Computers are wonderful!! They offer us so much, have been around for quite some time, and just keep getting better and better! This sounds like a perfect combination of a constantly evolving product and ever-changing technology, which are designed to help us, keep us informed on what's going on in the world and make our lives much simpler!! If computers are so wonderful and just about everyone has one, why do they frustrate and annoy us and why do we need help??
Within this ever-changing technology we have become very accustomed to electronics, especially television. However, unlike television (where we simply press buttons on a remote control and watch a myriad of programs) computers are designed to make us think and work in order to activate them into doing what we expect of them.
Computers too are comprised of programs and all kinds of gizmos to make our lives more enjoyable, but to reach this stage of enjoyment one has to know what these programs are capable of providing, and how to operate them!! Not to worry; help is close at hand!
If you are asking questions such as: “what’s this for?”; “why won’t this work the way I want it?”; “why does this happen?”, etc., remember there is always an answer to your question and understanding the rudiments of programs will help you avoid unnecessary confusion and frustration!! While the Help button on each program can direct you to varying solutions, it is beneficial to speak directly to someone to help you solve your problems.
This article is written to help you in your computer experience, particularly if you are new to computers. The following is a brief introduction to Personal Computers and some of the available programs in every-day use. It is an overview designed to help you understand the basics of computer operation.
Operating Systems:
Over the past two decades Microsoft Corporation has developed a number of operating systems (the system of operation on which your computer is based) and the most popular has been Windows XP, which was followed in early 2007 by its successor, Windows Vista and most recently in 2009 with Windows 7.
These operating systems provide a visual approach to the elements of the computer and are considered user-friendly and intuitive. Briefly, the more one uses them the more understandable they become; they offer the user access to programs and features installed on a new computer and those added by the user.
If you are new to computers, don’t concern yourself too much about an operating system. The programs and other features will require much more of your time and attention!
Programs: The most-referred to programs are Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and E-mail:
Microsoft Word (MS Word) is a very comprehensive word processing program designed for preparing various facets of documentation, e.g., correspondence and reports. As such this program is full of many useful and time-saving features that will delight an inquisitive mind and encourage the user to investigate its full potential.
At first, Word may appear complex, but with repeat usage the icons (little pictures, visuals of what their tasks are) and dropdown menus become commonplace. With practice, one is soon accustomed to finding one’s way around the program and its more complex features.
Taken gradually, the new user will become more proficient. Word is a very large and powerful program and it takes time and practice to fully understand its capabilities and potential. Take the time; it will be worth it!!
Excel is best described as a spreadsheet program. It has many of the features found in Word, and is particularly useful for accounting purposes. Again, looking at a blank sheet can be intimidating, but familiarizing yourself with the features and components of the program is half way to feeling comfortable about using it!
Be adventurous. It is suggested to set up examples of formulas in simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc., and let the program work for you! Again, take the time; it will be worth it!!
PowerPoint gives you a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate your creative genius!! Rather than placing text and graphics on a page, PowerPoint employs slides to allow you to place text and pictures that you already have in your files or those you download from the Internet.
With text, graphics, backgrounds, etc., you can generate a very attractive slideshow from this user-friendly program. Like the other programs created by Microsoft, help is readily available for you both from within the program and the Internet.
E-mail: Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express (now Windows Mail in Vista) are two Microsoft products that come with your computer and referred to as e-mail clients. Of the two, Outlook Express (Windows Mail) is a dedicated e-mail client and much easier to understand than Microsoft Outlook, which is functional and also works with other components of Microsoft Office Outlook.
Windows 7 does not offer an e-mail client, as in the past. Instead, it offers Windows Live Mail, which is web-based yet still incorporates some of the components of Outlook Express and Windows Mail. There are also other web-based e-mail clients, such as Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, etc. and both Shaw and Telus offer webmail and other features within their services. Once you understand how to set up an e-mail and include addresses in your Contacts listing, you will find that the world is your oyster and you will be able to communicate quickly and efficiently with your online community!
I hope that this article has proved useful; please contact me should you require assistance with your computer and its programs or if you have any questions, and I shall be pleased to assist you.
Maureen: 604.524.5891
04/09/2010
