When the above notice appears ahead of a section of these classes, I invite you to ‘listen’ to the section while you follow the printed words. The notice suggests you ‘Press’ (select or touch) the universal symbol for ‘PLAY’ in the control section to the right of or just below the notice. Once you have done so, the control keys on your keyboard can be used to control the audio: play/pause, Mute, increase or decrease the volume.
If you are not familiar with the audio control keys on your computer, please select the ‘Tips & Shortcuts’ button in the left column, then read or print and read the PDF file ‘Controlling Your Computer’s Audio’.
Class 2
Getting to Know the User Interface
Review
Class 1 pointed out that every tool we use has a User Interface. To use the tool properly, we must learn the user interface for the tool. Think of an infant human learning to use the confounding Spoon! You need to pick up the correct end, learn what side is up, and if you tilt it anywhere but level, everything in it will fall out! And all THAT is after you learn how to get something into it without using your fingers! Finally, you have to get it into your mouth, rather than an eye or your nose.
The primary user interface for a computer is a set of buttons (keyboard) for input and a screen (monitor) for output.
Additionally, you learned that computer buttons are quite unlike most buttons humans are used to; an exception would be the 'ding-dong' doorbell button. The bell dings when you press the button, and dongs when you release the button.
Computer buttons usually do not have 'tactile' feedback. They do not 'click' when you touch them, and they do not stay in an ON position! The computer also knows how long you hold a button, and does different things for different length presses! In most cases, you want to POKE a computer button.
Please note: a significant change to the must poke requirement is the new technique for using a touch screen! The word TOUCH says it all. It is NOT a poke screen, and it is NOT a press screen! Think of touching a loved ones face. You should touch the computer touch screen the same way; the lighter the touch the better.
There is no switch (as in light switch on the wall) on most computers. Except in case of emergency, there is no way to switch the computer OFF. You must tell the computer that you want it to sleep, to shut down or to restart by selecting the power icon and making the appropriate choice. Only after the computer does some housekeeping, will it do what the user requested.
The computer can not see what you are looking at, so before we tell the computer what to do, we must tell it which item (file, folder, application, graphic item, or text) on the screen we want to work with. We do that by selecting (highlighting) that item on the screen.
The Class Synopsis follows this paragraph. You should notice that individual sections of this class are colored and underlined, indicating that they are LINKS to the appropriate sections. You may click or touch individual sections to jump to them, or simply scroll down (turn the mouse wheel, if it has one) to the section you wish to continue with.
Class 2 Synopsis:
- Pointing Devices
- Exploring a mouse
- Trackballs
- Touchpads
- Using your pointing device
- Start an Application
- Using the Control Panel
- Practice mouse technique
- Hand exercise
- Make your favorite apps easy to find
1) Pointing Devices
The most common and most used pointing device is the human finger. Until ALL computers have touch screens we must make use of mechanical devices that simulate our touching the computer screen. Of all the various mechanical pointing devices available, the mouse is usually the pointing device of choice.
Leftys please note: if you just began using a computer; please use the Mouse item in the Control Panel (item 7 of the synopsys) to tell the computer you are left handed! It will prevent the agony of forcing yourself to use a right-handed device with your left hand!
Please watch the following video at least once before moving on.
Pointing Device Video
All pointing devices are used to point to and select an object on the computer screen. Most of the devices have a button positioned under your pointing finger (index finger) that you click to indicate to the computer which object you want to select. The objects to be selected vary widely, but in ALL cases, when you point to and select an object, you are 'telling' the computer THAT is the item you wish to work with.
Generally, the objects you can point to are anything you see on the screen! Primarily you will be pointing to files, applications, (and shortcuts to files or applications), buttons, text boxes, check boxes, radio buttons, tool icons and the like. Later, we will learn some special techniques for selecting text.
Once you have selected an object on the screen, you can poke enter on the keyboard to indicate to the computer that you have selected the object you wish to work with and the computer should take appropriate action to work with it.
>> OR <<
If you are using your pointing device to select objects on the screen, you can also use a pointing device shortcut to indicate to the computer that you have selected the object you wish to work with and the computer should take appropriate action to work with it. That shortcut is a double click, or on many touch devices, a double tap. The first click selects the item, the second click (just like poking enter) tells the computer you are done selecting.
Please note: select Mouse in the Control Panel (item 7 of the synopsis) to teach the computer what your double click speed is.
Pointing devices come in all shapes and sizes, but there are three catagories of pointing devices that people find most useful: mouse, trackball and touchpad.
2)Exploring a Mouse
Look at the bottom of a mouse. You will see a hole that may have a red or blue light or none at all. Some mice use an infra-red LED as the movement sensor, so you cannot see it. THE LACK OF A LIGHT DOES NOT MEAN THE MOUSE WON'T WORK!
Also; on the bottom of the mouse are a number of special 'feet' (look more like pads) that are intended to let the mouse slide easily on almost any surface. You CANNOT press the mouse down hard enough to prevent it from moving!!! You must use your thumb and last two fingers to both hold the mouse, AND anchor the mouse in place BEFORE you press or release a button! You anchor the mouse in place by resting your fingers on the work surface, and gently squeezing them together to anchor the mouse in place!
NOTE: When you finally relax enough, you will find that no real pressure is required to anchor the mouse. When your hand relaxes, the heel of your hand and the fingers holding the mouse rest on the work surface with enough pressure to hold the mouse in place. Plus, you will quickly find just how little pressure is required to click the mouse without moving it.
TIP: Try using a mouse pad. Some mouse pads are built to stay put on your work surface, plus their mouse surface is not nearly as slick as a table, making it easier to anchor the mouse in place.
The mouse will probably be your first introduction to a form of button that does NOT look like a button! The flexible material that a mouse shell is made of, lets the builder 'hide' a button under the cover, and it usually is one with tactile feedback (has a click). So there is a button, and pressing the surface of the mouse will indeed 'press' the button! Please press your mouse button(s) NOW! Press them repeatedly until you learn just how gently you can press and still feel the click.
Please note: If your mouse is too big for your hand, you need to shift your grip on the mouse until your fingertips are near the 'tail' edge of the mouse. (Think of the wired mouse!)
On most mice there is also a wheel (scroll wheel). This is NOT the pointing button for your index (pointing) finger. Do NOT position either finger over or on the wheel! You should position your pointing finger and your middle finger on either side of the wheel. When we talk about scroll bars in a window, we will discuss just what the scroll wheel can do.
The mouse will probably not sense movement if you try to use it on a sheet of paper. The paper will stick to your hand, so it moves WITH the mouse, therefore the mouse ‘sees’ no movement!
I believe the hardest thing about using a mouse (for most people) is to understand that you move the cursor around the screen by moving the mouse; BUT, when you click a button you MUST NOT MOVE THE MOUSE! (Remember the computer button thing? The computer knows when you press the button, how long you press the button, when you release the button, then how long until you press the button again!) To the computer, each action means something. So…when you are ready to press a mouse button, you must first stop moving the mouse!
It usually takes a LOT of practice to stop moving the mouse before you press a button. The slick feet on the bottom of the mouse makes it nearly impossible for you to press on a mouse hard enough to prevent it from moving!!! You must use your wrist and fingers resting on your work surface, to anchor the mouse in place BEFORE you press a button!
Try this test to check your grip on the mouse (assuming you have selected a mouse that fits you hand): rest your wrist and fingers on your work surface without a mouse. Imagine yourself in a very comfy overstuffed chair, perhaps watching TV. If you have your arms relaxed on the arms of the chair, your hand is probably cupped, with the side of your thumb and your fingertips resting on the chair arm. This is exactly how you should hold a mouse. The amount of pressure your thumb and fingertips press on the work surface, is all you need to stop moving the mouse! If you raise your index and middle finger, the mouse should fit perfectly in your cupped hand.
Most recent mice can be used on any surface. If the surface you use is particularly slick, it may help to use a mouse pad, available where ever mice are sold. Some mouse pads have a slick surface, but if you can find one with a fabric surface, it will tend to help anchor the mouse in place when you are ready to click a button.
When using the mouse, you should position your pointing finger and your middle finger on either side of the wheel. For both right and left handed people; your pointing finger does all the work, while your middle finger ALWAYS opens a context menu. Avoid using your pointing finger for BOTH buttons, otherwise you won't remember which button does what!
If you follow my instruction for use of the mouse as a pointing device, and if you are left handed and have used the control panel to set the mouse for left handed use, you will ALWAYS have your pointing finger positioned over the pointing button. Your middle finger will then be positioned over the button that, when pressed, will activate the context menu for the object the mouse cursor is pointing to. The context menu is nothing more than a menu with optional actions you can perform on that object (context: different kinds of objects have different kinds of menus!). Many times you will find if you wished you could do something with the object that isn't obvious, the menu click will provide that function in the context menu.
Mouse adjustment are made in the Control Panel. We will set up the mouse as an example in the section: Start an Application.
3) Trackballs
There are several trackball type devices available. Some trackballs are left or right handed, but there are also ambidextrous trackballs. The main advantage for the average user is the fact that the trackball stays put on your work surface. You do not move it to move the cursor on the screen. You cause the cursor to move by rotating the ball itself. If you find anchoring a mouse in place before you can press a button difficult, try a trackball. Actually, try one even if you ARE good with a mouse!
4) Touchpads
For many years now, laptops (notebooks, etc.) have a touchpad built in. The operation of the touchpad varies widely over the years, as has its size. In fact, with the advent of touch screens, the touch pad is evolving even more. Each manufacturer has their own idea of how it should work. I can only give you suggestions on what may be possible with your built in or add on (now usually wireless) touch pad:
- Slide a single fingertip on the pad to move the cursor
- Single tap the pad for a select
- Double tap the pad for a double click
- Your pad may respond to a two finger tap for a context menu
- Your pad may have real or figurative buttons for select and menu at the edge closest to you (same as select and menu mouse buttons)
- Your pad may have a scroll area at the right of the pad
- Your pad may respond to two finger scrolling anywhere on the pad
- Your pad may respond to two finger pinching to zoom the screen
If you purchase an add on touchpad, check the manufacturer's instructions for usage tips.
TIP: When using a touchpad, move your cursor close to your intended target, then rock your fingertip for greater positioning precision.
TIP: Everyone that owns a laptop or notebook should also have a mouse for finer control than the touchpad. Save the touchpad for simple things, or when you don't have the mouse with you.
5) Using Your Pointing Device
Cursor
In the Pointing Device video, I compared a pointing device to a laser pointer. I used the laser pointer to make a temporary mark on an item I couldn’t physically reach, so any observer could see which item I was talking about. I called that temporary mark a cursor.
The cursor your pointing device controls, is a mark generated by the computer and displayed on the monitor. You control where the computer positions the cursor by manipulating your pointing device. Consider a wired mouse, for instance. Although in cartoons the wire is the mouse’s tail, for our purposes it is the business end of the mouse. When you hold the mouse comfortably, your pointing finger and your middle finger are placed on either side of the wheel, and your pointing finger is pointing in the direction of the tail! So…when you move the mouse toward its tail, the cursor on the computer screen moves UP. Move the mouse away from its tail and the cursor moves DOWN on the screen. Similarly, move the mouse to its left and the cursor moves left, etc.
When we talk about the Control Panel, you will learn that there is a property of a cursor that will become important for you to make use of. Its shape will change while you are using it! The computer will change the cursor shape to notify you of special operations that are available to you if you click, or drag and drop (see Drag and Drop, below). In Class 3 we will talk about the properties of a window. At that time, we will discuss many of the different shaped cursors you will see as you operate your computer.
There are four major uses for a pointing device within the context of the operating system (what you need to know to control the operating system and a window):
A. Your pointing finger (index finger) will…
1. Select (or deselect) one or more objects.
2. Drag and drop an object to MOVE or COPY it.
3. Select and open an object with the double click ‘shortcut’.
B. Your middle finger (or equivalent button) will ALWAYS!…
1. Open a context menu.
Applications will have other uses for the pointing device. For example; in a graphic application, such as a photo manipulation application, or a drawing application (like Paint, or Paint 3D, both part of the operating system), the pointing device will be used to draw, outline items, etc., the same way you might use a pencil or paint brush.
Select
When you select an object (move your cursor to the object and click the pointing finger button), you are telling the computer THAT is the item you want to work with. The computer responds by highlighting the object. You can tell the item is selected by moving your cursor away from the highlight and observing that the highlight remains on the item.
A special highlight note: Windows 10, has what I call an anticipation highlight. It is lighter colored than the selected highlight. As you move your cursor near an object on the screen, the computer may use the anticipation highlight to indicate to you that THIS may be the item you are looking for. If you agree, you can stop moving the mouse, and click your pointing finger button to actually select the object.
Drag and Drop
This sounds like something out of a mystery novel, but it is an action you probably know from your youth. Did you play checkers? If so, you know how to drag and drop on a computer. Think about it. When you were ready to move a checker from one square to another, did you pick it up to move it? Probably not. What most of us did, is reach out our pointing finger and touched the checker. With our finger on the checker, we slid it to the square we wanted it on, then we removed our finger. We dragged the checker to its new location and dropped it there.
If your computer has a touch screen, you will actually touch the object on the screen to move it from one place to another. Those of us that don’t have touch screens will use our pointing device to simulate our finger tip on the screen. Position your cursor on the object you want to move, press down on your select button with your pointing finger AND KEEP IT DOWN, then drag the mouse (the ‘checker’) to its new position, and drop it there by removing your finger from the pointing device select button.
Caution! Do NOT let go of the mouse button before you get the object to the position you intend it to be in! If you change your mind midstream, return the object to its original position BEFORE you release the button.
Practice using the mouse for both positioning and drag and drop, by moving tiles around the start screen or icons around the desktop. Poke the windows logo key on the keyboard to get to the start screen (tiles). You practice 'drag and drop' by moving a tile or icon from point to point. The icons on the task bar can also be moved if your task bar is not locked. To unlock the task bar, get a menu on a blank portion of the task bar and if lock taskbar has a check mark, select it to remove the check mark.
NOTE: We know of no faster way to learn positioning a cursor with a pointing device and using the drag and drop techinque, than playing solitaire. If you are a solitaire fan, you have our permission to play as much solitaire as you want. Actually, it is recommended for improving hand-eye coordination!
Context menu
By now you have observed many different kinds of icons and files. Each different kind has a different purpose. For example: some icons represent applications, some represent folders and some represent files. Depending on which purpose the icons represents, there are different actions you can choose from. A list of actions for any given icon or file is called a context menu.
The quick way (and many times the ONLY way) to get the list of actions for any icon, file or folder; is to menu click (middle finger click) it!
6) Start an application
To get the computer to do something useful, we have to locate an appropriate application (recipe) installed on your computer and start it.
Please note: The computers' operating system includes a number of useful applications to get you going, but you must find and install more advanced applications.
When watching the next video, pay more attention to what is being said than trying to memorize what is happening on the screen. Computer software is improved all the time. It is more important to know WHAT to look for than WHERE it is!
Start Application Video
There are a number of ways to start an applicaton. As we demonstrate, you will find our example task bar and desktop will be significantly different than yours! If you have had your computer for some time, you will learn to personalize it. When you first get your computer, there are a number of applications and other items displayed on your desktop, taskbar and start screen. They have been put there by both the computer manufacturer and by the Windows operating system. All of it is customizable. You are expected to remove anything you don't use and add anything you want to use. During these classes, we will help you do that.
As an example of starting an application, we are going to use an application known as the Control Panel. Once the control panel is running, we will make adjustments to the pointing device known as a mouse. We can adjust how the mouse will react to input from you, the user. Read on for info about the control panel, followed by the mouse adjustment.
When your computer is new, the icon for the Control Panel will not appear in any of the common places the next example uses. When you get to example 4, begin typing control panel and the computer will find it for you.
Start application example:
The following collection of suggestions for starting an application, is organized in the order you might perform a visual search for ANY application you may want to start. The choice of where to ‘jump into’ the list will depend on how familiar you are with the computer you are using:
- Look at your desktop. If an icon for the application you want to start is visible on the desktop, double click it to both select it and start it.
- Look at your task bar. If an icon for the application you want to start is visible on the task bar, simply select it. The computer knows when you select something on the task bar, you want to start it.
- Poke the Windows Logo key on your keyboard. This will open (or close!) the start screen (depending on your personalization, it may or may not occupy the full screen). If the start screen has a tile for the application you wish to start, select it.
- If you don't see a tile for the application; DON'T CLICK ANYTHING! HANDS OFF THE MOUSE! On your keyboard, begin to type the name of the application. Watch the screen! After you type each character, check the screen. The computer will display what it thinks you are looking for. Once you see what you want, STOP TYPING! If there is a highlight on the item you are looking for, just poke enter. If what you want is NOT highlighted, move your cursor to the item and select it.
If you are using an early version of Windows 10 and you don't see an alphabetical list of applications on the left side of the Start screen, move your cursor to the words All Apps near the bottom left corner of the Start screen and click (Windows 11 places the words All Apps near the top right corner of the start screen). This will let you scroll through many of the apps in alphabetical order.
7) Control Panel
The Control Panel is an operating system application that allows us to change the way the user interface works. It allows us to 'teach' the computer how we want it to work. One of the first things you should do when you get a new computer, is Adjust the Mouse. To do this, we need to start the Control Panel application. This section demonstrates a few of the adjustments of the mouse, but you should explore all of the items you can adjust!
The first time you open the Control Panel, you are likely to see a collection of settings listed in categories. In my opinion, this is a difficult way to find what I am looking for. I choose to move my cursor into the upper right area of the window and find the View By: comment. To the right of that it would say category. If you click on the word category, you can choose large or small icons.
Customizing Mouse Behavior
In the icon view of the control panel, locate the Mouse item and select it. You will then be presented with a dialog box you use to adjust how the mouse works for you.
Near the top of the dialog box, you will see several tabs (as in folder tabs in a file drawer). Choose the buttons tab:
You can tell the computer which handedness you are so your index finger will always be select, and your middle finger will always be context menu. The Button configuration area is slightly different depending on windows update level; click in a check box to check or uncheck the box to make the primary button the one under your index finger (in the drawing of a mouse, watch the highlighted button change as you check and uncheck the box) -OR- select the appropriate right or left hand radio button.
NOTE: Once you have swapped the button functions, you must swap which mouse button you click to return to the original position!
You can tell the computer to sense how slowly or quickly you double click. In the Double click Speed area, double click the drawing of a folder. If the folder reliably opens and closes (try it numerous times!), you're good to go. If it doesn't; move the Speed slider until the computer reliably senses your double click speed.
You can tell the computer how far you want the cursor on the screen to move when you move the mouse a little. Click on the tab Pointer Options. The distance the cursor (pointer) moves on the screen when you move the mouse is controlled by the pointer speed slider. Keep testing the movements by starting with your cursor at one edge of the screen, then move the mouse to position the cursor at the opposite side of the screen. Adjust the slider until you can move the mouse about two inches for a full screen cursor movement.
REMEMBER: You are aiming for comfort! Don't lift your wrist (or heel of hand) off your work surface when you make this adjustment.
The following three adjustments (Pointer Options tab) are suggested, the first two of which you will eventually appreciate. The third one you can instantly test just by poking the CRTL key on the keyboard. It helps locate a 'lost' cursor.
- Check box to automatically move pointer to default button
- Check box to hide pointer while typing
- Check box to show location of pointer when you poke the CTRL key
Begin by simply relaxing your hand and wrist on your work surface WITHOUT the mouse. Notice the pressure of your finger tips on the work surface, particularly your thumb and last two fingers. This is what it should feel like when you rest your hand on your mouse. (When you purchase a mouse, be sure you get one that fits your hand!).
Slide your thumb and last two fingers together to grasp the mouse.
These three digits (thumb and fingers!) should still be resting on your work surface. This is VERY important! You must be able to use those fingers to anchor the mouse in position BEFORE you press either button, or you will NOT tell the computer what you think you are telling it!
Make sure your pointing finger (index finger) and middle finger are resting on either side of the wheel.
Look at the computer screen and move the mouse cursor to a blank position on the screen.
Anchor the mouse, then watch the mouse cursor while you gently press the button under your index finger until you feel the mouse button click. Did the mouse cursor move? If so, you haven't anchored the mouse well enough. Don’t press ON the mouse, press only on the work surface with your thumb and last two fingers. Keep trying until you no longer move the mouse when you click a button.
The position of the mouse cursor before pressing a button, while holding the button and when releasing the mouse button tells the computer what to do!
Keep your pointing finger (index finger) and your middle finger over (but not pressing) the mouse buttons!
Inadvertently 'grabbing' something with the mouse as the cursor moves over an object, by clicking a button while moving the mouse makes things magically move around on the screen when you’re not looking!
To help practice using the mouse for drag and drop, practice moving tiles around the start screen. Poke the windows logo key on the keyboard to get to the start screen (tiles). You practice 'drag and drop' by moving a tile from point to point. It is intended that you customize your start screen this way.
If your computer has Solitaire installed, you should be able to find (search for) and start (click on) the application.
In the menu bar near the top of the Solitaire window, check the Game menu for things you can do with the game, and the Help menu for help with the game.
If nothing else, just move cards or icons around using drag and drop!
10) Make your favorite applications easy to find
NOTE: When an app appears on your task bar (or on the start screen), a SINGLE click is all it takes to open it. Pin your favorite apps to the task bar to make it quick and easy to find and open them. Remove icons (delete) for the apps you don't use!
The applications we use most frequently in class are: a Web 'Browser' (Windows 10 comes with Edge), 'Control Panel', 'Wordpad', 'Calculator', 'Paint' and 'Windows File Explorer', a file manager. Any form of 'Solitaire' is great for practicing with your pointing device.