Using Your Computer

1. Using Your Computer Basic Computer Skills

2. Turning It On! • If you are using a desktop computer (it has a “tower” box), there is usually a power switch on the back of the big box • This switch is probably labeled with a “1” and “0”

3. The Power Switch

4. Turning It On! • This is the only switch that truly turns your computer off, but you don’t need to use it after the first time you set up your computer • Make sure the “1” side is pressed in

5. Turning It On! • On the front side of the tower box, or somewhere on a laptop, there is another power switch

6. Turning It On! • This is usually labeled with a symbol like this • The odd symbol makes sense to engineers, and no one else

7. Turning It On! • Normally, when you turn your computer on, you will use this switch

8. Turning It On! • For desktop computers, there is generally another switch for the monitor • This switch can be anywhere (including on the back!)

9. Turning It On! • To turn on your computer, press the “On” button briefly, and release it • You may hear some faint noises, and see some small lights flickering as the computer gets ready to work, then the screen lights up

10. Turning It On! • You don’t have to turn off the monitor when you turn off your computer, as it will “go to sleep” when the computer is off • For laptops, there is no separate switch for the screen

11. Logging In • Depending on how the computer was set up, you may see a “login screen” • Windows allows you to make the computer look the way you want it to, and other users to make it look the way they want it to

12. Logging In • For this to work, you have to tell the computer who you are • You do this by logging in • To log in, you move the mouse pointer over your name, or the picture above it, and click (press and release the mouse button)

13. The Login Screen

14. Logging In • In some settings, to keep information private, logins also have passwords. • If the computer you are using has been set up this way, you will be asked to type your password • As you type, you won’t see the letters you type, just dots

15. Entering a Password

16. Turning It On • After you’ve entered your password, the computer will wake up, and you’ll see the “desktop”

17. The Desktop

18. Mouse Practice Now that we have turned the computer on, we can practice using the mouse

19. Holding the Mouse • The mouse is designed to gently support your hand

20. Holding the Mouse • Drape your hand over the body of the mouse, with your thumb on one side, and little finger on the other • Your index finger should fall “naturally” onto the left mouse-button

21. Holding the Mouse

22. Holding the Mouse • Wired Mice • If you think of the cord of the mouse as it’s tail, you’d want to hold it with the cord at your wrist, so the mouse could see • In fact, you hold the mouse with the wire at your fingertips

23. Holding the Mouse • Wireless Mice • If your mouse is “wireless,” you hold it with your fingers resting on the buttons, and around the wheel

24. Sliding the Mouse • When you were young, you probably learned not to slide dishes on the table. You pick them up to pass them

25. Sliding the Mouse • The mouse must be slid across the table to work. You can use a protective pad (called a mouse pad) under the mouse, but it must be touching the table (or pad) to work

26. Sliding the Mouse • When you hold the mouse correctly, you should find the movement easy and natural • Sliding the mouse to the right or left should move the mouse pointer right or left

27. Sliding the Mouse • Pushing the mouse away from you moves the pointer up the screen • Pulling the mouse toward you moves the pointer down the screen

28. “Rowing” the mouse • Because of the way the mouse works, you may find that you get to the edge of the mouse pad or table before the pointer gets to the place you are looking for

29. “Rowing” the mouse • When this happens, you can pick the mouse up a bit off of the table, and place it back onto the table • When the mouse is in the air, it doesn’t know it’s moving

30. “Rowing” the mouse • When you put the mouse down again, you can continue moving the pointer to your target

31. “Rowing” the mouse • You may have to repeat this several times for long moves. • This is called “rowing” the mouse, because it is like rowing a boat – many small movements equals one large one

32. Positioning the Mouse • The only part of the mouse pointer that is active is the very tip

33. Positioning the Mouse • When you want to point with the mouse, the tip must be over the thing being pointed to

34. Clicking • With the tip of the arrow over the thing you want to point to, you “click” to tell the computer that this is the thing you want to work on • To click the mouse, you press and release the left mouse button, without moving the mouse

35. Clicking • Many elders find this difficult, as pressing can cause a small movement of the mouse • If you have difficulty with clicks, consider adding the “Elder Interface” adaptations to your computer

36. Right-Click • Clicking the right (opposite of left) button is called “right clicking” • Each part of the computer and its software has a set of things that can be done to or with it

37. Right-Click • To see what can be done with an icon, you right click on it, to open a “contextual menu” • This is a small menu next to the thing clicked on

38. Right-Click • However, you can do the same thing with a special “menu” key on the keyboard, which is more consistent • It is almost never necessary to do a right-click, so we will always use the left mouse button

39. Double-Click • When you click on something, you are telling the computer that your next instruction should be done “to” this thing • The builders like to say “Noun, then verb”

40. Double-Click • Sometimes you want a thing (file or program) to do something (start, open in a program, etc.) • Most manuals and instructors tell you to do this with a double-click • A double-click is two clicks, very quickly, in the same spot

41. Double-Click • Many elders find double-clicking to be more than twice as difficult as a single-click • Not only is it two clicks, they must be done very quickly, and without moving the mouse

42. Double-Click • Fortunately, you don’t need to double-click • You can do the same thing by clicking once, then pressing the Enter key on the keyboard

43. Dragging • Just like in the real world, you sometimes want to put things away on your computer, or move them to another spot • This is done by “dragging” on the computer

44. Dragging • When you move the mouse pointer over something, it is “floating” above that thing • When you click the mouse, the pointer briefly touches the thing, then lifts up again • Think of this as a tap on the shoulder

45. Dragging • If you hold the mouse button down, it’s like closing your fingers on the thing, or “holding” it • While you are holding something, if you move the mouse, the thing moves along with the mouse pointer

46. Dragging • If you release the mouse button, you “drop” the thing you were dragging at the place you let go

47. Dragging • Dragging takes some practice, so don’t get frustrated if you drop things now and then • You can just pick them up and start a new drag

48. Let’s get started! • Your starting point for most activities will be the “Start” menu • Move the mouse pointer over the start button • Remember to slide your mouse on the tabletop • Remember to put the tip of the arrow on the button

49. Let’s get started! • Click the mouse • Press and release the left mouse button • The Start Menu opens!

50. The Start Menu • The Start Menu is a special menu, with a special design