Familiarization web page

Computers for Klutzes_® CHARLES CLARK RICHMOND, ED. D.

Computer Familiarization … teaches a little word processing, a little email, and a little Internet use.

Richmond has the learner work through tasks that utilize his recommended methods that produce tangible results. The Familiarization course starts with Word processing lessons that have the student type short paragraphs and documents. Later, these pieces are put where they can be kept until wanted again. Still later, they are called in, altered, and returned to storage. The course continues with lessons about Email. They start by leading the learner through the maze of setting up and using an email account. Once this account is activated it is used to send and receive email. The reader is not just left there to flounder or noodle his/her way through how best to use this communication utility. He/she learns about many of the features of a good program that will make sending and

receiving messages less intimidating. Last, the student explores using the Internet from the simplest approach of using of choosing where to go from a classified list of possible destinations. Once this is explored, the student is shown how to use today’s powerful search engines. Both during use of the destination list and the search engine, the learner experiences the ways that results are returned to his/her screen and so will see the results of his/her exploration of this fascinating technology.

Here is what the text looks like

First we must learn where the keys are on the keyboard.

Today's most popular keyboard design came from Digital Equipment Company of Maynard, Massachusetts. You may have heard of the VT 101 keyboard but most likely not. This design has changed little over the last almost 30 years. It features a row of "function keys" across the top, a "numeric pad" on the right hand side and an assortment of special purpose keys between the pad and the keyboard arrangement that resembles that of a typewriter. Many of the keys you will be asked to use in the lessons that follow are identified by "callout" boxes that surround the picture on the next page.

Numeric Pad

Alt

Enter

Shift

Arrow Keys

Ctrl

Now a few conventions

We will abbreviate the name for each key and separate these names with a slash (/) or tell you what to point at and press (click) the left hand button on the mouse.

Using keyboard commands, for example:

So the computer program can understand that you are giving a command and not just entering information, you must hold down one or two keys and press an additional key or position the mouse pointer and press the mouse button. We will give the name for each key the same way it is given on your keyboard and separate these names with a slash (/) or tell you what to point at and press (click) the left hand button on the mouse.

Most keys on your keyboard are all set to repeat if you hold them down for a short time. To keep them from doing this and causing you a problem be sure to push them down and let them up them quickly. Three keys will not repeat or do any damage to your work. You can hold them down for long periods of time. These three keys are: Shift, Alt, Ctrl.

Just to remind you that you can hold a particular key down, I will give you the name of that key and follow it with a slash. For instance, Alt/ means to hold down the Alt key. A letter such as F without a slash following it means to momentarily press or “tap” that key because it will repeat. For instance, Alt/F tells you to hold the Alt key down and “tap” or momentarily press the F key.

Ctrl/Shift/F means to hold down both the Ctrl key and the Shift key while momentarily pressing or “tapping” the letter F. e.g. Ctrl/Shift/F.

Key commands are given by holding down the first one, two, or three keys and momentarily pressing the last key. Do not hold all of the keys down for any period of time because the computer is set to automatically repeat all but certain special keys such as Ctrl, Alt, and Shift keys.

Using the mouse to issue commands:

Click on File means to put the mouse pointer on the word File then press the left mouse button while still on the word File.

Starting the computer for the first time.

For those of you who have never done this it can be a scary situation. What do you do so you don’t mess it up? What makes this thing turn on, where is the switch, or what happens after I turn it on? Well … not much. The machine turns on, you hear a fan start running, and you see something start to come up on your monitor’s screen (if you have also turned the monitor on or if the monitor is set to turn on when the computer does.

So we can get started, we will assume that your computer has something like Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 or XP in it as an operating system. Remember what we just said a page or two ago, a computer cannot work unless it has an operating system of some type installed. But …. the operating system only sets the thing up so it can use what we called “application programs”. Application programs are what helps you (the operator) make the computer perform work for you. The operating system connects the application program to all the parts of the computer that it needs to do the different tasks that you want it to do.

Turn it on …

You will have to look around for the main switch. In the newer machines there is a button on the front that you press in to make it start. If your monitor is not set so it will turn on at the same time as the computer, you will have to turn that on as well. The monitor’s switch is usually in the front. However, some of the older computers and older monitors had their switches on the side or in the back. So, it you can’t find a switch on the front of either your computer or your monitor, you will have to look either on the side or the back to locate it.

It will take a little while for the computer and monitor to start. The monitor usually is ready before the computer finishes its starting routine. Probably the hardest this to understand is that once you have turned on the switch, the computer spends a lot of time just getting ready to accept your next instruction. So ….. you just have to learn to wait.


Manufacturer Logo	Windows 98 Logo	Desktop ready to use

If you look on the monitor screen, once the “desktop” … the screen has a lot of little pictures scattered all over it with a name under each picture (the computer geeks like to call these pictures “icons”). You will know that everything is ready to go when the mouse pointer (which is usually an arrow but seems to have an hour glass with it while the computer is not ready to accept a command) loses the little hour glass that is right next to it. Sometimes … Windows 95 … the mouse itself changes to an hour glass when the computer is not ready for commands. You just have to wait until the system is ready to work for you.

Bring in your processing program … Word 97, 2000, 2001, 2002 or Works.

Keyboard		Mouse
1.	Hold Ctrl/ press Esc (Ctrl/Esc)	Click Start (point to Start and press the left mouse button)
2.	Press P	Click Programs
3.	Press the arrow keys (sideways and up and down) until Microsoft Word is highlighted with blue	Move the Mouse Pointer around until Microsoft Word is highlighted with blue
4.	Press Enter¿	Click the left mouse button