Introduction to the Personal

Computer (PC): The Basics

of “What you need to know”

Brian Simms M.A., CCC-SLP

Assistive Technology
Specialist
Goals of the Session

 Become familiar with basic hardware of the

PC
 Know how to open programs and files
 Know where and how to save your files
 Know basic conventions in MS programs
 Know basics of getting around the Internet
 Answer specific questions
What’s a PC?

 Two industry categories of computers

– MAC
– PC
 PC stands for Personal Computer
– Dell
– Compaq
– Hewlett Packard
– And others
Anatomy of the PC
RAM, ROM, GB, MHZ, CPU,
CD R/W…..WHAT? (cont…)
 RAM= Random Access Memory (daily
memory)
 Hard Drive= where your information is stored
(date book)
 Pentium I-IV Processor = how fast your
computer processes information
 Computer units of measurement
– GB = gigbytes (usually seen on memory)
– MB = megabytes (usually seen on memory)
– MHz = megahertz (usually seen on processor
speed)
RAM, ROM, GB, MHZ, CPU,
CD R/W…..WHAT?
 CD R/W – allows you to write and re-
write on compact disks
 CD ROM- allows you to read CDs only
(ROM = read only memory)
English vs. PC Terms

 Launch = Start
 Application = Program
 Icon = Picture shortcut to the program
The Desktop
The Mouse

 Click vs. Double Click

Opening a Program

 50 ways to leave your lover

 Only a couple of ways to open a
program
 Using Start Menu or Icon
– Double click on icon on your desktop
– Right click on icon select Open
– Go to Start menu Programs click on
desired program
Opening a File

 Go to location where the file is saved

and double click on its icon.

 How do you know where the file is?

File Storage on the Computer
What we know now about the
PC
 Categories of computers (MAC vs PC)
 Anatomy of the PC
 Some PC terms
 What the “Desktop” is and what’s on it
 The mouse (Click vs. double click, left click
vs. right click)
 How to open a program
 How files are stored in the computer and
where to get them.
Let the fun begin: Opening
Programs
 Let’s start a Word Document for a report
 How do we open that program?
Features of all Programs in
MS
Menus and Toolbars
Application Vocabulary

 Menu – gives you list options to

manipulate your document. These are
different for each program (application).

 Toolbar- shortcut to the items in the

menus.
Typical beginning operations
Using the File Menu to create
new, open and save
documents
PRACTICE
ACTIVITY
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS?
THE INTERNET

GOALS
 How do you get on?

 How do you look for information?

 What are some good search engines?

Common Features of Web
Browser
 Other Questions?

PLAY TIME
Take time to play around and
practice!!