Introduction to the ComputerMonday, September 20, 2004

Basic Computer hardware Terms

Term / Definition

Monitor

/ Holds the screen that displays text and images. Also called the Display or the screen.
Keyboard / Allows you to direct the actions of the computer by entering text characters onto the screen.
Mouse / The mouse is a pointing device used to open a program or make a selection on the computer screen. The mouse rests on a foam rubber mouse pad.
Cursor / The blinking vertical line on your computer screen that marks the point at which you may enter characters.
Processor or Central
Processing Unit (CPU) / Performs the mathematical operations which are basic to the computer’s functioning. The processor receives its instructions from the software programs which are loaded onto the computer.
Hard Drive / The part of the computer which permanently stores most of the programs that you will use to perform various tasks on the computer. The intelligence and the memory of the computer are stored largely on the hard drive, usually the “C” drive. This memory is different than “RAM” memory (see below).
RAM Memory / This the temporary memory in which the computer “thinks”.
CD-ROM / Used to access auxiliary software or the programs stored on CD’s. This usually the “D” drive.
3.5 Inch Floppy Disk / Used to access programs and files stored on 3.5 disks, usually the “A” drive.
Speakers / When turned on, these will provide audio for those programs or games that have an audio component.
Modem / Allows your computer to communicate with other computers using standard telephone lines.
Printer / Used to print a document (i.e. a letter or article) spreadsheet or graphic you have created.

The Desktop

When your Windows 95 or 98 computer is first turned on you will generally see a group of Icons or small graphic pictures on your desktop screen which represent programs, or different parts of the computer available to you, such as those displayed below.


The Operating System

All computers rely on one basic program – the operating system – to decode information. Most IBM compatible computers originally used DOS (Disk Operating System). Function keys were used to type in commands.

Newer computers use Windows 95 or 98 as the operating system. This system makes it possible to give simpler commands using the “mouse” as a device to point and click at menus (lists of commands) and icons on the screen. It also allows the user to interact in other ways with information on the screen. We’ll talk about how this is done later.

The Mouse

In this section you will learn to use the mouse. Here are some hints.

  • Movements of the mouse over the mouse pad corresponds to the pointer you see on the screen.
  • The mouse is extremely sensitive. Moving the mouse as little as an inch up, down, to the right or to the left can move the pointer on the screen from the top to the bottom of the screen or from the left to the right.
  • The mouse should be moved straight up, down or sideways. It should not be turned or twisted as you move it.
  • Let your index finger rest lightly on the left half of the mouse.
  • Move only the index finger to click the left mouse button.
  • Let the heel of your hand remain stationary on the mouse pad. Move the mouse using your fingers. Do not raise the heel of your hand from the mouse pad when you click the mouse buttons.
  • You will almost always depress the left mouse button (left half of the top of the mouse) to take action.
  • When using the mouse to point on the screen, try to put the mouse pointer in the center of the object you will select and then click.

Using the Mouse

Action / When Used

Click

/ When you want to select and icon or an item on a pull down menu, with your index finger quickly press and release the left mouse button once. (Do not raise the heel of your hand from the mouse pad).
Click + Enter / To open programs or files, click once (the icon will be selected and change color) and then hit the enter key on your keyboard; or you can “double click” with the left mouse button.
Drag / When you want to move an icon or a selected item, press and hold down the left mouse button while dragging or moving the mouse to its new location.

Different activities will cause the pointer to change shapes. Here are three of its most common appearances:

The Pointer / The normal appearance of the mouse indicator when a selection is made from options displayed on the screen.
The Hour Glass / The computer is “working” and the operation you requested is not yet completed.
The “I” Beam / The appearance of the mouse indicator when it is moved on a document. The “I” beam is used to move the cursor from one location to another when textis inserted into a document or field.

Click and Drag Exercise (Solitaire)

Purpose: To provide practice using the mouse to activate an action or move and object on the desktop from one location to another.

Follow these directions to open the Solitaire program and complete a game of Solitaire.

To open the Solitaire Program:

  1. Using the mouse, left click once on the Solitaire icon. The Solitaire icon will change color (become highlighted).
  2. Depress the ENTER key. A Solitaire board with the cards already dealt will appear on your desktop.

To turn over a card from the dealing pile:

  1. Move the pointer to the pile.
  2. Left click once on the back of the card.

To drag a card from one location to another:

  1. Move the pointer to the targeted card.
  2. Click and hold down the left mouse.
  3. Drag the targeted card to the new location by continuing to hold down the left mouse and moving the card to its new location.

To move a pile of cards from one location to another:

  1. Move the point to the top card to be moved.
  2. Left click and hold down the left mouse on that top card.
  3. Drag the entire pile to the new location.

REMEMBER ACES WILL GO AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN AND WILL BE BUILT UP (ACE, 2, 3, 4, IN SUITE). PILES A THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN ARE BUILT DOWN (KING, QUEEN, JACK)ALTERNATING BLACK, RED, BLACK, RED.

(See typical Solitaire Screen on the next page.)

Solitaire Screen

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