Transcript Understanding Computers, 10/e, Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Using Your PC, Windows, and
the Web
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Learning Objectives

Explain what happens when you start up a computer.

Identify common elements of the Windows graphical user
interface (GUI), such as the desktop, Start menu,
Windows, and menus, and explain their functions.

Demonstrate how to open a program and manipulate
open program windows.

Explain what the Internet and World Wide Web are and
how computers, people, and Web pages are identified on
the Internet.
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Learning Objectives, Cont’d.

Demonstrate how to access a Web page and discuss how
to search for Web pages containing specific information.

Explain how e-mail can be used to send and receive
messages to and from other Internet users.

Identify several other types of online communications and
discuss when each is used.

Discuss some societal implications of the Internet, such as
security, privacy, and online communications issues.
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Overview

This chapter covers:

Basic features of Windows

How Internet addresses work

How to gain access to Web pages

E-mail and other types of online communications
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Starting Your Computer: The Boot
Process

User turns on the power to the PC and monitor.

PC’s operating system is then loaded into memory.

The appropriate user interface will then be displayed
and the computer is ready to use.
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Using the Windows Operating
System

Most programs use a graphical user interface
(GUI).

The most common operating systems for PCs today
is Microsoft Windows.

Other GUI operating systems are Mac OS and Linux.
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The Windows Interface

Common Windows elements include:
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Desktop—the user’s basic workspace.
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Taskbar—includes the Start button, toolbars, and
task buttons.

Windows—rectangular areas inside which
programs, documents, and other content is
displayed.

Menus—used to issue commands.
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The Windows Interface, Cont’d.

Individual windows can also contain:

Icons

Menus

Toolbars

Hyperlinks

Dialog boxes
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A Closer Look at Menus
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Current command
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Check marks
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Dimmed items
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Arrows
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Ellipses
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Keyboard shortcuts
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A Closer Look at Dialog Boxes
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Option buttons
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Check boxes
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Text boxes
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Sliders
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List boxes

Command buttons
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Opening Windows and Starting
Programs
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Click a taskbar toolbar button.
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Click a desktop icon if it looks like a hyperlink.
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Double-click a desktop icon if it doesn’t look like a hyperlink.
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Click the Start button and then select the desired program
from the Start menu.

In any window that displays documents stored on the PC,
double-click a document to open it.
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Manipulating Windows

Active window—the window in which commands will
currently be executed.
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Minimizing, maximizing, and closing windows—use sizing
buttons at top right corner of window.
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Resizing and moving windows—drag window border or
title bar.

Scroll bars—used to see more information not currently
shown in the window.
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Shutting Down the Computer
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Standby mode reduces power consumption and wearand-tear on the PC.
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To turn off the PC, it should always be shut down through
the Start menu.
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Save and close all open documents and programs.
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Select the Shut Down option at the bottom of the Start
menu.

Choose the appropriate option.
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Using the Internet and World Wide
Web

The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks
connecting millions of computers all over the world.
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The World Wide Web is the collection of Web pages
accessed through the Internet.

Computers that host Web pages are called Web
servers.

A collection of related Web pages is called a Web
site.
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What Is a Browser?


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A Web browser is a program used to view Web
pages.
Common browsers:
 Microsoft Internet
Explorer
 Netscape Navigator
 MSN Explorer
 Opera
Wireless phones and
other small devices
use microbrowsers.
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Accessing the Internet

Your PC or other device being used must be connected to
a computer (usually owned by your ISP) that is continually
connected to the Internet.
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You can be connected via a direct or always-on
connection, or a dial-up connection.

Internet service providers (ISPs) function as an onramp
to the Internet and typically charge a monthly fee

Can also access the Internet at libraries, schools, and
other public locations.
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Internet Addresses
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An Internet address identifies a resource available
through the Internet, such as a person, computer, or Web
page.
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IP addresses (e.g. 207.46.134.222) and domain names
(e.g. microsoft.com) identify computers available through
the Internet.
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URLs (e.g. www.course.com) identify a Web page on the
Internet.
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E-mail addresses (e.g. [email protected]) identify a
person on the Internet.
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Surfing the Web

First connect to the Internet, if needed, and open your
browser.
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Click hyperlinks or type URLs in the address bar or
location bar to view Web pages.

Things that you may encounter on a Web page:
text and images
 e-mail
hyperlinks
 form fields

frames
 animation
 multimedia

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Using Bookmarks and the History
List

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Visited Web pages are recorded in the browser’s
history list.
To save Web page URLs on a more permanent
basis, use bookmarks or favorites.
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Searching the Web

A search site typically uses a search engine in
conjunction with a huge database of information
about Web pages to retrieve information.

Keyword search: keywords are typed into a search
box and then hyperlinks for matching Web pages are
displayed.
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Category search: a series of increasingly specific
categories are selected until links for matching Web
pages are displayed.
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E-Mail and Other Types of Online
Communications

Electronic mail (e-mail) refers to electronic
messages exchanged between computers over a
network and can be sent to anyone with an Internet
e-mail address.

E-mail programs, such as Netscape Mail and
Microsoft Outlook, are used to send and receive email.

Web-based e-mail, such as Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail,
can be accessed with just a Web browser.
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Sending and Receiving E-Mail

E-mail can be sent and received over private networks,
over the Internet, or over some combination of the two.

E-mail hyperlinks on Web pages can be used to start an
e-mail message using your e-mail program.

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To send an e-mail, supply the recipient’s e-mail address,
type a subject line and the message, and click the
appropriate Send button.
Many e-mail programs also enable users to attach files
and maintain an address book.
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Managing E-Mail

Sent and received messages are stored in separate
folders, and deleted e-mail messages are moved to
some type of Trash or Deleted Items folder.

Create additional folders to organize the e-mail you
would like to keep.

Delete unneeded e-mail messages periodically and
then empty the Trash folder to free up space on your
hard drive.
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Discussion Groups, Chat, Instant
Messaging, and More

Discussion groups—participants read and post messages.

Chat room—participants chat in real time.

Instant messaging—private form of chat between friends
and business associates.

Videoconferencing—face-to-face meetings via the
Internet.

Internet telephony—phone calls via the Internet.
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Netiquette

Guidelines
for online
behavior
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Societal Implications of Cyberspace

Security

Privacy

Differences in online communications
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The anonymity factor
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Information integrity
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Summary Slide
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Starting your computer: the boot process

Using the Windows operating system

Using the Internet and World Wide Web

E-mail and other types of online communications

Social implications of cyberspace
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