Introduction to the Computer

Windows Desktop
The windows desktop contains various icons, which access programs operating in the Windows operating system. An icon is a symbol or graphic representing a program or command.

Moving around the Windows Desktop
To move around the Windows Desktop, use the mouse. The mouse will move the arrow on the screen.

Windows Buttons
There are buttons on the screen, which enable you to perform commands within a window. Buttons usually are smallish gray squares that contain an icon. buttons are activated by moving the mouse pointer so that the tip of the pointer is pointing to the center of a button, then click the mouse.

Three buttons found on almost every window are the minimize, resize, and close buttons. these are found in the upper right corner of each window. The minimize button allows you to minimize or set aside a program, so it remains open or active, but allows you to see the Windows Desktop. The resize button (also called the maximize or restore button) allows you to change the size of the window on the screen. The close button closes the window and program. You would need to restart the program if you click on the close button.

Screen Saver
A screen saver will appear on the screen when the computer remains idle for a certain period of time. the purpose of a screen saver is to save the screen from prolonged use, which will shorten the monitor's life. A screen saver can be anything from a picture, to scrolling words, moving images, black, etc. The information you were viewing on the screen remains in its original location and state. To make the desktop reappear, move the mouse or press a key on the keyboard.

Storage Devices
Bits and Bytes
A bit is short for binary digit. A bit contains a single value of 0 or 1. A consecutive group of bits makes up a unit. For instance, there are 8 bits in one byte. A byte is more commonly referred to when discussing space. A byte represents a single character. (For example, there are 10 bytes in the phrase, I love you. This is because there are 8 letters and two spaces between the three words.) There is a finite amount of space on a computer and disk. Bytes are commonly identified in thousands, millions, and billions:

KB
MB
GB
for a thousand bytes
for a million bytes
for a billion bytes
These are pronounced kilobytes (KB); megabytes (MB); and gigabytes (GB).
Floppy Disks
Floppy disks are approximately 3 1/2 inches in size and hold 1.4MB (1,400,000 bytes). While these disks don't seem floppy like their name would suggest, there is a disk inside, which is floppy. The disk is encased in a hard plastic case to protect it. (When purchasing floppy disks, make sure you buy IBM or PC compatible disks versus Mac or MAC disks. Mac or MAC disks can only be used in an Apple/Macintosh computer. IBM or PC compatible disks can be used with Windows.)

CD ROMs
CD ROM stands for compact disk read only memory. CD ROMs have much more storage space than disks, but are read only, which means that data can only be read from it. CD ROM drives, such as the D: drive read the data from the CD. CD ROMs are very versatile and can store anything from music to computer programs. When handling the CD ROM, remember to only touch it on its edges and in the very center.

Other types of CDs
There are two other types of CDs available on the market. A CD-R (compact disk recordable) is a CD that will record information, such as files or music. It can only be written to once. Also, once information is placed on the CD, it cannot be removed or altered.

A CD-RW (compact disk re-writable) is a CD which can have information placed on it. That information can later be altered. CD-Rs and CD-RWs can only be written to in CD-RW drives. CD-RW drives both read and write. CD ROM drives only read CDs (any type).

Storage Device Organization
CDs and disks are both circular in shape. They spin on an access, which allows data to be read off the disk at a rapid rate. Your files are saved on the disk in the order they are entered.

When you make a file bigger, part of the data resides where it was first saved and the remainder is saved after other data. In other words, part of our file would be located in one part of the disk and another part would be located in another part.

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