Simply computing for seniors

226 Pages·2001·126.673 MB·English

by  Linda Clark

SIMPLY
COMPUTING FOR
SENIORS
by Linda Clark
A John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, Publication
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SIMPLY
COMPUTING FOR
SENIORS
by Linda Clark
A John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, Publication
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This edition first published 2011. Wiley and the Wiley logo are trademarks or registered
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please see our website at www.wiley.com. Microsoft product screenshots reprinted with permission
from Microsoft Corporation. ©2011 Microsoft
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Publisher’s Acknowledgements
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Editorial and Production Marketing
VP Consumer and Technology Publishing Associate Marketing Director: Louise Breinholt
Director: Michelle Leete
Marketing Executive: Kate Parrett
Associate Director – Book Content
Management: Martin Tribe
Composition Services
Executive Commissioning Editor: Birgit Gruber
Layout: Indianapolis Composition Services
Assistant Editor: Ellie Scott
Compositor: Indianapolis Composition Services
Development Editor: Shena Deuchars
Proof Reader: Susan Hobbs
Senior Project Editor: Sara Shlaer
Indexer: Potomac Indexing, LLC
Editorial Manager: Jodi Jensen
Series Designer: Patrick Cunningham
Editorial Assistant: Leslie Saxman
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About the Author
Linda Clark has run workshops and created learning materials designed to pass on knowledge of
computing in clear, concise and simple language throughout her career. Linda’s fascination for
computers started around 1985 when she was training to become a college lecturer. She has
taught computing skills to many students in further education and, more recently, to librarians
throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. On retirement, she joined Inverness & Black Isle
U3A and formed two computing groups. In July 2007, Linda joined a steering group determined to
set up a virtual U3A based entirely on the Internet. Now fully operational, this proved to be an
exciting and stimulating challenge. She professes to be a computer user not an IT specialist and
believes that she is learning something new every day. Her philosophy is “if I can do it so can you”.
Author’s Acknowledgments
I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it. It has given me immense
satisfaction to have the opportunity to write for beginners in a way that I hope will be accessible
and will result in a growth in ability and confidence. My thanks therefore must go to Wiley for the
wonderful help and support I have been given during the writing process: Birgit Gruber for inviting
me to write the book and believing I could do it; Ellie Scott for her continuing support,
encouragement and help; and Sara Shlaer for pointing me in the right direction from Chapter 1. In
fact, I wish to record my thanks to all at Wiley for the professional way in which they dealt with
me, a novice writer. I have learnt a lot. There is no way I could have completed this book without
the assistance of Shena Deuchars, Mitcham Editorial Services who has made my writing and ideas
come alive and sparkle. Finally, my thanks to Graham for being there, listening, encouraging and
keeping me on track, almost.
Visit my website, lindasimplycomputing.com, for additional information and help.
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How to Use This Book
Who Needs This Book Bold
SIMPLY Computing for Seniors teaches you not only all you Bold type represents the names of commands and options
need to know about working with a computer, but also how that you interact with. Bold type also indicates text and
to make real-world use of it. The simple, yet elegant, design numbers that you must type into a dialog box.
features a multitude of images as well as tips and tricks to Italics
make this a perfect reference for the over 50s – just follow Italic words introduce a new term, which is then defined.
the instructions on your own computer.
Numbered Steps
Chapter Organisation You must perform the instructions in numbered steps in
This book consists of sections, all listed in the book’s table of order to successfully complete a section and achieve the final
contents. A section is a set of steps that show you how to results.
complete a specific computer task.
Bulleted Steps
Each section, usually contained on two facing pages, has an
These steps point out various optional features. You do not
introduction to the task at hand, a set of full-colour screen
have to perform these steps; they simply give additional
shots and steps that walk you through the task and a set of
information about a feature.
tips. This format allows you to quickly look at a topic of
interest and learn it instantly. Indented Text
Indented text tells you what the program does in response
Chapters group together sections with a common theme. A
to your following a numbered step. For example, if you click
chapter may also contain pages that give you the background
a certain menu command, a dialog box may open or a
information needed to understand the sections in a chapter.
window may open. Indented text may also tell you what the
Using the Mouse final result is when you follow a set of numbered steps.
This book uses the following conventions to describe the Notes
actions you perform when using the mouse: Notes give additional information. They may describe special
conditions that may occur during an operation. They may warn
Click
you of a situation that you want to avoid – for example, the
Press your left mouse button once. You generally click your
loss of data. A note may also cross-reference a related area of
mouse on something to select something on the screen.
the book. A cross-reference may guide you to another chapter
Double-click or to another section within the current chapter.
Press your left mouse button twice. Double-clicking
Icons and Buttons
something on the computer screen generally opens
Icons and buttons are graphical representations within the
whatever item you have double-clicked.
text. They show you exactly what you need to click to
Right-click perform a step.
Press your right mouse button. When you right-click on anything
You can easily identify the tips in any section by looking for
on the computer screen, the program displays a shortcut
the tip icon. Tips offer additional information, including hints,
menu containing commands specific to the selected item.
warnings and tricks. You can use the tip information to go
Click, Drag and Release the Mouse beyond what you have learned in the steps.
Move your mouse pointer and hover it over an item on the
Operating System Differences
screen. Press and hold down the left mouse button. Now,
The screenshots were captured using Windows 7. The
move the mouse to where you want to place the item and
features shown in the tasks may differ if you are using an
then release the button. You use this method to move an
earlier operating system. For example, the default folder for
item from one area of the computer screen to another.
saving photos in Windows 7 is named “Pictures”; in
Windows XP, it is named “My Pictures”.
The Conventions in This Book
A number of typographic and layout styles have been used Microsoft Office Starter contains cut-down versions of Word
throughout SIMPLY Computing for Seniors to distinguish and Excel, so you may see some differences between your
different types of information. version and the screenshots and instructions in this book.
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Table of Contents
1
3
GETTING STARTED
4 Start Up and Shut Down Your Computer
6 The Keyboard
8 Use the Mouse or Touchpad
10 The Windows 7 Screen
12 Change the Look of the Desktop
14 Password Protection
16 Lock and Unlock Your Computer
17 Health and Safety
2
19
WORKING WITH WINDOWS 7
20 The Start Menu
22 Fill the Screen
24 Icons and Windows
26 Get Help
28 Use Accessories
30 Fast Access to Files
CONTENTS
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3
33
WRITING A LETTER
34 Start and Explore Word 2010
36 Start a Document and Move Around
37 Correct Mistakes
38 Check Spelling and Grammar
40 Save and Close a Document
42 Open a Saved Document
44 Create Labels
4
49
MAKING A POSTER
50 Create a Document and Add Text
52 Choose the Text Style, Size and Colour
54 Align and Number Paragraphs
56 Change the Margins and Page Size
57 Add a Picture
58 Modify a Picture
5
USING A PRINTER AND 61
SCANNER
62 Use Print Preview
64 Print a Document
66 Print a Picture
68 Copy Documents and Pictures
70 Scan Documents and Pictures
CONTENTS
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6
73
GETTING CONNECTED
74 Choose an ISP
75 Connection Types
76 Get Started on the Internet
78 Keep Safe
80 Windows Live Essentials
82 Social Networking
7
85
DISCOVERING THE INTERNET
86 Explore Internet Explorer
88 Change Your Home Page
90 Search the Internet
92 Save Your Favourite Pages
94 Print a Web Page
96 Save Text and Pictures
8
99
USING THE INTERNET
100 Shop Online
104 Explore Travel Sites
106 Book Tickets and Holidays
108 Buy and Sell on eBay
110 Use Online Banking
113 Add Skype to Your Computer
114 Use Skype
CONTENTS
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