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Right then, I don't know about you but I'd like to switch this machine off and have a rest from all this brainwork! Just before you put the kettle on though, lets learn how to shut down the machine properly…
on the front
right of the monitor panel. Switch off the plugs at the
wall.That's it! Well done, you've completed the course. All there is to say now is thanks for reading (and computing!), and don't forget that the machine is here waiting to be used, so please make the most of your new found knowledge. Oh, and if you could help anyone else you see who might be struggling a bit, that would be fantastic. Thanks again!
Matt Brett
Appendix A – Glossary of terms
Address bar - Sits at the top of the browser, and tells you your current location (URL).
Boot-up - The computers self check routine when it's switched on.
Browser - The software that interprets the information coming from the internet and puts it into a logical and readable order.
Browsing - The action of looking through content on the internet.
Click - To press a button on the mouse.
Content - The main body of information in a web-page.
Copernic - The piece of software installed on the Parks computer which can send out queries to multiple search engines and bring together the results.
Cursor - See Pointer.
Desktop - The basic background screen visible when the machine is switched on.
Dialog box - A small window which pops up whenever there's a decision to be made by the user.
Disk drives - The means of permanently storing information by computers is on disks of different sorts (see Pg 3-4, "From the beginning").
Electronic mail - See E-mail.
E-mail - A method of sending written information quickly and simply all around the world in seconds using a computer and an internet connection.
FAQ - A Frequently Asked Question. Often web-sites contain lists of these to ease the load of unnecessary and repetitive questioning of the author on a subject.
Folder - A named location within a computer where information can be stored.
Form - A means of submitting information over the internet by the means of filling in a form.
Hardware - The users computer equipment (see also Software).
Hyperlink - See Link.
Icon - A small picture on the screen which represents a folder, program, or piece of data.
Internet - The world-wide network of computers linked by telephone lines to each other.
Internet Explorer - A internet browser supplied by Microsoft .
Keyboard - The means of inputting text into the computer by the pressing of labelled keys. Also used to control computing functions.
Link - A means of travel between any two points (pages) on the internet.
Load (up) - To run a computer program by placing it in the computers memory.
Mailing list - A means of communication for large common interest groups on the internet. By subscribing to a mailing list you will receive regular updates on news and events of interest to the group (a bit like subscribing to a magazine).
Margin buttons - The additional control method employed in the Parks School site to enable easy navigation, using permanent buttons in the margin of the screen.
Memory - The area used to run computer programs. The program must be taken from the disk drive and placed into the memory before it can be executed.
Menu - A drop down list of options displayed when the mouse is clicked on a icon or word, usually at the top or bottom of the screen.
Monitor - The device on which the picture is displayed (by similar means to a television).
Mouse - The primary control method of the computer, this is used by moving the cursor around to select and drag items, and execute actions.
(The) Net - See Internet.
On-line - To be attached to the internet, obtaining information via a phone line connection.
Operating system - The piece of software which runs all the basic functions of the computer and provides you with a view of what's happening that you can understand - the interface. On the machine you'll be using the operating system is called Windows 95.
Page(s) - An integrated piece of text, graphics and sound which comes from a remote computer via the internet which can be viewed using an internet browser. A collection of pages make up a web-site.
Pointer - The small arrow representing the mouse's current position on the screen.
Scrollbar - A means of scrolling the contents of a window so that the entirety of the document can be viewed when there is too much to be seen in one go.
Search Engine - A means of searching the internet for information on a specific topic. The search is carried out via a remote computer with a huge database of different web-sites.
Site - See Web-site.
Software - Any computer program which can be run on the computer equipment (see Hardware).
Speakers - Exactly like audio speakers, these are used to emit sound from the computer.
"Surfing the net" - A phrase used for the activity of following links all over the internet without having knowing where you are or where you want to end up, instead just `going with the flow'.
System unit - The main box of the computer, where all the computer chips, memory and disk drives are stored.
Taskbar - The bar constantly on view at the bottom of the screen where all the programs currently running and folders that are open can be seen. Useful for quickly changing between any two programs and/or folders.
Toolbar - The area, normally at the top of the screen, where a computer program tends to put it's most commonly used functions mounted on buttons.
URL - The Universal Resource Locator, or in simple terms the address of a web page (or site).
Web directory - A large list of relevant links about a single subject (e.g. autism) which can be browsed by the user.
Web-site - A collection of individual web pages owned and maintained by one individual or organisation, usually with a common theme.
Window(s) - A window is the re-sizeable box that a program or folder is displayed in. Windows is also the name of the operating system used on the vast majority of modern personal computers.
Wizard - A small chunk of code within a piece of software that helps the user to perform a task by explaining each option as it goes along.
World wide web - Another name for the global inter-linking of computers via the internet.
www. - See World wide web.
Appendix C – List of resource sites
For those who are interested, here are a few books that might help you take your knowledge just that little bit further…
The Internet
There are a myriad of books around covering the internet, but a couple I'd recommend are:-
The Internet - The Rough Guide 1999, Angus Kennedy, Penguin, £5.00,
ISBN 1-85828-343-4
An excellent little book that takes you right from the basics, explaining all the terms and pointing you to hundreds of hot sites to look at all over the web on a massive range of subjects. Updated annually. Web-site at http://www.roughguides.com/.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to… series, Various authors, QUE Corporation,
~ £25 each
A more weighty tome and perhaps more suited to the beginner, this series takes a good look at all the aspects of computing in detail right from stage 1. The good news is that the internet guide is probably the most useful of the lot. Updated regularly. Web-site at http://www.mcp.com/.
Web Publishing
Got a burning hobby or interest? Think you'd like to publish your own site on the web about it? Well, it really isn't that difficult, and there are loads of books out there to help you with it. Here's a selection of the ones I used to help create the Parks site:-
The Complete Idiots Guide to Creating an HTML 4 Web Page, Third Edition, Paul McFedries, QUE Corporation, £23.49, ISBN 0-7897-1490-6
An excellent book which takes you right through the process of creating a page, giving loads of handy hints and tips along the way on all the different topics. An ideal beginners book. Also includes a CD-ROM of handy programming code, examples and HTML (HyperText Markup Language) programs to get you started. Updated regularly. Web-site at http://www.mcp.com/.
HTML 4.0 - No Experience Required, E. Stephen Mack and Janan Platt, Sybex Inc., ~ £25-30, ISBN 0-7821-2143-8
Similar to the above but with a less chatty (annoying?!) style. A better reference work, but not as good for the raw beginner who needs to know every tip and trick they can. Web-site at http://www/sybex.com/.
Advanced HTML Companion Second Edition, K.Schengili-Roberts & K.Silk-Copeland, AP Professional, ~ £25-30, ISBN 0-12-623542-2
More of a reference work, though still useful to beginners. Web-site at http://www.apnet.com/.
Appendix E – On-line version of this manual and tutorial
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