How to use a computer
Computers are operated by the user(s) (a person or people who use the computer), by using input devices such as a mouse, touchsreen and keyboard. Navigating (moving to where you want to be) throughout the computer to complete tasks (actions), gives the user freedom to access and use many features and functions of the computer. A user can change settings of the hardware and software, write documents, store photos or send emails. Navigation skills allow users to utilise the full capacity of the computer, its capabilities and benefits that it provides. Trial and error may occur when training to use a computer, so it s recommended to not change too many settings if you are a beginner. Over time, you can develop and improve new computer skills, giving you more knowledge of how to use the computer which will in turn, then increase your ability to do more things that you want to do on the computer and with the computer. The internet is the biggest source of openly available information medium today. You can search for how to fix a problem and investigate by yourself, the solution. Knowing what keywords to use in Find or Search functions, will give you the advantage of getting the answer quickly.
How to use a mouse and keyboard with a windows-style desktop computer or tablet
The use of a mouse and keyboard are the basic requirements for a user (person) to operate (use) a windows desktop computer or tablet. All operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, Apple iOS, Linux and Android, use a click or tap function operation to perform simple navigation and to complete tasks, such as: opening a folder or file, moving or copying a file or folder, opening an app or changing settings.
How to use a standard mouse
A modern standard mouse is typically made of a body (which fits into the palm of a person’s hand), a left-click button (located at the front of the mouse) and a right-click button (also located at the front of the mouse). A user moves the mouse body using their hand, which moves the mouse pointer to where a user (person) wants to perform some action, function or change some type of setting in the computer.
Moving the mouse pointer
The mouse pointer (typically the shape of a triangular-shaped arrow) is how a user (person) uses the computer: by moving the mouse pointer into the position where the user wants to perform some action. The mouse pointer is used for selecting a file or folder (by hovering the mouse pointer over the top of it [above it,]), navigating (moving) through a menu of options to ‘get to’ a menu option which performs some function such as: to change a setting or open a program (app/application), selecting a file or folder (by clicking on a file or folder once [one time] using the left mouse or touchpad button), opening a file or folder by double-clicking on it, moving a file or folder by first selecting it with one click of the left mouse or touchpad button then holding down the left-click mouse or touchpad button and dragging it (the file or folder by dragging the mouse whilst holding down the left-click button) into the position where you want to move it to (relocate it to) or right click on a file or folder to perform secondary functions or actions, the mouse pointer is the main desktop file operating system feature, which people use to operate the computer, allowing them to do what they want.
Left Click
Most computer operations are conducted using the ‘Left-Click’ button on a mouse or touchpad.
1-click will select ANY file or folder, however, only Double-Clicking each file and folder will either open the file or that folder.
Right Click
The Right-Click function (or feature) presents (gives) users options – as a listed menu of options.
Typical options include:
Open: Open that file or folder
Open in New Tab: Opens that file or folder into a New Tab.
Open in New Window: Opens that file or folder into a new Window.
Open With: Gives the user a selection of choices of how or with what you would like to open that file or folder with.
Send To: This function gives the user options of sending that file or folder to another location, such as a USB drive, a DVD or their second drive (e.g. D Drive, E Drive or F Drive). Basically this function allows a user to send any file or folder to another location, other than their OS drive location (which is usually the C Drive for MS Windows OS’s), however, it can also be sent there.
Cut: Ctrl + X = remove that file or folder
Copy: Ctrl + C = copy that item, which can be ‘pasted’ (Ctrl + V) into another location.
Paste: Ctrl + V = paste a file or folder into a folder or location.
Move to Trash: Move that selected file or folder into the trash for Deletion (Empty, Erase or Delete).
Rename: This is a valuable feature, which allows the user to ‘rename’ the file or folder to a new name. Very handy!
Create Archive: Gives the user the option of compressing that file or in particular, a folder, a compression format such as .zip. This means that the file or folder is ‘crushed’ or compressed into a smaller size, which is particularly useful for minimising storage or sending via email (good for saving space or size).
Find/Search in this Folder: Ctrl + F. This function gives the user the option of being able to search inside that folder (directory) for any particular words (keywords) used within a file or folder, the actual name of a file or folder with search results showing the exact location of each file or folder that contains those keyword search requests.
Properties:
File:
Name: The name of the file.
Kind: What type of file that it is, such as a PDF or Text document, MP4 Movie file etc.
Location: This is the exact location of the file.
Modified: This is the date when the file was modified (changed).
Accessed: This is the date when the file was opened, but not changed; or changed.
Size: This is the size of the file in Kilobytes, Megabytes or Gigabytes.
Folder:
Folder properties are similar to file properties, however, they have extra security functionality, including ‘permissions.’
Permissions are an important feature of computer, file, folder, smartphone or app security, because they permit (allow) or deny (do not allow) access to users or groups. Basically, permissions are split into (divided into) Users and Groups.
Groups have members. Members are Users.
You can grant access or deny access permissions for Users or Groups.
If a User is a member of a Group and the Group has permissions to access a file or folder, then ALL members (Users) of that particular group, can access those files and/or folders.
How to use a standard touchpad (notebook/laptop)
Using the touchpad is exactly the same as using a wired or wireless mouse, except instead of using the body of the mouse to move the mouse pointer around to the user’s desired position, you use your finger to move the mouse pointer by sliding it or dragging it around the rectangular area of the flat 2-dimensional touchpad area, inside the border of the touchpad (drag and lift your finger repeatedly, to where your want the mouse pointer to be).
How to use and ‘get around’ (navigate) the computer
File Explorer (Navigation)
In every computer which uses a typical desktop file operating system, there is a file explorer. This feature allows the user or users to store, create, copy, move, delete (remove) and navigate throughout the file system. This hierarchical structure is the same as a physical filing cabinet, but in a virtual computing environment. It functions in the same manner: i.e. (that is), the main filing cabinet is the file explorer of the computer, then inside of the filing cabinet are sliding draws containing folders and then inside each folder are documents (also known as ‘files’).
Main Menu/Application/Programs/Accessories/Utilities/Settings
Every GUI (graphical user interface) computer contains a main menu, from where you can access separate sub-menus, including: applications (also called apps or programs), accessories, utilities and settings.
Applications/Programs
This is where all of your apps (also known as applications or programs) are stored.
Accessories
Accessories are small programs/apps that perform important functions when you need to do certain tasks, such as write something quickly or use a calculator to ‘crunch’ some numbers. Some examples of typical software accessories, include:
Calculator: do all the calculations you need easily on your computer
Character Map: useful for using all kinds/sorts of different keyboard characters.
Notepad/Mousepad: useful for writing things quickly in a text document file (document.txt). Text files (.txt files) are compatible with virtually all computer software systems and can be read easily. They are the simplest form of a document and can be opened, read, written to and saved easily!
Font manager: to select and arrange the fonts (text styles) that you want.
Notes: similar to sticky note, this accessory allows you to write sticky notes on your computer, just like the paper type, digital.
Screenshot: take a snapshot (picture/photo) of your screen using this handy accessory that you can save as different picture format types. For example a .jpeg or .gif photo file.
Task manager: stop and start running apps as well as monitor running tasks currently in operation by the computer. You can view the amount of processor use that each app is using as a total percentage of the processor’s performance ability/capacity (e.g. 1% processor power useage)
Utilities
In utilities, you will find a list of utilities (mini software programs) that can perform system and device tasks and display information and data about your device. Backups and Restore may be in this section.
Settings
This is where you alter your system settings, so be careful!
How to change settings in the computer
When you make changes to your computer hardware and software, you are entering the zone of ‘you are on your own,’ so to speak. Making changes or altering the system is a risky activity, because of the risk of damaging something and not being able to reverse the situation.
Therefore, the general pubic tend to hire computer technicians to peform the task of configuring technological devices. All of the options are available for the user to change almost everything to do with your computer. Networking, connecting, watching visually or listening phonetically using audio, printing etc. - your machine can be useful for so many things. At first, fax machines were popular, then ISDN, then dial-up modem, then cable, fibre-optic and now high speed mobile and satellite connections as well as a more secure WiFI, with faster speeds.
Changing the desktop
The desktop comes under the modern setting name of ‘Appearance.’ It kind of makes sense as a new and modern name, because people know what appearance means – it means, what something looks like, hence the name Appearance. In there, you change almost anything that is visually built-in to the system desktop. Font size, Folder size and arrangement, Menus, Colours, Layouts and Designs (Themes), Change Desktop Background Picture, etc.