag and Drop - used to pick up and move a picture or
object to another area
– Click and drag - used to select multiple items or highlight
text
– Right Click - gives a drop down menu of options specific to
the task you’re trying to perform

To practice using a mouse, go to:

pbclibrary.org/mousing/
 Keyboard
 Keyboard: The keyboard
allows you to enter letters,
numbers, symbols, and
other commands into your
computer.

 Keyboards and Mice are

universal meaning that any
kind can be plugged into a
computer and will work.
QWERTY refers to the
standard US keyboard and
refers to the first six letters
on the keyboard.
 Keyboard Buttons
 Tab – used to indent paragraphs by  Space Bar – adds one blank
moving your cursor over ten spaces or space between objects
to move from field to field in a form  Windows Key – open and
 Caps Lock – makes all letters closes
capital until you turn it off your windows start menu
 Shift - allows you to capitalize letters  Enter – starts a new line or
when pressed down and allows you to functions as the “Go” key when
access the secondary function of your navigating to a website, opening
computer keys a program, etc.

By Angie
Moore
Keyboard Buttons
 Backspace – erases the object to • End – moves your cursor to the
the end of your line of text
left of the cursor • Insert – allows you to replace a
 Delete – erases the object to word with another by writing
the right of the cursor over it
 Home – moves your cursor to the • www.typingweb.com
front of your line of text www.keybr.com

By Angela
Moore
Printers/Speakers
 Printer: device that  Speakers: sound card in
reproduces text and pictures computer pushes sound
that you create on paper out through the speakers
 Inkjet Printer:
- Most popular, least
expensive
- Occasional printing (Home
use)
- Uses print cartridges
- Decent quality image
 Laser Printer
- More expensive
- Extensive Printing (Office
use)
- Uses toner cartridges
- Higher quality image
Review
• What are the two main components of
all computers?
• What two components does hardware consist
of?
• Give me one example of an input device and
one example of an output device
• What 5 clicks did we learn for the
mouse function?
 Software
Software is any set of instructions that
tells the hardware what to do. It is what
guides the hardware and tells it how to
accomplish each task.
Some examples of software are web
browsers, games, and word processors
such as Microsoft Word.
Examples of Software
 Browsers
– Internet Explorer
– Mozilla Firefox
– Google Chrome
 Games
– Solitaire
 Office
– Word
– Excel
– PowerPoint
 All programs
– Anything listed under all
programs and anything
you download
Windows Operating System
Overview
 Types: 97, XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1
 The PC’s brain or Master Software
Primary duty is to control the computer,
all the hardware.
Secondary duty is to control all the
software, basically running the programs
and managing the files and documents
you create.
 Third duty is to interact with you.
Review

• Is the keyboard an input or output device?

• What does the shift button allow you to
do?
• What is the difference between backspace
and delete?
• What are two examples of software?
Meet your Desktop
 Desktop

Icon
s

Quick Launch System

Bar Tray
Task
Bar

Start By Angie
button Moore
 Desktop
The place where you can easily gain
access to everything on your computer
Uses icons to represent programs on
your computer.
Background on which the icons sit is
called the ‘desktop’.
Use the mouse to move around on
the desktop
 Icons
 Icons represent programs you have on your computer
 They act as shortcuts to your programs and are instantly
accessible from your desktop instead of having to go to the
start menu and open them.
 Icons are movable and can be arranged any way you want.
 Any program or file on your computer can be an icon including
pictures, documents, and other software.
 You can create icons one of two ways:
– 1) Go to the start menu and right click on a program. Select send
to.
Select desktop and a copy of it will now be on your desktop
– 2) Go to your libraries folder and right click on a document, music
file, or picture file. Select send to. Select desktop and a copy of it
will now be on your desktop
Note: Double click icons to open them
Taskbar
 Blue strip along the bottom of the
desktop.
 Serves as the Windows control center.
Three important items on the taskbar:
Start menu, Quick Launch Bar, System
tray
Taskbar
 Start Menu: contains all programs on your computer.
Programs are listed in alphabetical order. Items that you
use frequently can be pinned to the start menu.
 Quick Launch Bar: contains programs that are pinned
to the taskbar and can be accessed simply by clicking the
program. Items that you use frequently can be pinned to
the quick launch bar.
 Note: Start menu and quick launch bar items only need to
be
clicked once to open them
 System Tray contains your general computer information
such as time, date, sound volume, power supply, the usb
icon when one is plugged in, security antivirus information,
updates for your computer, internet connection, and
computer processes.
Personalization
 When you right click on your desktop, you get a series
of options that you can use to make it look how you
want it to look
 View: allows you to change the size of your icons,
arrange them in the order you want and choose to hide
them or show them
 Sort By: allows you to sort your icons by name, size,
item type or date modified
 New: allows you to create a new folder or document
and places it directly on your desktop
 Personalize: allows you to change the background on
your desktop, your screensaver settings, your color
scheme, your mouse pointer and other cosmetic
changes
Review
• What on the desktop do you have to
double click to open?
• What three items are located on the
taskbar?
• What’s one place you can pin items youuse
frequently?
• What is the system tray used for?