Introduction to Computer Skills

Before you can learn to code, you must know how to use a computer. This guide includes information to help you use a computer and its components effectively, as well as an introduction to basic computer terminology.

What Is a Computer?

These days, it is difficult to get through a single day without interacting with a computer in some way. Computers are such a big part of our lives, whether we're using our phone, a tablet, the touchscreen on a refrigerator, an ATM machine, or any number of devices that we use to complete tasks each and every day. You're using a computer right now to read this content.

But what exactly is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device that can be instructed to carry out mathematical or logical operations via computer programming, and it can store, retrieve, and process data. Let's break this statement down in order to better understand it:

• "A computer is an electronic device that can be instructed to carry out . . . " A computer requires access to an electric power source and requires some sort of instruction before it can perform any task. Essentially, this requires a human being to tell the computer what to do.

• ". . . mathematical operations . . . " A computer can carry out mathematical tasks by performing addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and other common operations using numeric data.

• " . . . logical operations . . ." A computer can carry out tasks based on whether certain logical conditions are met. For example, a computer can be instructed to do one thing if a condition is true and another if that condition is false. True/false values are known as Boolean values.

• " . . . computer programming . . . " These are the instructions, or program, that a human provides for a computer. It tells the computer which operations to perform, the order in which these operations should be performed, how these operations should start and stop, what the program needs from the person using the program (otherwise known as input), and what the expected result at the end of the program should be (otherwise known as output).

• " . . . data . . . " Data is information that a computer or a computer program uses. Data can be numbers, words, sentences, or images.

• " . . . store data . . . " Storing data means that this information is saved in the computer or program's memory so that it is persistent. The people who use computers or programs are known as users, and these users have the ability to save or store data.

• " . . . retrieve data . . . " Retrieving data means that users have the ability to access the data that has been stored. This usually involves searching for the data using certain criteria, which is also known as parameters.

• " . . . process data . . . " Processing data means that a program uses information, whether that's user input or data that was retrieved from where it's stored, and runs it through a program, performing mathematical or logical operations on it.

So what does all of this mean for you? Every time you send a text message, receive an email, watch a video, create a text document, play a computer game, or log into your favorite social media app, a computer program is operating behind the scenes, performing an operation on data.

A computer is made up of hardware and software. Let's explore that those words mean.

Hardware

Hardware describes the physical parts of your computer. This includes the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and the computer itself. It also refers to anything inside the computer, which might include video cards or the physical drives where data is stored. Let's take a closer look at some of the common types of computer hardware, including computer components, desktop computers, laptop computers, and mobile devices.

Computer Components

Computers come in several different shapes and sizes. Some have separate parts, or components, that all connect together, while others have all of these parts together in one device, usually designed for portability and convenience. Here are some of the common components that make up a computer. This isn't a complete list, but these are the main components you're likely to encounter:

• Computer case: A case, also known as a tower, a system unit, or sometimes just a computer, is a container or enclosure that holds several internal pieces of hardware, such as storage drives, the motherboard, the central processing unit (CPU), and the power supply. It's not important that you understand what any of this is. You just need to know that this is where the computer stores and processes information.

• Monitor: A monitor is an output device that displays information with a combination of text and images. It uses something called a graphical user interface (GUI) to let users interact with electronic devices through graphical icons. Everything you see on your monitor is there because of a computer program or process happening behind the scenes. This graphical representation makes it easy for users to see the input they're providing and the output they're receiving.

• Keyboard: A keyboard is an input device that uses an arrangement of buttons, known as keys, which act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. Users provide input by typing on the keyboard using a combination of letters, numbers, special characters (punctuation and symbols), and keys designed specifically for computer operations. Users also have the option to use certain combinations of keys, pressing multiple keys at the same time, to perform certain operations, such as saving a file, reloading a page on a website, or even restarting the computer.

• Mouse: A mouse is a handheld pointing input device that detects motion relative to a surface. Moving a mouse allows the user to move a pointer on the display of a monitor so that they can interact with the visual elements of a GUI. A mouse has a series of buttons that can interact with the GUI in different ways. It's standard to find a mouse with two buttons, which are called the left button and the right button, but you may use a mouse that has several additional buttons or only a single button. There are also alternatives to a mouse, including a trackpad, which you might encounter on a laptop. A trackpad allows users to drag their finger across it to control the pointer on the screen. Some trackpads have buttons, but you may have to simulate a click by pressing or tapping on the trackpad.

Desktop Computers

A desktop computer, or simply desktop, is a personal computer designed for regular use at a single location on or near a desk or table. Desktops have multiple components that are connected or configured together. A common configuration, and the bare minimum a user would need to operate a desktop, includes a case containing all of the internal hardware, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse for input. Other components that might be connected to a desktop include speakers and a printer. Any of these components that connect to the case are known as peripherals.

Laptop Computers

A laptop computer, or simply laptop, is a small, portable personal computer that includes the computer's internal hardware, a monitor, a keyboard, speakers, and an alternative to a mouse all in a single device. Users can fold a laptop open or shut, adding to its convenience and portability. When open, laptops have a thin monitor mounted on the inside of the upper lid of the computer, while the remaining components are mounted on the inside of the lower lid. Its name comes from lap, as it was deemed to be placed on a person's lap when being used. Laptops are also sometimes referred to as notebooks.

Mobile Devices

Computers can come in several shapes and sizes. Two of the more common types you've likely encountered are smartphones and tablet computers. Smartphones and tablet computers feature a touchscreen display and internal hardware, and they don't require any additional peripherals, such as a keyboard or a mouse, because the user uses the touchscreen to interact with the GUI:

• A smartphone is a thin, flat rectangular device that combines cellular and mobile computing functions into one unit. The hardware inside smartphones is more powerful than traditional mobile phones, which gives them most of the functionality that you would find in a desktop or laptop, but they also include core phone functions such as voice calls and text messaging.

• A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a thin, flat rectangular computer. Tablets often have most of the same functionality as desktops or laptops, but lack some of the input/output abilities of those devices. Tablets sometimes support access to a cellular network, just like a mobile phone.

Software

Software describes any set of instructions, usually in the form of a program, that runs on your hardware and tells the computer what to do and how to do it. Software includes every app on your phone, computer games, your web browser, word processors, and the operating system on your computer.

Operating Systems

An operating system (OS) is a special kind of software that manages the hardware on your computer, oversees resources for running other software, and provides common services for computer programs. The operating system on a computer is the bare minimum software you need in order to use it, and nothing else on the computer will work without it. A computer works on a very simple language called machine language. The operating system allows users to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer's language.

The three most common operating systems for personal computers are Windows, macOS, and Linux.

• Windows is an operating system created by Microsoft, and it's the most popular operating system in the world. It comes pre-loaded on most personal computers, also commonly known as PCs, from companies such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, and Asus.

• macOS is an operating system created by Apple. As of 2019, macOS users account for only around 7% of all users worldwide. It comes pre-loaded on all Apple computers, also known as Macs, which is short for Macintosh.

• Linux is an open-source operating system, which means that it's free, it isn't owned by a company, and it can be modified and used by anyone around the world. As of 2019, Linux users account for only around 2% of all users worldwide. However, Linux is the leading operating system on servers, which are computers that provide services that other computers and programs use to communicate with each other and perform common functions. Linux accounts for more than 96% of the top 1 million web servers' operating systems.

Programs and Applications

You're probably familiar with the term computer program. If you own a smartphone, you're familiar with the term app, which is short for application. Programs and applications are both examples of software, have a lot of similarities, and you may see them used interchangeably. However, there are some important differences:

• A program is a collection of instructions that can be executed by a computer to perform a specific task. As we discussed earlier, a program tells a computer which operations to perform, the order in which these operations should be performed, how these operations should start and stop, which input the program needs from the user, and what the output should be.

• An application, or app, is a program or collection of programs that have been designed specifically for users, and which provide a set of connected tasks and functions. All applications are programs, but not all programs are applications. Applications can’t run on their own, and they run within the context of other software, such as operating systems.

Typing

The keyboard is the most basic input device for any computer that isn't a mobile device. In the earliest days of computers, prior to the invention of the mouse, a keyboard was the primary (and sometimes only) way to truly interact with a computer. Although a mouse provides convenience for users and requires very little time to learn how to use, a keyboard can be used to accomplish almost everything that a mouse can do.

This is especially important for technology professionals, who spend much of their time typing away at their keyboards. This may include writing copy, using specific key combinations as shortcuts, or even typing code. Some programs in certain fields don't even include a GUI, and require interaction through a typing interface.

This doesn't mean that you need to be an expert typist to be a technology professional, but it does mean that you will spend a lot of time in front of a keyboard. Although a complete typing tutorial is beyond the scope of this content, it's helpful to know some of the basics of typing.

The QWERTY Keyboard

QWERTY is a common keyboard design used in countries with a language based on the Latin-script alphabet, although there are a number of variations, depending on the language. The name comes from the order of the first six keys on the top left letter row of the keyboard.

Although there are alternative keyboard designs for the Latin-script alphabet and for other alphabets, the QWERTY design remains the most common keyboard design in the world. In fact, many keyboards for non-Latin-script languages often include that language's characters as well as the QWERTY layout.

Touch Typing

Touch typing is a style of typing that refers to typing without using the sense of sight to find the keys. This means that the typist has learned the location of the keys on the keyboard through muscle memory, and does not need to look at the keyboard while typing.

Touch typing is also used to describe a common form of touch typing that involves using both hands to place the eight fingers horizontally along the middle row of the keyboard and having them reach for specific keys in the other rows.

In touch typing, the three rows of main rows of characters are known as the top row, the home row (the middle row), and the bottom row, and they include the following characters:

• The top row includes the characters Q, W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O, and P

• The home row includes the characters A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, ;, and ,

• The bottom row includes the characters Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, ,, and .

Special characters, such as commas and periods, are included in these rows, but numbers, symbols, and other punctuation are generally treated differently than the alphabetic characters, because they are used less frequently.

The Home Row

The middle row is called the home row because typists are trained to keep their fingers on these keys and return to them after pressing any other key that is not on the home row. Pressing a key that is not on the home row is called reaching.

Touch typists place their left hand so that their pinky is on the A key, their ring finger on the S, their middle finger on the D, and their index finger on the F. For the right hand, typists place their index finger on the J key, their middle finger on the K, their ring finger on the L, and the pinky on the semicolon (;).

Both thumbs rest on the space bar. There are sometimes small raised ridges or bumps on the F and J keys to help typists correctly position their left and right hands without having to look at the keyboard.

The final characters on the home row are typed by reaching. G is typed by reaching the left index finger from the F key to the G key. The left index finger is then returned to rest on the F. H is typed by reaching the right index finger from the J key to the H key. The right index finger is then returned to rest on the J. These types of reaches are common when typing characters on the top and bottom rows.

The Top Row

All of the characters on the top row are typed by using reaches from the home row:

• R, T, Y, and U are typed by reaching the index finger of each hand up to the top row.

• E and I are typed by reaching the middle finger of each hand up to the top row.

• W and O are typed by reaching the ring finger of each hand up to the top row.

• Q and P are typed by reaching the pinky finger of each hand up to the top row.

The Bottom Row

All of the characters on the bottom row are also typed by using reaches from the home row:

• V, B, N, and M are typed by reaching the index finger of each hand down to the bottom row.

• C and the comma (,) are typed by using a special reach called a curl, where the middle finger of each hand is curled under the rest of the hand to reach down to the bottom row.

• X and the period (.) are typed by curling the ring finger of each hand under the rest of the hand to reach down to the bottom row.

• Z is typed by curling the pinky finger of the left hand under the rest of the hand to reach down to the bottom row.

Numbers

All of the numbers in the row above the top row are typed by using reaches:

• For the left hand, 1 is typed with the pinky, 2 with the ring finger, 3 with the middle finger, and both 4 and 5 with the index finger.

• For the right hand, both 6 and 7 are typed with the index finger, 7 with the middle finger, 8 with the ring finger, and 9 with the pinky.

Punctuation, Symbols, and the Shift Key

The remaining punctuation and symbols are all typed by using reaches with either pinky finger.

Certain keys may feature two symbols, or a number and a symbol, one above the other. The symbol or number on the bottom is the default key when pressed. To type the symbol on the top, press either of the Shift keys with the pinky finger on the opposite side of the keyboard, hold it down, and then press the other key.

Alphabetic characters are lowercased by default. To capitalize them, hold down on the Shift key and type the alphabetic character.

Typing Practice

Reading up on the basics of touch typing is a great place to start, but the best way to learn to type is by practicing. There are a number of free resources that you can use to build up your skills. Simply search the internet for typing tutorials and get started!

Case-Sensitivity

In computers, case-sensitivity refers to whether uppercase and lowercase letters are treated as distinct, which is known as case-sensitive, or equivalent, which is known as case-insensitive.

A case-sensitive computer process would consider the terms "dog", "dOg", and "Dog" as three separate and distinct words. A case-insensitve computer process would consider all of these terms as the same word.

Case-Sensitivity Examples

Different computer processes use case-sensitivity in slightly diferent ways. Here are some examples:

• Searching: Most search engines or applications with search functionality are case-insensitive. A user looking for all instances of the word "dog" in a document would want to include the instances at the beginning of a sentence. Searches being case-insensitive allows users to find all of these instances, whether written as "dog" or "Dog". However, there are some times when a case-sensitive search is desired. In these instances, applications will usually alert the user that the search is case-sensitive.

• Usernames: Usernames for systems and applications are usually case-insensitive. This allows users to memorize their usernames more easily and eliminates the possibility of both mistakes and fraud when two usernames are identical in every aspect except the case of one of their letters. However, most systems and applications do preserve the case of the characters in the username so that users may choose an aesthetically pleasing combination, even in cases where logging in is case-insensitive.

• Passwords: Passwords to log in to systems and applications are almost always case-sensitive. This allows users to create more complex passwords by effectively doubling the number of characters they can use in combination.

• File names: A file is a distinct resource that stores a specific type of data, such as an image, a text document, a video, or a computer program. Depending on which operating system you're using, the name that you give to different files might be case-sensitive. File names on Windows systems are case-insensitive, while file names on macOS and Linux are case-sensitive. This is why it's important that you're consistent with the way you name files, since they might be used by different users on different systems.

• Variable names: As you begin to write computer programs and applications, you'll start to use variables to store information that you use in the program, and you'll give these variables symbolic names. It's not important to understand variables just yet, but it is important to know that in many programming languages, they are case-sensitive. This means that a variable named Cat will be a distinct variable compared to another named cat.

Mouse Functionality

As we mentioned before, a mouse is a hand-held pointing input device that detects motion relative to a surface. Moving a mouse allows the user to move a pointer on the display of a monitor so that they can interact with the visual elements of a GUI. A mouse usually has a series of buttons that can interact with the GUI in different ways.

It's standard to find a mouse with two buttons, which are called the left button and the right button, but you may use a mouse that has several additional buttons or only a single button. A mouse may also have a scroll wheel. A mouse can be used on any flat surface, but they are often used on top of a rectangular plastic or rubber surface known as a mouse pad. A mouse is commonly wireless, meaning it doesn't require a wired connection to a computer, although you may still see a wired mouse.

Here are the basic parts that make up a mouse:

• Body: The body forms the bulk of the device, fitting into the palm of the user's hand.

• Left button: The left button is located at the front of the mouse on the left-hand side. Pressing on the left button (known as left-clicking) allows the user to utilize the mouse's click and double-click functionality. If a mouse only has a single button, it has the same functionality as the left button.

• Right button: The right button is located at the front of the mouse on the right-hand side. Pressing on the right button, (known a right-clicking) allows the user to access additional functionality, usually in the form of a drop-down menu containing additional options.

• Scroll wheel: Sometimes a mouse will have a small wheel (known as a scroll wheel) near the front of the body, located between the left and right buttons. The scroll wheel is positioned so that half of the wheel is inside the body, while the other half is outside the body. The user can scroll down in an application by moving the scroll wheel towards their body and scroll up in an application by moving the scroll wheel away from their body, using the index finger.

How to Use a Mouse

To use a mouse, the user places their hand over the body of the mouse, resting their thumb on the surface below. The user's index and middle fingers rest on the left and right buttons, while the ring finger and pinkie rest on the surface.

Moving the mouse over the mouse pad or surface below the mouse moves the pointer on the computer's display. Sometimes the pointer may resemble a blinking cursor or a small hand, but the default icon is a pointer, which resembles an arrow.

Even though each mouse may look a little different, every mouse has the following basic functions:

• Rollover: As the user moves the mouse, the pointer may pass over display elements, such as buttons, links, or icons. As the pointer passes over some of these, their color, size, or position may change. This is known as a rollover effect, and it's designed to give the user special information about the purpose of a display element, often letting them know that they can interact with it.

• Click: As the pointer hovers over a display element, the user may have the option to click on the element. This might open a link to a website in a new page, select or highlight that element, or start a process. The user can click by pressing on a button and then releasing it.

• Double-click: A double-click is similar to a click, except that the user presses on the button twice in quick succession. A double-click is the standard method for opening folders and applications on the computer's desktop. It can also be used to select text on a website.

• Drag-and-drop: Sometimes a user may need to drag a display element or file from one section of the display to another, perhaps to delete it, to add it inside a folder, or to group it with other display elements. This is know the drag-and-drop effect. The user places the pointer over the element they want to drag and click on it. Instead of releasing the button, the user keeps their finger pressed on the button while moving the mouse so that the element moves to the new location. Once the user is ready to drop the element in its new location, they release the button.

A mouse allows users to complete some fairly sophisticated functionality with little effort. It's important to note, however, that most of the functionality that a mouse provides can be achieved using keyboard shortcuts (combinations of keys) or using the keyboard and mouse together.

Conclusion

To many of you, the information in this guide might have seemed rather obvious, and that is great! If this was a refresher for you, however, there is no shame in needing that. These terms will be used in a lot of different contexts, as computers are involved in nearly every facet of life. It is important to communicate effectively with others, and the best way to do that is to have the correct terminology in mind.

Resources

Here are some additional resources that will help you become more familiar with your computer:

• Get to Know the Mac Desktop

• How to Use Windows 10

• Use Trackpad and Mouse Gestures on Mac

• Use Mouse Keys on Windows

This page was updated 6 months ago
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Category: Computer Literacy

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