In the last lesson, we learned about hardware. Now, let's learn how to use that hardware to operate a computer.
In this lesson, we'll go over the basic elements of what you see on your screen.
In this lesson, we'll go over the basic elements of what you see on your screen.
1. Cursor
A cursor is the little arrow that moves on your screen when you move your mouse. On Apple Mac devices, it appears as a small black arrow, while on Microsoft Windows devices, it is a small white arrow.
As you drag the mouse, the cursor moves in the corresponding direction on the screen. Once you are ready to select something on the screen, you press on the left button of your mouse or trackpad. Pressing a button on your mouse or trackpad to activate the cursor is known as "clicking".
Cursors change shape depending on what they are placed on. If they are on something clickable, they turn into pointing hands. If something is loading, they will turn into spinning wheels. If they are on top of any text, they will become an I-Beam (Try that out right now, on this text!).
A cursor is the little arrow that moves on your screen when you move your mouse. On Apple Mac devices, it appears as a small black arrow, while on Microsoft Windows devices, it is a small white arrow.
As you drag the mouse, the cursor moves in the corresponding direction on the screen. Once you are ready to select something on the screen, you press on the left button of your mouse or trackpad. Pressing a button on your mouse or trackpad to activate the cursor is known as "clicking".
Cursors change shape depending on what they are placed on. If they are on something clickable, they turn into pointing hands. If something is loading, they will turn into spinning wheels. If they are on top of any text, they will become an I-Beam (Try that out right now, on this text!).
2. Files
A file is a single item on your computer. You can store a myriad of file types on your computer, including pictures, audio (including music, recordings, and other clips), video, text documents. These files can be organized into folders.
You can view and/or organize your files both on your desktop (see below), or in your file manager. On Windows computers, the file manager is called Windows Explorer, and on Mac computers, it is known as Finder.
A file is a single item on your computer. You can store a myriad of file types on your computer, including pictures, audio (including music, recordings, and other clips), video, text documents. These files can be organized into folders.
You can view and/or organize your files both on your desktop (see below), or in your file manager. On Windows computers, the file manager is called Windows Explorer, and on Mac computers, it is known as Finder.
3. Programs/Applications
Programs, which are increasingly becoming known as applications (apps), are a set of instructions for your computer to follow. Essentially, they receive input from your clicks and keystrokes (pressing keys on your keyboard), and output a pre-programmed set of actions.
An example of an app is a browser, which is used to access websites on the internet. When you type the address of a website into the address bar (input), it takes you to that website (output). Other examples include messaging apps, including Skype. You input your message content, and it uses the internet to output a message to your intended recipient.
Programs, which are increasingly becoming known as applications (apps), are a set of instructions for your computer to follow. Essentially, they receive input from your clicks and keystrokes (pressing keys on your keyboard), and output a pre-programmed set of actions.
An example of an app is a browser, which is used to access websites on the internet. When you type the address of a website into the address bar (input), it takes you to that website (output). Other examples include messaging apps, including Skype. You input your message content, and it uses the internet to output a message to your intended recipient.
4. Desktop
The desktop is the main page of your computer. You can place almost any item on it. Most people use it to house the items that they use most often, or those that they are currently working with.
The items are represented by small pictures of the item itself or of the type of item (image, audio, video, document, etc), called thumbnails, with their name underneath.
You can reorganize the items on your desktop by clicking on them, holding the click, dragging the cursor to wherever you want the item to be, and letting go of the click.
The desktop is the main page of your computer. You can place almost any item on it. Most people use it to house the items that they use most often, or those that they are currently working with.
The items are represented by small pictures of the item itself or of the type of item (image, audio, video, document, etc), called thumbnails, with their name underneath.
You can reorganize the items on your desktop by clicking on them, holding the click, dragging the cursor to wherever you want the item to be, and letting go of the click.
5a. Taskbar and Start Menu (Windows)
The taskbar is a bar at the bottom of the screen on Windows computers. It contains the start menu button (the light blue Windows icon on the far left, a few pinned shortcuts to apps that you can customize, and smaller icons to the far right that provide the status of certain settings and processes, such as volume.
When you click the start menu button, it opens the—you guessed it—start menu! The start menu includes shortcuts to shut down and sleep your computer, all your apps, settings, and a few tiles which you can link to an application or to show weather and news.
The taskbar is a bar at the bottom of the screen on Windows computers. It contains the start menu button (the light blue Windows icon on the far left, a few pinned shortcuts to apps that you can customize, and smaller icons to the far right that provide the status of certain settings and processes, such as volume.
When you click the start menu button, it opens the—you guessed it—start menu! The start menu includes shortcuts to shut down and sleep your computer, all your apps, settings, and a few tiles which you can link to an application or to show weather and news.
5b. Dock and Menu Bar (Mac)
The dock is a bar at the bottom of the screen on Mac computers. It is fully customizable, and you can place whatever programs you wish to on the left side of the separator, and any file or folder on the right side. To the far right is the trash, which is where you drag all unwanted files to delete them.
The menu bar is a set of lists of operations specific to each app. If you open the Finder, you will be presented with File, Edit, View, Go, Window, and Help menus. An example of an operation in the File menu is "New folder", which creates a new folder in the Finder window that is open, and if none are open, on the Desktop. To the far right are menus created by open applications, which are there even if they aren't the current app you are using.
The dock is a bar at the bottom of the screen on Mac computers. It is fully customizable, and you can place whatever programs you wish to on the left side of the separator, and any file or folder on the right side. To the far right is the trash, which is where you drag all unwanted files to delete them.
The menu bar is a set of lists of operations specific to each app. If you open the Finder, you will be presented with File, Edit, View, Go, Window, and Help menus. An example of an operation in the File menu is "New folder", which creates a new folder in the Finder window that is open, and if none are open, on the Desktop. To the far right are menus created by open applications, which are there even if they aren't the current app you are using.