COMPUTER BASICS

By Pa Ali Nyang
Adapted from the City of DeSoto Texas Public Library Presentation
 Goals and Objectives
➔ Be introduced to basic components of the computer
➔ Learn common computer terms
➔ Become familiar with basic computer hardware and
software
➔ Become familiar with the computer mouse and keyboard
➔ Learn about the desktop
➔ Be introduced to Microsoft Office Package
Introducing the Computer
 What is a Computer?

➔ An electronic device that accepts input, processes

data, provides storage and retrieval and provides
output for the user.

➔ You can use a computer to type documents, send

email, browse the internet, handle spreadsheets,
do presentations, play games, and more.
 Hardware/Software
➔ A computer is made up of only two components:
hardware and software. Anything you buy for your
computer can be classified as either hardware or
software.

➔ Hardware: is any part of your computer that has a

physical structure. If you can touch it, it is hardware.

➔ Software: the brains of the computer, is any set of

instructions that tells the hardware what to do and
helps the user accomplish a certain task
Basic Computer Hardware Components

➔ Input Devices
➔ Output Devices
➔ Storage Devices
➔ Central Processing Unit (CPU)
 Hardware Devices
✔Input Devices
▪ An input device allows us to put information into the
computer.
▪ Examples include: Mouse, keyboard, microphone, flash
drive or scanner
✔Output Devices
▪ An output device displays (or puts out) information from a
computer in either a visual or auditory format.
▪ Examples include: Monitor, Speakers, headphones or
printer
 Hardware Devices
✔Storage Devices
▪ Storage devices are used to store data.

▪ Some storage devices can store data even when the

computer is switched off.

▪ Examples include USB pen drives, hard disks, CDs, CD

R/Ws, DVDs, SD and micro SD cards, Blu-ray disks and
magnetic tape.
 Hardware Devices
✔Storage Devices
▪ The hard drive is a very important storage device in your
computer that deserves a special mention at this point in
time.

▪ Not only does it hold all of your files even when the power
is switched off, it also holds your operating system and all
of the programs you want to use

▪ Another increasingly important 'storage device' is cloud

storage.
 Hardware Devices

✔The CPU
▪ Brain of the computer
▪ Once data has been read into the computer via the input
devices, it is processed by the CPU.
▪ The CPU then outputs the data using output devices, perhaps
to a monitor or speakers, or saves it for later using a storage
device.
 Hardware Devices

✔ Console / System Unit

▪ The heart of your computer.

▪ It houses many electronic components

▪ Serves as the main connecting point for other devices

▪ Shields all of the vital working parts of your PC, from dust, dirt,
static electricity, etc.
 Hardware Devices
✔ Console / System Unit
Power Button
SD Card Port
CD/DVD Drive
(Play ony) CD/DVD Drive
(Play/Write)
Microphone
USB Ports
Port

Headphones
Port
 Hardware Devices
✔ Mouse
▪ Pointing device that allows you to select and
manipulate objects you see on your monitor.
 Hardware Devices
✔ Mouse Cont`d
▪ Left Click - used to select or place cursor where you want it on
the page

▪ Double Click - used to open a program

▪ Drag and Drop - used to pick up and move a picture or object

to another area
▪ Click and drag - used to select multiple items or highlight text

▪ Right Click - gives a drop down menu of options specific to the

task you’re trying to perform
 To practice using a mouse, go
to, and follow the instructions:
pbclibrary.org/mousing/
 Hardware Devices

✔ Keyboard

⮚ The keyboard allows you to enter letters, numbers, symbols, and other
commands into your computer.

⮚ Keyboards and Mice are universal meaning that any kind can be plugged into a
computer and will work. QWERTY refers to the standard US keyboard and
refers to the first six letters on the keyboard.
 Hardware Devices
✔ Keyboard Buttons
▪ Tab – used to indent paragraphs by
moving your cursor over ten spaces or to
move from field to field in a form
▪ Caps Lock – makes all letters capital
until you turn it off
▪ Shift - allows you to capitalize letters
when pressed down and allows you to
access the secondary function of your
computer keys
▪ Space Bar – adds one blank space
between objects
▪ Windows Key – open and closes
▪ your windows start menu
▪ Enter – starts a new line or
functions as the “Go” key when
navigating to a website, opening a
program, etc.

By Angie
Moore
 Hardware Devices
Keyboard Buttons Cont`d
▪ Backspace – erases the object to the ▪ End – moves your cursor to the
left of the cursor end of your line of text
▪ Delete – erases the object to the ▪ Insert – allows you to replace a word
right of the cursor with another by writing over it
▪ Home – moves your cursor to the
front of your line of text

By Angela Moore
Download the MS word file located on, and follow the instructions:

https://www.tsl.texas.gov/sites/default/files/public/tslac/ld/ld/LibrariesLiteracy/1-0
-3%20Keyboard%20Practice.docx
 Hardware Devices
✔ Monitor

▪ Displays the text and graphic information

generated by the console
 Hardware Devices
✔ Printers/Speakers
✔ Printer:
▪ Device that reproduces text and pictures that you create
on paper
✔ Speakers:
⮚ Inkjet Printer:
▪ Sound card in computer
▪ Most popular, least expensive pushes sound out through
▪ Occasional printing (Home use) the speakers
▪ Uses print cartridges
▪ Decent quality image
⮚ Laser Printer
▪ More expensive
▪ Extensive Printing (Office use)
▪ Uses toner cartridges
▪ Higher quality image
 Hardware Devices
▪ Putting Everything Together

Monitor

Speakers

Console

Printer Keyboard

Mouse
 Hardware Devices
Review
▪ What are the two main components of all
computers?
▪ Give me one example of an input device and one
example of an output device
▪ What 5 clicks did we learn for the mouse
function?
 Software

▪ Software is any set of instructions that tells

the hardware what to do.

▪ It is what guides the hardware and tells it how

to accomplish each task.
Software Types
 Examples of Software

▪ Browsers
▪ Internet Explorer
▪ Mozilla Firefox
▪ Google Chrome
▪ Games
▪ Solitaire
▪ Office
▪ Word
▪ Excel
▪ PowerPoint
▪ All programs
▪ Anything listed under all
programs and anything
you download
 Software
Windows Operating System
Overview
▪ Types: 97, XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1, Win 10
▪ The PC’s brain or Master Software
▪ Primary duty is to control the computer, all the
hardware.
▪ Controls all the software, basically running the
programs and managing the files and documents you
create.
▪ Interacts with user.
Review

▪ Is the keyboard an input or output device?

▪ What does the shift button allow you to do?
▪ What is the difference between backspace and
delete?
▪ What are two examples of software?
Meet your Desktop
 Desktop
Desktop

Icons

Quick Launch Bar System Tray

Task Bar

Start button
Start Menu – Windows 10
Desktop
 Desktop Cont`d
▪ The place where you can easily gain access to
everything on your computer

▪ Uses icons to represent programs on your

computer.

▪ Background on which the icons sit is called the ‘desktop’.

▪ Use the mouse to move around on the desktop

 Desktop Cont`d
Icons

▪ Represent programs you have on your computer

▪ They act as shortcuts to your programs and are instantly
accessible from your desktop instead of having to go to the start
menu and open them.
▪ Icons are movable and can be arranged any way you want.
▪ Any program or file on your computer can be an icon including:
⮚ pictures, documents, and other software.
 Desktop Cont`d
Icons
▪ You can create icons one of two ways:
⮚ 1) Go to the start menu and right click on a program. Select send
to.
✔ Select desktop and a copy of it will now be on your desktop

⮚ 2) Go to your libraries folder and right click on a document, music

file, or picture file. Select send to. Select desktop and a copy of it
will now be on your desktop

⮚ Note: Double click icons to open them

 Desktop Cont`d
Taskbar

▪ Blue strip along the bottom of the desktop.

▪ Serves as the Windows control center.

▪ Three important items on the taskbar: Start menu,

Quick Launch Bar, System tray
 Desktop Cont`d
Taskbar
▪ Start Menu: contains all programs on your computer.
Programs are listed in alphabetical order. Items that you use
frequently can be pinned to the start menu.
▪ Quick Launch Bar: contains programs that are pinned to
the taskbar and can be accessed simply by clicking the
program. Items that you use frequently can be pinned to the
quick launch bar.
✔ Note: Start menu and quick launch bar items only need
to be clicked once to open them
 Desktop Cont`d
Taskbar

▪ System Tray contains your general computer

information such as time, date, sound volume,
power supply, the USB icon when one is plugged in,
security antivirus information, updates for your
computer, internet connection, and computer
processes.
 Desktop Cont`d
Personalization
▪ When you right click on your desktop, you get a series of
options that you can use to make it look how you want it to
look
⮚ View: allows you to change the size of your icons, arrange
them in the order you want and choose to hide them or
show them.
⮚ Sort By: allows you to sort your icons by name, size, item
type or date modified
 Desktop Cont`d
Personalization
⮚ New: allows you to create a new folder or document and
places it directly on your desktop

⮚ Personalize: allows you to change the background on your

desktop, your screensaver settings, your color scheme, your
mouse pointer and other cosmetic changes
 Desktop Cont`d
Review

• What on the desktop do you have to double

click to open?
• What three items are located on the taskbar?

• What’s one place you can pin items you use

frequently?
• What is the system tray used for?
 Microsoft OFFICE
(Introduction)

Adapted from the ZRI Enterprises Presentation on Slideshare.com

MS Office Uses

▪ Very helpful tool widely used in homes, offices, Industries,

schools, etc. to organize, manage and present information,
data and figures.

▪ Used in most administrative processes regardless of industry.

▪ Can make you more productive.

▪ Helps you step up your position in job hunting(Depends upon

Proficiency).
What is Included in Microsoft Office?

▪ Set of products developed by Microsoft Corporation.

▪ Includes Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Access,

Publisher & Outlook.

▪ Each program serves a different purpose and is

compatible with other programs included in the package.
Microsoft Word

▪ Microsoft (MS) Word is a Word Processor (Application Software).

▪ Word Processor - a computer application used for the production
of potentially printable material.
Uses for Microsoft Word
▪ Create business documents having various graphics including
pictures, charts, and diagrams.
▪ Store and reuse ready-made content and formatted elements
such as cover pages and sidebars.
▪ Create letters and letterheads for personal and business purposes.
▪ Design different documents such as resumes or invitation cards
etc.
▪ Create a range of correspondences from a simple office memo to
legal copies and reference documents.
MS Word----- Interface
Write a sample letter to your boss!
Microsoft Excel

▪ MS Excel is a Spread Sheet

▪ Spread Sheet - an electronic document in which data is

arranged into rows and columns of a grid used for
calculations.

✔ is an interactive computer application used for analysis

and storage of data in tabular form.
Uses for Microsoft Excel

▪ Mathematical calculations.
▪ Graphs & Charts .
▪ Sales data & Analysis.
▪ Financial data & Analysis.
▪ Helps in decision Making.
MS Excel----- Interface
Lets do some basic maths!
Microsoft Power Point
▪ MS PowerPoint is a Presentation Program (Application software).

▪ Presentation -process of presenting a topic to audience such as

in demonstrations, lectures, introductions, etc.,
Uses for Microsoft Power Point
▪ Making Tutorials- Training, Education etc.,

▪ Animations, Photo Slide Show.

▪ E-Brochures

▪ Personal Promotional Videos

▪ Customer Education

▪ Corporate policies Etc.,

MS Power Point----- Interface
 Microsoft Access
▪Is a Data Base Management System(DBMS) developed by
Microsoft.
▪Serves as an electronic filing system
▪It can import or link directly to data stored in other applications
and databases.
▪The user is easily able to modify any data within the database,
produce reports from the database and submit queries about
all information stored into it.

▪ Used to organize and manipulate information for home or

business
MS Access ----- Interface
Microsoft Publisher

▪ Is an entry level desktop publishing application

▪Emphasis is placed on page layout and design.
▪Using Publisher, we can easily create business cards,
greeting cards, calendars, newsletters etc.,
MS Publisher ----- Interface
Microsoft Outlook

▪ Mainly Used as an Email Application.

▪But ,it also includes a calendar, task manager, contact manager, note
taking, journal, etc.
MS Outlook ----- Interface
The End !!!!

Any Questions?
References
• https://www.slideshare.net/En_Teng/beginning-computer-basics

• https://mycmycomputer.blogspot.com/2019/08/types-of-computers-i-computer.html

• https://www.informationq.com/computer-software-overview/

• https://www.thewindowsclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Fig-2-Start-Menu-Left-Si
de-All-Program-and-PC-Settings.png

• https://www.slideshare.net/DheenathayalanRamasa/ms-office-introduction