UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

FACULTY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND BUSINESS EDUCATION

LECTURE NOTES
COURSE ID: GEN 105
COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Computers and Computing

PREPARED BY:

Mr Adusei Richard

University for Development Studies

Faculty of Education
Department of Social Science and Business Education
OUTLINE OF COURSE
Course Description
With no computer experience assumed, the course will expose students to the understanding and
application of knowledge in computers in relation to processing of documents as well as undertaking
simple quantitative analyses. The course content covers types of computers, the computer hardware, the
computer software, handling computers including safety precautions, operating systems, booting,
Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint presentation and Microsoft Access.
By way of undertaking simple quantitative analyses, students are introduced to IBM SPSS.

Objective
The objectives for Introduction to Computers and Computing will enable the student to use the computer
effectively in a multitude of academic scenarios.

 Understand the basic parts of a computer system and their relationships

 Master the basic functions of the Windows operating system
 Understand and use basic computer terminology
 Master print commands to produce attractive hard copies of work
 Design document layouts that are creative and properly formatted
 Master the basic uses and procedures of word processing software
 Master the basic uses and procedures of spread sheet software
 Master the basic uses and procedures of presentation software
 Master the basic uses and procedures of specialised software – IBM SPSS
 Understand the rules and etiquette of Internet access and how to source for relevant information
from the internet
 Master the basic uses and procedures of Internet software

The course is will provide practical appreciation of computers and computing. It is also expected to give
students the interest to further develop and apply their skills in learning activities and subsequently in
their working environments.

Outline of Topics
1. Introduction to Computers and Information Processing Cycle
  What are Computers – Advantages and Limitations
 About hardware and Software
 Information Processing Cycle
 Data and Information
 The Role and types of Computers
 Parts of a Computer
 Using a Computer
 Using a Keyboard
 Using a Mouse

2. Introduction to Internet
 What is the Internet?
 Types of Information you can access
 Moving through a Web page
 Hyperlinks
 Internet Browsers
 Internet addresses (URLs)
 Communicating Using the Internet
 Searching the Web
 A Basic Search
 Searching with Google
 Evaluating Websites
 Commonly used Internet terms

3. Word Processor
 About a Word Processor
 Introduction to Microsoft Word
 Creating and Managing Files
 Editing and Formatting Text
 Formatting Pages and Printing a Document
 Creating Tables and adding graphics
 Working with Styles
 Working with Long Documents – Creating Table of Contents, List of Tables and Figures and
Page numbering.
4. Spread sheet
 About a Spread sheet
 Working with the Excel Interface
 Basic Workbook Skills
 Formatting a Worksheet
 Managing Worksheets
 Creating and Modifying Charts
 Using Formulas and Functions
 Printing Worksheets
 Using the Help Function
5. Presentation (Graphics) Software
  Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint
 Exploring the User Interface
 Creating, Saving and Closing Presentation
 Formatting a Presentation
 Inserting Images
 Viewing a Presentation in different ways
 Previewing and Printing a Presentation
 Essential tips for a successful Presentation
6. SPSS Statistics *****************************
 Introduction to SPSS
 Starting SPSS Statistics
 Introducing the SPSS Interface
 Entering and modifying Data
 Descriptive Statistics
 Data Manipulation
 Reports
 Charting your Data

Mode of Assessment:
Practical Exercises (*Assignments Inclusive): - 10%
Mid-Trimester Examination - 15%
End of Trimester Examination - 75%
Others

UNIT 1: Introduction to Computers and Computing

INTRODUCTION
Definition: A Computer is an electronic device that can perform activities that involve Mathematical,
Logical and graphical manipulations. Generally, the term is used to describe a collection of devices that
function together as a system.
It performs the following three operations in sequence.
1. It receives data & instructions from the input device.
2. Processes the data as per instructions.
3. Provides the result (output) in a desired form.

Advantages of computers:
 High speed: Computers have the ability to perform routine tasks at a greater speed than human
beings. They can perform millions of calculations in seconds.
 Accuracy: Computers are used to perform tasks in a way that ensures accuracy.
 Storage: Computers can store large amount of information. Any item of data or any instruction
stored in the memory can be retrieved by the computer at lightning speeds.
 Automation: Computers can be instructed to perform complex tasks automatically (which increases
the productivity).
 Diligence: Computers can perform the same task repeatedly & with the same accuracy without
getting tired.
 Versatility: Computers are flexible to perform both simple and complex tasks.
 Cost effectiveness: Computers reduce the amount of paper work and human effort, thereby reducing
costs.
Limitations of computers:
 Computers need clear & complete instructions to perform a task accurately. If the instructions are
not clear & complete, the computer will not produce the required result.
 Computers cannot think.
 Computers cannot learn by experience.

Generations of Computers

Generation Component used

FirstGeneration (1946-1954) Vacuumtubes
 SecondGeneration (1955-1965) Transistors
ThirdGeneration (1968-1975) IntegratedCircuits(IC)
FourthGeneration ( 1976-1980) VeryLarge Scale IntegratedCircuits
(VLSI)
FifthGeneration (1980–tilltoday) Ultra Scale IntegratedCircuits(ULSI)
Micro Processor(SILICONCHIP)
Hardware and Software
Hardware: Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. Hardware refers to the
parts of a computer that you can see and touch, including the case and everything inside it. The most
important piece of hardware is a tiny rectangular chip inside your computer called the central processing
unit (CPU), or microprocessor. It's the "brain" of your computer—the part that translates instructions and
performs calculations. Hardware items such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other
components are often called hardware devices, or devices.

Software: It refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do. The most important
software on the computer is the operating system, which controls and manages the hardware connected
to your computer. The operating system provides an interface that helps you to interact with the
computer. A word processing program that you can use to write letters on your computer is a type of
software. The operating system (OS) is software that manages your computer and the devices connected
to it. Two well-known operating systems are Windows and Macintosh operating system.
There are three categories of software namely:
 Systems Software: These are programs that coordinate the activities and functions of the hardware
and other programs. The system software acts as a mediator between application programs and the
computer system’s hardware, as well as between the PC and the user. The system software makes
the physical machine do work. E.g. Operating Systems, translators etc.
 Utility Software: It is system software designed to help analyse, configure, optimize or maintain a
computer. A single piece of utility software is usually called a utility or tool.
Utility software usually focuses on how the computer infrastructure (including the computer
hardware, operating system, and application software and data storage) operates. E.g. Anti-virus
utilities, disk defragmenters, disk checkers, Data compression utilities etc.
 Application Software: is the software which allows users to do things like creating text documents,
playing games, listening to music or viewing websites. They help users solve particular computing
problems or allow a user to perform specific tasks on a computer. The application software makes
the system software do work. Examples are,
 Microsoft Office
 Adobe Photoshop
 Windows and other Media Player
  Web Browsers like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome
ANATOMY OF COMPUTERS
The computer system consists of three units:
1. Input device
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
3. Output device

Block diagram of a Computer:

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

Memory Unit

INPUT DEVICE ALU OUTPUT DEVICE

Control Unit

The various functions of these units can be summarized as:

Unit Function

1. Input device: Reads information from input media and enters to the
computerin a coded form
2. CPU
a) Memory unit: Stores program and data
b) Arithmetic Logic unit: Performs arithmetic and logical functions
c) Control Unit : Interprets program instructions and controls the input
and output devices
3. Output device: decodes information and presents it to the user

MEMORY OF THE COMPUTER

Memory or storage capacity is one of the important components of a computer. Any storage unit of a
computer system is classified on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Access time: This is the time required to locate and retrieve stored data from the storage unit in
response to program instructions.
2. Storage capacity: It is the amount of data that can be stored in the storage unit.
3. Cost per bit of storage.
Units of memory:

The computer stores a character in the storage cells with binary (0, 1) mechanism. Thus the basic unit of
memory is a bit (binary digit – 0, 1). To store a character, a computer requires 8 bits or 1 byte. This is
called the ― word length‖ of the storage unit. Hence the storage capacity of the computer is measured in
the number of words it can store and is expressed in terms of bytes. The different units of measurement
are

8 Bits = 1 Byte
1024 Bytes= 1 Kilo Byte (KB)
1024 KB = 1 Mega Byte (MB)
1024 MB = 1 Gega Byte (GB)

Types of Memory:
A computer memory is of two types;
1. Primary Memory (Internal Storage): Primary memory is also called internal memory and is an
important part of a computer. It is the main area in a computer where the data is stored. The stored
data can be recalled instantly and correctly whenever desired. This memory can be quickly accessed
by the CPU for reading or storing information. Primary memory is further classified into two types:
 Random Access Memory (RAM)
 Read- Only Memory (ROM )

RAM:RAM is also known as read/write memory as information can be read from and written onto
it. RAM is a place in a computer that holds instructions for the computer, its programs and the data.
The CPU can directly access the data from RAM almost immediately. However, the storage of data
and instructions in RAM is temporary, till the time the computer is running. It disappears from
RAM as soon as the power to the computer is switched off i.e. it is volatile memory.

ROM: It is called Read-only memory as information can only be read from and not written or
changed onto ROM. ROM is the built-in-memory of a computer. It stores some basic input – output
instructions put by the manufacturer to operate the computer. The storage of data and instructions in
ROM is permanent. It does not depend on the power supply i.e. it is non-volatile memory.
2. Secondary Memory (External storage): The primary memory which is faster (and hence expensive)
is generally not sufficient for large storage of data. As a result, additional memory, called the
―auxiliary‖ or ―secondary memory‖ is used. It is also referred as ―backup storage‖ as it is used to
store large volume of data on a permanent basis which can be transferred to the primary memory
whenever required for processing. Data are stored in secondary storage in the same binary codes as
in the main (primary memory) storage. Some of the devices of secondary storages are Floppy Disk,
Hard Disk, CD-ROM, DVD and Flash drive.

Information Processing Cycle

This refers to the series of identifiable steps the computer goes through to accept and process data into
information, store the information for future use, and/or share it with others. This process is divided into
four (4) basic steps, which include; Input, Process, Output, Storage, and communication.

Input: -This is any data or instruction you enter into a computer. This is done by means of input devices.
The six commonly used input devices are, the keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, digital camera,
and PC camera

Process: - this is the interpretation and manipulation performed on data and instructions to produce a
result (information). This task is performed by the Central Procession Unit (CPU).

Output: - This is any data that has been processed into information. The output devices of the computer
are responsible for this task, examples of which include; monitor, printer, and speakers.

Storage: - This is an area in a computer that can hold data and information for future use.Examples of
the commonly used storage devices include; Hard Disk drive (HDD), Compact disk (CD), DVD, Floppy
Disk Drive, and Pen Drives

Data and Information

Data
All computer processing requires data, which is a collection of raw facts, figures and symbols given to
the computer during the input phase. Example: Names of students and their marks in different subjects
listed in random order.

Information
Computers manipulate data to create information. Information is data that is processed and presented in
an organized, meaningful manner for use. Example: When the names of students are arranged in
alphabetical order, total and average marks are calculated & presented in a tabular form, it is information.
During the output phase, the information that has been created is put into some form, such as a printed
report. The information can also be put in computer storage for future use.

Parts of a computer
A computer is a system of many parts working together. The physical parts, which you can see and
touch, are collectively called hardware. (Software, on the other hand, refers to the instructions, or
programs, that tell the hardware what to do.)

The illustration below shows the most common hardware in a desktop computer system. A laptop
computer has similar parts but combines them into a single notebook-sized package.

Desktop computer system

System unit
The system unit is the core of a computer system. Usually it's a rectangular box placed on or underneath
your desk. Inside this box are many electronic components that process information. The most important
of these components is the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the "brain"
of your computer. Another component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily stores
information that the CPU uses while the computer is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when
the computer is turned off.

Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit using cables. The cables plug into
specific ports (openings), typically on the back of the system unit. Hardware that is not part of the system
unit is sometimes called a peripheral device or device.
 System unit

Storage
Your computer has one or more disk drives—devices that store information on a metal or plastic disk.
The disk preserves the information even when your computer is turned off.

Hard disk drive

The computer's hard disk drive stores information on a hard disk, a rigid platter or stack of platters with a
magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of information, they usually serve as
your computer's primary means of storage, holding almost all of your programs and files. The hard disk
drive is normally located inside the system unit.

Hard disk drive

CD and DVD drives

CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk–Read Only Memory. It is used to store a wide variety of information.
Its main advantage is that it is portable and can hold a large amount of data. The storage capacity of most
CD-ROMs is approximately 650 MB or 700 MB.
CD-ROMs have the following variations:
a) CD-R (Compact disc Recordable): Data can be written onto it just once. The stored data can be
read. Data once written onto it cannot be erased.
 b) CD-RW (Compact disc Rewritable): It is also called erasable CD. Data once written onto it can be
erased to write or record new information many times.
To use a CD-ROM, a device called CD drive is needed.

CD-ROM CD Drive

DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc. It is similar to a CD-ROM, except that it can store larger amounts
of data. The storage capacity of a DVD is at least 4.7GB. DVDs that can store up to 17GBs are also
available. Because of their capacity, DVDs are generally used to store a very large multimedia
presentations and movies that combine high quality sound and graphics.

Floppy disk drive

Floppy disk drives store information on floppy disks, also called floppies or diskettes. Compared to CDs
and DVDs, floppy disks can store only a small amount of data. They also retrieve information more
slowly and are more prone to damage. For these reasons, floppy disk drives are less popular than they
used to be, although some computers still include them.

Floppy disk

Why are floppy disks "floppy"? Even though the outside is made of hard plastic, that's just the sleeve.
The disk inside is made of a thin, flexible vinyl material.

Mouse
Itisadevicethatcontrolsthemovementofthecursoronamonitor.Amousewillhave2
buttonsonitstop.Theleftbuttonisthemostfrequentlyusedbutton.Therewillbeawheelbetween the
leftandrightbuttons.Thiswheelenablesustosmoothly scrollthroughscreensofinformation.Aswe
movethemouse,thepointeronthemonitor movesinthesamedirection.Opticalmouse isanother
advancedpointingdevicethatusesalightemitting componentinsteadofthemouseball.Mousecannot beused
forenteringthedata.Itisonlyusefultoselecttheoptionson thescreen.
 Mouse

A mouse usually has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button.
Many mice also have a wheel between the two buttons, which allows you to scroll smoothly through
screens of information.

When you move the mouse with your hand, a pointer on your screen moves in the same direction. (The
pointer's appearance might change depending on where it's positioned on your screen.) When you want
to select an item, you point to the item and then click (press and release) the primary button. Pointing and
clicking with your mouse is the main way to interact with your computer.

Keyboard
The Key board is used for typing text into the computer. It is also known as standard Input device. A
computer keyboard is similar to that of a type writer with additional keys. The most commonly available
computer keyboard has 104 keys. There are different types of keys on the keyboard. The keys are
categorized as:
 Alphanumeric keys, including letters & numbers.
 Punctuation keys, such as colon (:), semicolon (;) Question mark (?), Single & double quotes (‗,‖)
 Special keys such as arrow keys, control keys, function keys (F1 to F12), HOME, END etc.

Keyboard

You can also use your keyboard to perform many of the same tasks you can perform with a mouse.
Monitor
A monitor displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that
displays the information is called the screen. Like a television screen, a computer screen can show still or
moving pictures.

There are two basic types of monitors: CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors and LCD (liquid crystal display)
monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD monitors have the advantage of being much thinner
and lighter. CRT monitors, however, are generally more affordable.

LCD monitor (left); CRT monitor (right)

Printer
A printer transfers data from a computer onto paper. The two main types of printers are inkjet
printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers are the most popular printers. They can print in black and
white or in full colour and can produce high-quality photographs when used with special paper. Laser
printers are faster and generally better able to handle heavy use.

Inkjet printer (left); laser printer (right)

Speakers
Speakers are used to play sound. They may be built into the system unit or connected with cables.
Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.
 Computer speakers

Modem
To connect your computer to the Internet, you need a modem. A modem is a device that sends and
receives computer information over a telephone line or high-speed cable. Modems are sometimes built
into the system unit, but higher-speed modems are usually separate components.

Cable modem

Types of computers
Computers range in size and capability. Different types of computers are available in the market today.
The most common computer is the Personal Computer (PC), typically used by individuals and small
businesses. A personal computer is a computer that is designed for use by one person at a time. A
personal computer is used in the workplace to create documents, manage business records, and
communicate with others. It is used in schools to teach lessons, research over the Internet, and work on
assignments. You can also use a personal computer to play games, view videos, and listen to music.
Depending on the size and the purpose of a personal computer, it can be categorized into four different
types: desktop, laptop, handheld, or tablet.

You select a computer depending on the tasks that you want it to perform. For example, if you want to
use the computer to edit photos or play complex games, you need a computer with a fast CPU and a good
display adapter.

Desktop computers
Desktop computers are designed for use at a desk or table. They are typically larger and more powerful
than other types of personal computers. Desktop computers are made up of separate components. The
main component, called the system unit, is usually a rectangular case that sits on or underneath a desk.
Other components, such as the monitor, mouse, and keyboard, connect to the system unit.

Desktop computer

Laptop computers
Laptop computers are lightweight mobile PCs with a thin screen. They are often called notebook
computers because of their small size. Laptops can operate on batteries, so you can take them anywhere.
Unlike desktops, laptops combine the CPU, screen, and keyboard in a single case. The screen folds down
onto the keyboard when not in use.

Laptop computer

Handheld computers
Handheld computers, also called personal digital assistants (PDAs), are battery-powered computers
small enough to carry almost anywhere. Although not as powerful as desktops or laptops, handhelds are
useful for scheduling appointments, storing addresses and phone numbers, and playing games. Some
have more advanced capabilities, such as making telephone calls or accessing the Internet. Instead of
keyboards, handhelds have touch screens that you use with your finger or a stylus (a pen-shaped pointing
tool).
 Handheld computer

Tablet PCs
Tablet PCs are mobile PCs that combine features of laptops and handhelds. Like laptops, they're
powerful and have a built-in screen. Like handhelds, they allow you to write notes or draw pictures on
the screen, usually with a tablet pen instead of a stylus. They can also convert your handwriting into
typed text. Some Tablet PCs are ―convertibles‖ with a screen that swivels and unfolds to reveal a
keyboard underneath.

Tablet PC

The Role of Computers

Computers play a major role in our daily lives. They are used in industries, schools, government offices,
and shops. You can use computers to communicate with your family and friends, create a household
budget, book travel and movie tickets, or manage your business.

In business and industry, you use computers to maintain accounts, create personnel records, track
inventory, prepare presentations and reports, manage projects, and communicate by e-mail.

You can use computers to design any type of publication ranging from simple newsletters to fashion
magazines, marketing materials, books, or newspapers.

In the field of education, trainers can use computers to deliver training through audio-visual learning
aids, maintain student records to track performance, search for information on different topics, and create
or submit assignments.

In government organizations, you use computers to organize information by storing and updating
records. Computers are also used for providing services to citizens. For example, you can view
information on current policies and government issues on a computer.
In the field of medicine, doctors use computers to review medical records of patients. Doctors also use
computers to find information about the latest drugs available to treat a disease. Doctors can also use
computer technology to discuss and share information about various diseases.

You can use computers to view the details of your bank account. Traders use computer technology to get
instant information on stock markets, to trade stocks, and to manage investments.

Scientists use computers for scientific research, and to gather and analyse information. For example, they
use computers to view images from space and to publish information on their recent research.

You can also use computers to create drawings and paintings. Photographers use computers to edit and
enhance pictures. Writers use computers to write content for their books and to also create illustrations.
By using computers, writers can make changes in the content easily and save a lot of time.

In the field of entertainment, you can use computers to listen to music, watch movies, store and print
photographs, send greetings, and play games.

Using the Computer

To turn on acomputer, press the power button on the system unit. When you turn on thecomputer, lights
on the keyboard may blink briefly and you may also hear a beep. This is an indication that the power-on
self-test(POST) has started.

The computer performs a sequence ofquick tests to check whether the motherboard, memory, hard drive,
and other components areworking.

If you hear a series of beeps, the monitor may display a messageindicating thata component is not
functioning. For example, if the keyboardcable isnot attached, an error message may report that there is
no keyboard detected.

After POST, the computer starts the operating system, and then displays the logon screen. You now log
on to the Microsoft®Windows®7 operating system.The operating system allows you to instruct the
computerwhat to do after you have turned it on.

The operating systemcontrols thecomputer’s hardware and also manages thecomputer’s operations and
tasks, such as logging on, logging off, and shutting down.

For example, to log on to Windows 7, you need to type your user name and password. Thesettings for the
user account are applied and you arenow loggedon to Windows 7. After you log on, you can perform
various tasks, such as creating anew file ormodifying anexisting file.
After performing the required tasks, youneed to save the changes you made to the file. You can then log
off from Windows 7. To log off, you need to click Start, and thenclick Log Off.

To securely turn off your computer, you must shutdown Windows 7. To do this, you need to click Start,
and then, at the bottom of the Start menu, click the Shutdown button.

If you encounter problems while using the computer,you can choose the Restartoption to restart the
computer. Todo this, clickRestart intheShutdownWindows dialog box.

On most computers, you should never use the actualpower buttonon thefront ofthe system unit to turn off
the computer unless it stops responding.

Using the Keyboard

Whether you're writing a letter or entering numerical data, your keyboard is the main way to enter
information into your computer. This article covers the basics of keyboard operation and gets you started
with keyboard commands.

Organisation of Keyboard Keys

The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:

 Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and symbol
keys found on a traditional typewriter.

 Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform certain
actions. The most frequently used control keys are CTRL, ALT, the Windows logo key , and ESC.

 Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labelled as F1, F2, F3,
and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from program to program.

 Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or webpages and editing
text. They include the arrow keys, HOME, END, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, DELETE, and
INSERT.

 Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped
together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.

The following illustration shows how these keys are arranged on a typical keyboard. Your keyboard
layout may differ.
How the keys are arranged on a keyboard

Using keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are ways to perform actions by using your keyboard. They're called shortcuts because
they help you work faster. In fact, almost any action or command you can perform with a mouse can be
performed faster using one or more keys on your keyboard.

In Help topics, a plus sign (+) between two or more keys indicates that those keys should be pressed in
combination. For example, CTRL+A means to press and hold CTRL and then press A. CTRL+SHIFT+A
means to press and hold CTRL and SHIFT and then press A.

Find program shortcuts

You can do things in most programs by using the keyboard. To see which commands have keyboard
shortcuts, open a menu. The shortcuts (if available) are shown next to the menu items.

Keyboard shortcuts appear next to menu

items
Useful shortcuts

The following table lists some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts.

Press this To do this

Windows logo Open the Start menu

key

ALT+TAB Switch between open programs or windows

ALT+F4 Close the active item, or exit the active program

CTRL+S Save the current file or document (works in most

programs)

CTRL+C Copy the selected item

CTRL+X Cut the selected item

CTRL+V Paste the selected item

CTRL+Z Undo an action

CTRL+A Select all items in a document or window

F1 Display Help for a program or Windows

Windows logo Display Windows Help and Support

key +F1

ESC Cancel the current task

Application key Open a menu of commands related to a selection in a
program. Equivalent to right-clicking the selection.

Using navigation keys

The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in documents and webpages, and edit
text. The following table lists some common functions of these keys.

Press this To do this

LEFT ARROW, RIGHT Move the cursor or selection one space or line in
ARROW, UP ARROW, or the direction of the arrow, or scroll a webpage in
DOWN ARROW the direction of the arrow

HOME Move the cursor to the beginning of a line or

move to the top of a webpage

END Move the cursor to the end of a line or move to

the bottom of a webpage

CTRL+HOME Move to the top of a document

CTRL+END Move to the bottom of a document

PAGE UP Move the cursor or page up one screen

PAGE DOWN Move the cursor or page down one screen

DELETE Delete the character after the cursor, or the

selected text; in Windows, delete the selected
item and move it to the Recycle Bin

INSERT Turn Insert mode off or on. When Insert mode is

 on, text that you type is inserted at the cursor.
When Insert mode is off, text that you type
replaces existing characters.

Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad arranges the numerals 0 through 9, the arithmetic operators + (addition), -
(subtraction), * (multiplication), and / (division), and the decimal point as they would appear on a
calculator or adding machine. These characters are duplicated elsewhere on the keyboard, of course, but
the keypad arrangement allows you to rapidly enter numerical data or mathematical operations with one
hand.

Numeric keypad

To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press NUM LOCK. Most keyboards have a light that
indicates whether NUM LOCK is on or off. When NUM LOCK is off, the numeric keypad functions as a
second set of navigation keys (these functions are printed on the keys next to the numerals or symbols).

You can use your numeric keypad to perform simple calculations with Calculator.

Three odd keys

So far, we've discussed almost every key you're likely to use. But for the truly inquisitive, let's explore
the three most mysterious keys on the keyboard: PRINT SCREEN, SCROLL LOCK, and
PAUSE/BREAK.
PRINT SCREEN (or PRT SCN)

A long time ago, this key actually did what it says—it sent the current screen of text to your printer.
Nowadays, pressing PRINT SCREEN captures an image of your entire screen (a "screen shot") and
copies it to the Clipboard in your computer's memory. From there you can paste it (CTRL+V) into
Microsoft Paint or another program and, if you want, print it from that program.

Tip

Press ALT+PRINT SCREEN to capture an image of just the active window, instead of the entire screen.

SCROLL LOCK (or SCR LK)

In most programs, pressing SCROLL LOCK has no effect. In a few programs, pressing SCROLL LOCK
changes the behaviour of the arrow keys and the PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN keys; pressing these keys
causes the document to scroll without changing the position of the cursor or selection. Your keyboard
might have a light indicating whether SCROLL LOCK is on.

PAUSE/BREAK

This key is rarely used. In some older programs, pressing this key pauses the program or, in combination
with CTRL, stops it from running.

Other keys

Some modern keyboards come with "hot keys" or buttons that give you quick, one-press access to
programs, files, or commands. Other models have volume controls, scroll wheels, zoom wheels, and other
gadgets. For details about these features, check the information that came with your keyboard or
computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.

Tips for using your keyboard safely

Using your keyboard properly can help avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms,
particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid
problems:

 Place your keyboard at elbow level. Your upper arms should be relaxed at your sides.
 Center your keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use the
spacebar as the centring point.
 Type with your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard, so that you can use your whole arm to
reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.
 Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any type of surface while typing. If your keyboard has a palm
rest, use it only during breaks from typing.
 While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.
 When you're not typing, relax your arms and hands.
 Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.
Using the Mouse
Just as you would use your hands to interact with objects in the physical world, you can use your mouse
to interact with items on your computer screen. You can move objects, open them, change them, throw
them away, and perform other actions, all by pointing and clicking with your mouse. A mouse can
therefore be defined as a small device that you can use to move, select, and open items displayed on your
monitor.

Basic parts

A mouse typically has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary
button (usually the right button). The primary button is the one you will use most often. Most mice also
include a scroll wheel between the buttons to help you scroll through documents and webpages more
easily. On some mice, the scroll wheel can be pressed to act as a third button. Advanced mice might have
additional buttons that can perform other functions.

Parts of a mouse

Holding and moving the mouse

Place your mouse beside your keyboard on a clean, smooth surface, such as a mouse pad. Hold the mouse
gently with your index finger resting on the primary button and your thumb resting on the side. To move
the mouse, slide it slowly in any direction. Don't twist it—keep the front of the mouse aimed away from
you. As you move the mouse, a pointer (see picture) on your screen moves in the same direction. If you
run out of room to move your mouse on your desk or mouse pad, just pick up the mouse and bring it back
closer to you.
 Hold the mouse lightly, keeping your wrist straight

Pointing, clicking, and dragging

Pointing to an item on the screen means moving your mouse so the pointer appears to be touching the
item. When you point to something, a small box often appears that describes the item. For example, when
you point to the Recycle Bin on the desktop, a box appears with this information: "Contains the files and
folders that you have deleted."

Pointing to an object often reveals a

descriptive message about it

The pointer can change depending on what you're pointing to. For example, when you point to a link in

your web browser, the pointer changes from an arrow to a hand with a pointing finger .

Most mouse actions combine pointing with pressing one of the mouse buttons. There are four basic ways
to use your mouse buttons: clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, and dragging.

Clicking (single-clicking)
To click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the primary button (usually
the left button).

Clicking is most often used to select (mark) an item or open a menu. This is sometimes called single-
clicking or left-clicking.

Double-clicking
To double-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then click twice quickly. If the two clicks are
spaced too far apart, they might be interpreted as two individual clicks rather than as one double-click.
Double-clicking is most often used to open items on your desktop. For example, you can start a program
or open a folder by double-clicking its icon on the desktop.

Right-clicking
To right-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the secondary button
(usually the right button).

Right-clicking an item usually displays a list of things you can do with the item. For example, when you
right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop, Windows displays a menu allowing you to open it, empty it,
delete it, or see its properties. If you're ever unsure of what to do with something, right-click it.

Right-clicking the Recycle Bin opens a menu of related

commands

Dragging
You can move items around your screen by dragging them. To drag an object, point to the object on the
screen, press and hold the primary button, move the object to a new location, and then release the primary
button.

Dragging (sometimes called dragging and dropping) is most often used to move files and folders to a
different location and to move windows and icons around on your screen.

Using the scroll wheel

If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to scroll through documents and webpages. To scroll
down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you).
Unit 2: Introduction to the Internet
What is the Internet?
The Internet stands for INTERnationalNETwork. It is simply millions of computers linked across the
world by telecommunications - telephone lines, cables, satellites, optic fibres, etc. This means that
countries with well-established communication systems are better able to take advantage of the Internet.

The Internet was originally set up in the 1960s for use by the US Department of Defence to decentralize
its network of computers. In the 1980s, universities began using the system for transmitting data and
educational resources.

Since the development of the World Wide Web in 1991, the use of the Internet has expanded rapidly.
This has enabled the transfer of photos, videos and sound, as well as text and made it much easier to send
information around the world.

Types of Information you can access

The Internet provides access to a wide variety of information contributed by people throughout the
world. On the Internet, a user can access:
 Documents, such as business plans, fact sheets, supplier catalogues, legislation and statistics
 Electronic books, journals and newspapers for news and current awareness
 Databases, such as Telephone directories, Census data and commercial databases
 Software and multimedia resources such as films and music
 Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube

Moving through a Web page

 Use the scrollbar on the right side of the web page to move down or up through the web page.
 Use the horizontal scrollbar on the bottom on the page, to move from side-to- side.
  Or you can use the vertical arrow keys, located on the computer keyboard, to move down or up
through the web page.

Hyperlinks
On an Internet page, images, words or anything else can be set as a link. Web links are also commonly
known as hyperlinks. Hyperlinks are underlined or bordered words and graphics that have web addresses
embedded in them.

Hyperlinks are the basis of the Web’s versatility. By clicking a hyperlink, you jump to a particular page
in a web site, or to a different Web site altogether. By clicking on a hyperlink you are ―surfing the web‖.

Howdo IknowifIhave foundahyperlink?

KingstonLibrary Service KingstonLibrary Service

non-hyperlink hyperlink

Anytime you see the mouse arrowpointer change to a pointing finger it signals a link (hyperlink)you can
followby clicking on it. Whenyou click, the colourof the link changes

InternetBrowsers
AnInternetbrowseris a software programthat you use to access the Internetand view web pages on
yourcomputer. It converts HTML (computer language)into text and graphics for you to viewon the
screen. Somecommon internet browsers include: Internet Explorer,Mozilla Firefoxand Google Chrome.
Internet Explorer MozillaFirefox GoogleChrome

Browsersallowyou to move back and forwardsbetween web pages, store a list of your favorite sites, and
refresh information on the screen.

Internetaddresses(URLs)
AnInternetaddress (sometimescalled an URL or Universal Resource Locator or Web Address.)
 Everyresource available via the WorldWideWebhas a uniqueaddress.
 Whenyou are viewing a web page, the page's address appears in the Address field in the browser.

.
http://www.uds.edu.gh.

Countrycode

WorldWideWebDomainnameDomaintype

AnInternetaddress typicallystartswith the ―www‖or ―http‖ followed by the name of the organization, a
domain name: a suffix which identifiesthe kind of organization it is, and a countrycode (USsitesdo not
have countrycodes). Australia’scountrycode is au.

Some of the major domain type that you will encounter:

Address Suffix Organization type
.com / .co commercial
.edu / .ac colleges and universities
.net network providers
.org non-government organizations
.gov Government
.mil Military

STEPS TO ENTERING A WEBSITE ADDRESS (URL).

1. Click in the address bar.
2. Type the website address in. Addresses are not case sensitive. Parts of the address are separated
by full stop or slashes, with no spaces. You do not have to type the text http:// - this appears
automatically. An address can be typed over by highlighting the text in the address bar.
3. Press the Enter button.
Communicating Using the Internet
The Internet offers a great alternative to conventional methods of communication. It allows us to
communicate quickly and easily with friends and family from anywhere in the world. The most common
and widely used method of communication using the Internet is Email.

E-mail allows you to electronically send a letter directly to other people and organizations. To use e-mail
you will need the following:
1. a web address for your service provider (e.g. www.hotmail.com)
2. your unique ID and password (you get this when you set up an account your e- mail address to give
to other people who wish to communicate with you. Your e- mail address will look similar to:
superstar@hotmail.com

Free web-based email services:

Name Website address
Hotmail www.hotmail.com
Google Mail www.gmail.com
Yahoo Mail www.mail.yahoo.com

Social networking sites

They are websites that allow people to interact with other users. These websites are a virtual community
for people interested in sharing information or just to "hang out" together. Two popular sites are
www.facebook.com and www.myspace.com

Blogs – are websites that allow people to set up their own personal pages or ―blogs‖ on the site, which
act like personal diaries. Blogs may include descriptions of events and things along with materials such
as photos or video. A poplar blogging site is www.blogger.com

Finding Information in the Internet

The three basic mediums of access to information on the internet are;
 The Global Digital Library
 Search engine
 Portals

Global Digital Library

Internet provides a Global Digital Library

Digital Library: This refers to a large storehouse of digital information is accessible through computers.
Includes many forms of information:
 Text
  Graphics
 Conversations
 Sound
 Still and Moving pictures

Types of Internet Services

The Internet contains many diverse services. These include the following;
 Transfers information
 Browses for information
 Searches for information
 Purchases goods
 Interacts with others

Finding Information
Amount of information on the Web is growing rapidly. Users do not know the URLs of all pages
containing the information they are looking for. So, users are more likely to start from a URL and surf
the web using its link graph. Two common types of link graph:
 High quality human maintained indices: e.g. portals
 Automatically generated indices: e.g. search engines

Searching the Web

There are several ways of getting to a web page:
1. Typing in the exact address
2. Searching for the web site or information, usually on a Search Engine
3. ―Surfing‖ - clicking on hyperlinks and finding sites by chance.

Search Engines and Search Directories

Search Engines are computer programs (called robots or spiders) that constantly review information put
on the Internet. There are many search engines, but probably the best known is Google:
www.google.com

Search Engine Functionality

An automated search service allows users to find information that resides on remote computers.

Search engines basically perform the following tasks:

 gather information
 store it locally
  Automatically locate:
 Web pages associated with a particular company or individual
 Web pages that contains information about a particular product or brand
 Web pages that contain information about a particular topic

A Search Tool Can Help Recover From Loss

Automated search tools help users recover quickly when the location of information is lost.

How lost can occur;

Suppose that just after discovering page, a thunderstorm interrupts power, use a search tool to find the
page automatically

Automatic Search Engine

Automatic search engine:
 Produces a list of candidate pages that may contain information users want.
 A search server gathers information and stores it on a local disk; when responding to a user’s
request it does not need to search the entire Internet.
 consists of three components:
 web robot (also known as crawler or spider)
 indexing engine
 Query engine.

Gathering information before use makes lookup fast, but information can become incorrect if changes
occur.

Web robot
This is a program that;
 keeps a list of URLs usually obtained from the following sources:
1) manually added,
2) by scanning USENET news and mailing lists, and
3) by scanning through documents retrieved from the above URLs.
 Keeps the retrieved documents up to date.
 Traverses the URLs in the list on a regular basis, say once a week, and retrieves the documents for
indexing. (periodically contacts all computers on the Internet to obtain a new list of available items)

Indexing system
The index engine performs the following tasks;
 Scan the documents for stop-words (words that are neutral to content indication such as `is', `the',
`be' and `am').
 Generate the indexes and store them in an index database.

Query engine
 looks for the keywords specified in the user queries in the index database
 Retrieves the associated documents in a ranked list.

Examples:
Google: http://www.google.com
AltaVista: http://altavista.digital.com
Excite: http://www.excite.com
Lycos: http://www.lycos.com

More info: Search Engine Showdown; http://www.searchengineshowdown.com – provides organized

comparison charts, reviews, strategies to searching among different search engines.

String matching
The simplest automated search mechanism is string matching. The user enters a topic, the search engine
finds Web pages that contain that topic string.
Advantage:
Simplicity—just type in the words.

Disadvantages:
 Lack of semantics. The program does not understand the meaning of words or phrases.
 return too many low quality matches
 can be fooled by advertisers:
 Pornographic sites may provide false key words that will allow them to show up on unrelated
searches
 Some search engines have been known to accept payment to give certain Web sites higher
priorities.

Lack of semantics – Astring matching program does not understand meaning of words or phrasesi.e.will
not report pages that contains synonyms or related terms

A string matching program does not understand the meaning of the word not.The program match
irrelevant sentences to request for information.
E.g., “This sentence does not contain any information about biology, money, or foods like butter and
milk, and certainly is not about automobile pictures, airline fares, lawyer jokes, opera singers, or library
books”.
The above sentence matches queries for ―automobile‖, ―airline‖, etc.; but is irrelevant to these topics

Advanced Search
Multi-key search: - Allowsusers to enter two or more keywords in a search string
E.g., 2-key search: car automobile – This will find pages that mentioned either automobile or car

Some services offer the opportunity to give more detailed specifications.

E.g., words or phrases that must appear on a page

Human Maintained Lists

Portal is a Web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums,
search engines, and on-line shopping malls. The first Web portals were online services, such as AOL,
that provided access to the Web.

Today portals also offer a wide range of customization options and functionality including:
 customized news
 bookmark managers to save favourite web sites
e.g. Yahoo: www.yahoo.com

Portals can be differentiated as:

1. Horizontal portals are general interest portals.
 They cover a wide range of topics and features, such as Yahoo! or Lycos.
 They are combinations of internet access and access to a wide range of information, as with AOL,
Excite@Home,
2. Vertical or niche portals or vortals are portals which focused on a given topical category, or catering
to a given demographic (ethnic groups, age groups, and other groups which are perceived to form a
community or market)
E.g. ivillage (aimed at women); guru.com (for independent professionals); and Boatscape (for boat
enthusiasts).

More info: see portal FAQ

http://www.traffick.com/story/07-2000-portalfaq.asp

Advantage:
Cover popular topics effectively
Disadvantage:
 Subjective, expensive to build and maintain
 slow to improve
 cannot cover all esoteric topic (knowledge that is specific to a restricted group of people)

Search Directories are selected lists of websites organised into broad categories.
Yahoo Directory http://au.dir.yahoo.com/
Google Directory http://www.google.com/dirhp/

A Basic Search
All Search Engines provide an area on the screen where you can type in the word or words you wish to
search for:
1. You send your request by typing in a word or group of words and pressing Enter.
2. After a few seconds, the Search Engine will return from its search and present you with a new
screen known as the Results Screen.
3. The exact layout and format of the Results Screen will vary according to the SearchEngine you
used, but generally you will receive:
 The number of documents that 'matched' your query terms.
 A list of the first ten results (note: at the bottom of the screen you will find a button to take
you to the next ten).
 A Name or Title, a brief description that helps you identify whether the reference found
might contain the information you required.
 The web address of the file (URL).
 A file size, so you can tell how large the document is and how long it will take to load.

Once you have read the list of references and found one that looks promising, click on the highlighted
title and your Browser will retrieve that file for you from the Internet.

When you have finished viewing the site, click the Back button on your Browser to return to the results
list.
SearchingwithGoogle
Type web address for Google in the Address bar.www.google.com

Address bar

Typesearch
Term(s) here.

“I’mfeelinglucky”button:automaticallytakesyou to a single website that Google thinksis the most

relevant. Exampleof a resultspage after Googlehas been searched for the ―Melbourne Cricket Ground‖.
EvaluatingWebsites
It is important to rememberthat anybody can publish information on the Internet.

So,for example, if you conduct a search on ―whales‖, your resultsmay include information
published by a group of schoolchildren, universityprofessorsora ―save the whales‖ lobby
group. Youneed to evaluate information you find on the internet.

Someimportant aspectsto considerin evaluating websitesare:

1. Source:who is the author (individualororganization) responsible for the website
ordocument?
2. Audience: who is the information aimed at?

Commonly used Internet terms

Bookmarks: A feature of the Web browser that allows an individual to store favourite URLs.

Browser: The software required to access the hypertext links of Web pages. Microsoft
Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are the most widely-used browsers.

Discussion List: Mailing Lists or Electronic Conferences operate through E-mail. You
subscribe or sign up to specific subject discussion lists and regularly receive emails any time
someone sends a ―post‖ or email to the discussion list.

Facebookwww.facebook.com
A popular social networking website where you can add photos and information about
yourself, send friends messages, and see what your friends are doing.

Flickr www.flickr.com
An online photo management and sharing application.Allows you to store, sort, search and
share photos and videos online.

Home page: The first page or the main page of a website. Typically provides introductory
information and serves as an table of contents to other information stored at the site.

HTML or HyperTextMarkup Language. The language used to create web pages and which
allows users to follow links between sites.
HTTP or HyperText Transfer Protocol.A set of instructions defining how web pages are
transferred between machines.

ISP (Internet Service Provider) An organization providing access to the Internet on a fee for
service basis. Customers are generally billed a fixed rate per month, but other charges may
apply.

Microblog A short blog about one's daily adventures, which evolved into the extremely
successful Twitter.

Netiquette: A collection of good manners guidelines for network applications such as email,
telnet and newsgroups. Netiquette information can be found in most guides to the Internet as
well as in the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) of most Newsgroups.

Newsgroups: Similar to discussion lists except you are not required to subscribe to join in
and they are often more fun than academic.

Search Engines: An Internet tool, which searches web pages and other Internet resources for
criteria, which you provide.

Skype:Software that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls made within
Skype setting are free of charge. Although skype also supports calls that connect to
conventional telephones, there are charges for those calls.

Social Networking- A Web site that provides a virtual community for people interested in a
particular subject or just to "hang out" together. Members create their own online "profile"
with biographical data, pictures, likes, dislikes and any other information they choose to post.
They communicate with each other by voice, chat, instant message, videoconference and
blogs.

Spam (junk mail):Unsolicited email sent indiscriminately to multiple individuals or mailing

lists. The mails are often of a commercial nature.

URL: Uniform Resource Locator. The addressing system used by the Internet so websites
can be identified. It is like a house address.

Virus: a harmful computer program that is downloaded from the internet which can infect a
computer.
Web browser: See Browser Software

Web Site: A ―page‖ containing information written in HTML, which may incorporate text,
graphics and multimedia.

Wiki: A wiki is a ―collaborative‖ website that allows anybody to add to, or edit, the
information on the site.

YouTubewww.youtube.com
Watch video clips that others have added to the website. You add your own clips for others to
view