Getting started
| Site: | ΕΛ/ΛΑΚ Moodle |
| Course: | Basic ICT Skills |
| Book: | Getting started |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 10:53 AM |
Description
Turning on a computer for the first time can be different from one
computer to the next. Your experience could be different from this
lesson. It's OK to ask someone for help.
1. Power / boot / log in
The very first step is to turn on the computer. To do this, locate and press the power button. It's in a different place on every computer, but it will have the universal power button symbol (shown below).
Once turned on, your computer takes time before it's ready to use. You may see a few different displays flash on the screen. This process is called booting up, and it can take anywhere from 15 seconds to several minutes.
Once the computer has booted up, it may be ready to use, or it may require you to log in. This means identifying yourself by typing your user name or selecting your profile, then typing your password. If you've never logged in to your computer before, you may need to create an account.
2. keyboard & mouse
You interact with a computer mainly by using the keyboard and mouse, or a trackpad on laptops. Learning to use these devices is essential to learning to use a computer. Most people find it comfortable to place the keyboard on the desk directly in front of them and the mouse to one side of the keyboard.
2.1. controlling the pointer with the mouse
The mouse controls the pointer on the screen. Whenever you move the mouse across the desk, the pointer will move in a similar manner. A mouse usually has two buttons, which are referred to as the left button and the right button. You will often interact with the computer by moving the mouse pointer over something on the computer screen, then clicking one of the buttons.
2.2. controlling the pointer with the trackpad
On laptops, you can use the trackpad, located below the keyboard, instead of a mouse. Simply drag your finger across the trackpad to move the pointer on the screen. Some trackpads do not have buttons, so you'll either press or tap the trackpad to click.
2.3. typing with the keyboard
The keyboard allows you to type letters, numbers, and words into the computer. Whenever you see a flashing vertical line—called the cursor—you can start typing.
