Computer & Technology Basics Course for Absolute Beginners — Transcript

Full transcript

1. 0:00This course is a computer basics course for people who are brand new to using computers.
2. 0:04It's also great for people who have some knowledge, but just want to fill in some
3. 0:08gaps. There are a variety of topics and you can use the time codes in the description
4. 0:13to skip right to the topic you want to learn about. This course was developed by gcf global dot-org.
5. 0:22Computers are all around us. From laptop computers to smartphones to smartwatches,
6. 0:29they're changing the way that we live our lives. But have you ever asked yourself
7. 0:36what exactly is a computer? a computer is an electronic device that manipulates information
8. 0:43or data. The computer sees data as ones and zeros, but it knows how to combine them
9. 0:50into much more complex things such as a though movie.
10. 0:55Website game and much more.
11. 1:01Computers use a combination of hardware and software. Hardware is any physical part
12. 1:07of the computer, which includes the internal components and the external parts like
13. 1:12the monitor and keyboard. Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware
14. 1:19what to do, such as a web browser, media player, or word processor.
15. 1:25When most people say computer, they're talking about a personal computer.
16. 1:30This can be a desktop computer or a laptop.
17. 1:35Which has basically the same capabilities but in a more portable package. Personal
18. 1:40computers come in a few different styles. Most common type uses the windows operating system.
19. 1:49Max or macintosh computers feature the mac os operating system while chromebooks run on chrome os.
20. 1:57Smartphones and other mobile devices mostly use the ios or android operating systems.
21. 2:03Will talk more about operating systems in a later video.
22. 2:10Computers come in many other shapes and sizes, tvs, game consoles and even appliances
23. 2:16like refrigerators can have built in computers. Although they may not do everything a desktop or laptop can.
24. 2:25There's another type of computer that plays an important role in our lives. Servers
25. 2:32a server sends information to other computers on a network. In fact, every time you
26. 2:38use the internet, web servers deliver the web pages that you want to see to your computer.
27. 2:45Servers are also used in many offices to store and share files.
28. 2:52As you can see, there are many types of computers out there in each one plays a part in our modern world.
29. 3:04Every computer has its own set of buttons and ports. In this video, we're going to
30. 3:09talk about some of the most common ones, including what they're for, and how to recognize
31. 3:14them. Some buttons are universal, like the power button, depending on the type of
32. 3:19computer. You have it maybe on the front.
33. 3:23On the back behind the screen.
34. 3:26Or even on the inside when you open the lid.
35. 3:31The power socket is where you'll connect the power cord. If you have a laptop, you'll have a charging port instead.
36. 3:41Most computers provide more than one usb port, so you can plug in any device you might
37. 3:46need. Keyboards, printers, and usb drives are all common examples.
38. 3:53Some computers even have usb seaports, which can be used for many different things
39. 3:58not just plugging in devices. Laptops, for instance, often use the format for the charging port.
40. 4:05If you have a desktop, you'll use the monitor port to connect the monitor. There are
41. 4:10a few types of monitor connections, ranging from hdmi to the usbc style we just mentioned.
42. 4:16If you have a laptop, you can connect a separate monitor. As long as you have the
43. 4:22right equipment, just look for the display port and plug in the appropriate cable.
44. 4:28The ethernet port lets you connect to the internet. If you're not using wi-fi, all
45. 4:33you need is an ethernet cable, which you can then connect to your modem or router.
46. 4:38If your computer has an audio jack, you can use it to plug in wired headphones or
47. 4:43speakers. You may or may not have a disk drive, depending on how old your computer
48. 4:48is and who makes it. The disk drive can be used to insert a cd, a dvd, or a blu-ray disc.
49. 4:56If you have ports that look like this, therefore older peripherals like mice, keyboards,
50. 5:01and printers. Newer versions of these devices usually connect via usb or wirelessly.
51. 5:10That covers the basics of buttons and ports. Of course, every computer is different
52. 5:15and technology is always changing. To find out what options you have, take a closer look at your computer.
53. 5:28There are many different types of computers, but they all use similar parts to operate.
54. 5:35In this video, we're going to show you what these parts are and what they're used
55. 5:41for, starting with a standard desktop model.
56. 5:45The computer case holds the main components of the computer. This is where the actual
57. 5:52processing happens today. Most cases are what we call tower cases which ins they
58. 5:59stand up vertically but they can also come in other shapes and sizes. To view things
59. 6:06on your computer, you'll need a monitor. The monitor uses the video processor inside
60. 6:13your computer case to display images, text, and other content. Most monitors have
61. 6:21an lcd or led display, both of which are very thin so they don't take up much space.
62. 6:29All-in-one models are even more compact since they combined the monitor and the computer
63. 6:35case and to a single unit. To interact with your computer, you'll need a keyboard
64. 6:41and a mouse. Keyboards come in many different styles, including wireless and ergonomic.
65. 6:49The mouse is used to control the mouse pointer on the screen so you can click and
66. 6:55interact with your computer. Most mice detect movement using an optical sensor on
67. 7:02the bottom. Underneath, you'll find a small electronic guy.
68. 7:08Laptops combine all of these things into one that includes the components that are
69. 7:14normally inside the computer case plus a built-in screen.
70. 7:19Keyboard and touchpad. The touchpad is a small touch sensitive area that takes the
71. 7:25place of a traditional mouse. It lets you control the mouse pointer using a drawing
72. 7:32motion with your finger. Laptops offer the best of both worlds when it comes to portability.
73. 7:41You can use them on the go thanks to the built-in battery. Or you can connect a separate
74. 7:48monitor, keyboard and mouse, effectively turning your laptop into a desktop. So those
75. 7:56are the basic parts of any computer setup. As you can see, each part plays an important
76. 8:03role, which you'll come to understand as you spend more and more time with your computer.
77. 8:14You may already know that there are many important parts inside a computer, but what
78. 8:19exactly do they do? let's take a look inside and learn about the various components
79. 8:24that make a computer work, whether it's a desktop computer or a laptop. Every computer
80. 8:30has a large circuit board called a motherboard. This contains some of the most important
81. 8:36parts of the computer, such as the cpu, also known as the central processing unit
82. 8:41or processor. Cpu can be considered the brain of the computer because it processes
83. 8:47information and carries out commands. Since it tends to get hot, it's covered by
84. 8:53a piece of metal called a heat sink, which draws heat away from the processor.
85. 8:59The motherboard also contains the computer's ram or random access memory.
86. 9:04This is the short-term memory that the computer uses whenever it's performing calculations.
87. 9:09However, you cannot store your files there because the ram is weird when you shut off the computer.
88. 9:17The hard drive provides long-term storage, keeping all of the computers data, even
89. 9:22when it's turned off. Many hard drives use a magnetic platter to store data, but
90. 9:28many newer computers have solid state drives, which are faster and more durable, but also more expensive.
91. 9:36On many desktop computers, the motherboard has expansion slots that allow you to upgrade
92. 9:41by adding expansion cards. You can add a video card to get better graphics performance,
93. 9:46or you can add a wireless card to connect to your wireless home network. Most laptops,
94. 9:52however, don't have expansion slots. Of course, the computers components need electricity
95. 9:58to run. The power supply unit is designed to take power from the wall outlet and
96. 10:03send it to all of the different components that need power. Laptops also contain
97. 10:08a built-in battery that lets you use them anywhere. A computer is a pretty complex
98. 10:14machine, but now that you've seen what goes on inside, it should be a little less mysterious.
99. 10:26If you're thinking of buying a computer, you may have wondered is a laptop right for
100. 10:31me? depending on how you plan to use it, the answer may be yes. In this video, we'll
101. 10:37look at some of the ways that a laptop is different from a desktop to help you decide.
102. 10:42The biggest difference is portability. Laptops have to be small and light so that
103. 10:47you can pick them up and take them with you. Since all of the basic parts are built
104. 10:52in, setting up a laptop is as easy as opening it. The downside is that the monitor
105. 10:57is usually smaller than a desktop monitor, so you'll have less screen space.
106. 11:03Another important difference is that laptops use a battery. The battery can provide
107. 11:08power to the laptop when you're on the go, and it will recharge whenever it's plugged.
108. 11:13An added benefit of having a battery is if the power goes out, the battery can work as a backup power source.
109. 11:21Instead of a mouse, laptops usually have a built-in touchpad, also known as a trackpad.
110. 11:26You can control the pointer on the screen by using a drawing motion with your finger.
111. 11:31If you haven't used a touch pad before, the experience is a little bit different
112. 11:36from using a mouse, and it may take a while to get used to.
113. 11:40If you're buying a desktop computer, you can mix and match almost any monitor, keyboard,
114. 11:45and mouse that you want. With a laptop. You won't have quite as much freedom since
115. 11:50everything is built-in. However, if you want to have the best of both worlds, you
116. 11:54can use your laptop sports to connect a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse, basically
117. 11:59turning your laptop into a desktop. And of course, whenever you want to, you can
118. 12:04simply disconnect everything and take your laptop with you.
119. 12:09As you can see, there are some important differences between laptops and desktops.
120. 12:13So depending on your preferences, you can decide which one best suits your needs.
121. 12:23Did you know that you and your computer speak different languages? it doesn't speak
122. 12:29spanish or swedish or chinese. It speaks in ones and zeros.
123. 12:35You can't communicate directly with your computer, but that's where your operating
124. 12:39system comes in. The operating system, or os, is the program that lets you interact
125. 12:45with your computer together. The operating system and computer hardware form a complete
126. 12:51system that determines what your computer can do.
127. 12:55There are many different operating systems. Two of the most common ones are microsoft windows and mac os.
128. 13:02Windows comes pre-loaded on most personal computers while mac os runs on all new macs.
129. 13:10Operating systems aren't just for desktop and laptop computers. Mobile devices run
130. 13:16mobile operating systems like apple ios, or google android, which are designed for
131. 13:21interactions with smaller touch screens.
132. 13:25Before downloading a new program or application, be aware that it may not be available
133. 13:30for your operating system. Some applications work on all devices, while others only work on certain ones.
134. 13:38So get to know your operating system to see how it works and what it can do.
135. 13:49If you woke up this morning, thanks to the alarm on your smartphone, or if you like
136. 13:54watching videos or playing games on your tablet, you're using applications also known
137. 13:59as apps. An app is a software program that lets you do things. For lack of a better
138. 14:04word, you'll find apps on all of your devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers.
139. 14:12Some apps help you complete tasks.
140. 14:15While others are just for fun. Here's some examples of ways you can use apps.
141. 14:21Mobile apps are apps that run on your smartphone or tablet. They can make many things
142. 14:26in life more convenient. For instance, if you're looking for a place to buy coffee,
143. 14:31an app like google maps can determine your current location and then recommend nearby coffee shops.
144. 14:37Apps aren't just for mobile devices though. The programs and applications on your
145. 14:42computer can also be considered apps. If you've ever used microsoft word to create
146. 14:47a document or a web browser to visit a website or check your email, guess what? you've used an app.
147. 14:55Some apps come already installed, but you can easily download or buy more. Online
148. 15:01apps are about communication, productivity, entertainment, and more. With so many
149. 15:07possibilities, you're sure to find several apps that are perfect for the things you do.
150. 15:21Are you having trouble putting your computer together? are you feeling overwhelmed?
151. 15:27don't worry. Take a deep breath. We're going to show you step-by-step how to set up a desktop computer.
152. 15:36First, unpack everything from the box and remove any plastic covering or protective
153. 15:41tape. Think about where you want your workspace to go, and how you want to arrange
154. 15:46the different components before you start plugging things in.
155. 15:50Next, let's connect the monitor. If you have an all-in-one computer where everything
156. 15:55is built-in, for example, an imac, you can skip this step otherwise locate your monitor
157. 16:01cable. Newer monitors often use hdmi or usb. See connections, while older monitors
158. 16:08may use vga, dvi, or another type of connection, it just depends. Now find the monitor
159. 16:16port on the back of your computer case and plug the cable in. Most cables are designed
160. 16:22to fit a certain way, so if it's not working, don't force it. When you're done, connect
161. 16:29the other end to your monitor. Now it's time to plug in your keyboard and mouse.
162. 16:34If they're wired, they most likely have a usb connector so you can use any of the
163. 16:39ports you see here. You could also plug your mouse into the usb port on your your
164. 16:45keyboard. If it has one, if you have a wireless mouse or keyboard, it's going to
165. 16:50work a little differently. Some wireless devices connect using technology that's
166. 16:56built into your computer, while others need an adapter.
167. 17:00You will also need to pair the device with your computer before you can use it. You
168. 17:05may want to read the instructions that came with your wireless device to learn more
169. 17:10about pairing. At this point, you can plug in your speakers or headphones. If it
170. 17:15uses a typical audio plug, look for the green audio port on the front or back of your computer case.
171. 17:22However, some speakers, headphones, and microphones use usb connectors. Finally, it's
172. 17:29time to connect the power supply cables and plug the computer in. You should have two cables. One goes with your monitor.
173. 17:38And the other plugs into the back of your computer case. Now, plug both cables into
174. 17:43a power outlet. We recommend using a surge protector to keep your equipment safe
175. 17:48in the event of a power surge. When you're ready, plug the surge protector into a
176. 17:54regular outlet. If it has a power switch, you may need to switch it on. That's all
177. 18:00there is to it. Now take a minute to make sure you're happy with your workspace.
178. 18:06Then turn your computer on.
179. 18:14There are lots of reasons to set up a home internet connection. For example, you'll
180. 18:19have access to email, news, shopping, tv shows, and much more. And once you have
181. 18:25a working internet connection, you can create a wireless home network, which will
182. 18:29let your whole family connect their computers, smartphones, and other internet-ready
183. 18:34devices. Let's look at a few different types of internet connections that you can
184. 18:39have. Dial-up connects to your phone line. It's usually much slower than other types
185. 18:45of internet connections, but in some areas, it may be the only option available.
186. 18:50Generally, dsl and cable are better options. Dsl plugs into your phone line and cable
187. 18:57uses your cable tv connection. These are both known as broadband internet connections
188. 19:03because they offer much faster speeds than dial-up. This makes it easier to watch videos, play games, or browse the web.
189. 19:13Fiber is the fastest type of broadband currently available using fiber optic cables.
190. 19:19It can provide speeds that exceed even dsl or cable, however, it may not be available
191. 19:26where you live and it tends to be more expensive.
192. 19:30Cellular is sold under a few different names, including 4g, lte, and 5g. There. Types
193. 19:38of wireless internet connections often use by smartphones, but you can also get these
194. 19:43types of connections for your home. Depending on where you live, a cellular connection
195. 19:48may be a good broadband alternative. No matter what kind of internet service you
196. 19:54choose, you'll need to purchase it from an internet service provider or isp. Chances
197. 19:59are you can buy internet service from your phone or cable company or you may want
198. 20:03to shop around for a better price. Your isp will guide you through the entire process
199. 20:09of connecting to the internet. They will usually need to send a technician to your
200. 20:15home to turn on your connection. Your isp may also give you a modem mm and set it up for you.
201. 20:22But if you prefer, you can buy a modem from a computer store and use the included
202. 20:27instructions to set it up yourself. These instructions will vary, but the basic idea
203. 20:32is that you'll connect the modem to your phone jack or cable tv connection, and then
204. 20:37connect your computer to the modem using an ethernet cable. Once you have everything
205. 20:42set up, you can open your web browser and begin using the internet. If you want to
206. 20:47connect several devices to the internet, you can create a wireless home network,
207. 20:52also known as a wi-fi network. To do this, you'll need a wireless router, which takes
208. 20:58the internet connection from your modem and broadcasts it throughout your home. Your
209. 21:03modem may already have a wireless router built-in, so you may not need to buy one.
210. 21:10To set up your wireless connection, follow the instructions included with your router.
211. 21:14You'll need to choose a network name, also known as an ssid. Also, for security,
212. 21:21you should turn on wpa2 or wpa three encryption depending on what your router supports.
213. 21:27Then make sure you choose a strong password. After you've set up your wireless network,
214. 21:33go into each device as wi-fi or network settings. Select your network name and type your password.
215. 21:41If any of your devices are not wireless ready you can simply plug them into your router
216. 21:46with an ethernet cable or you can purchase a wireless card.
217. 21:50Setting up an internet connection and wi-fi network takes a little bit of work. But
218. 21:55once you get it set up, your family will be able to use the internet without being limited to one computer.
219. 22:08So you're at your computer working on some important files. Suddenly a meter i burst
220. 22:15through the window and flattens the computer. But as you stare into the crater, you
221. 22:21smile and think at least my photos, music and important documents are stored online in the cloud.
222. 22:29When something is stored in the cloud, that means it's saved on internet servers instead
223. 22:34of on your computer. It's like having an extra hard drive you can access anytime
224. 22:39you're connected to the internet. You can access your files anywhere by using cloud-based
225. 22:44apps, some run inside your computer's web browser. These are called web apps, and
226. 22:50some of them can also be installed on your mobile device. For instance, google docs
227. 22:56is a cloud-based app that you may already use. It's free, and it allows you to view,
228. 23:01create, and edit many types of projects. You can access google docs from almost any
229. 23:07device device with an internet connection. Since you only need a connected device
230. 23:13to access the cloud, you can take your files wherever you like. You can take a photo
231. 23:18on your smartphone and upload it to a cloud based photo storage service, like google
232. 23:23photos or dropbox. Then you can access that photo on any of your other devices, like
233. 23:29your computer or tv. You can even work on a document when you're far away from your
234. 23:35desk and share it with anyone you want instantly.
235. 23:39Storing files in the cloud is a great way to protect them from accidents, viruses,
236. 23:44and more. You can use cloud based storage services like i drive or backblaze to back
237. 23:50up the contents of your computer. These services run continually and backup automatically.
238. 23:56This way, you will always have the most recent versions of your files stored in secure
239. 24:01online servers. If something bad happens to your device, you can easily transfer
240. 24:07your backup files from the cloud to another device.
241. 24:12Whether you're backing up photos and music that you love or are using a file on the
242. 24:16go, the cloud has a lot to offer. Plus, when your files are stored in the cloud,
243. 24:22you won't need to worry about losing them to a computer malfunction or a rogue meteorite.
244. 24:34It's important to keep your computer clean not only because it looks nice, but also
245. 24:38because things like dust and dirt can affect your computer's performance. But there's
246. 24:42a right way and a wrong way to do it. Here's the right way to clean your computer case, monitor, mouse, and keyboard.
247. 24:50First, always turn off or unplug the item before you clean it just to be safe. If
248. 24:54it has a ps/2 connector like this, make sure the computer is shut down both when
249. 24:59you unplug the cable and when you plug it back in to clean your keyboard, turn it
250. 25:03upside down, and gently shake it to remove any dust, dirt, or crumbs. It's not uncommon
251. 25:08for stuff to get stuck inside, which can affect the way your keyboard works. You
252. 25:13can also use a can of compressed air to really get between the keys. To clean the
253. 25:17surface, use a cotton cloth or paper towel that's moistened with rubbing alcohol.
254. 25:21Never actually pour alcohol or any other liquid on your keyboard. If you spill something
255. 25:27by accident, don't panic. Shut your computer down immediately, then disconnect the
256. 25:32keyboard and turn it upside down so the liquid can drain. If the liquid is sticky,
257. 25:36you can rinse your keyboard under running water just like this. Turn to the side,
258. 25:41then let it drain upside down for two days before reconnecting it. It may not be
259. 25:46repairable at this point, but it's worth a try. The best way to avoid this is to
260. 25:50keep drinks away from the computer area altogether.
261. 25:54Next, take a look at your mouse if you have an optical mouse. Good news. These don't
262. 25:59require much cleaning at all because they don't have any moving parts. Just keep
263. 26:03an eye on the lighting mitr underneath. If something gets stuck here, even a piece
264. 26:08of dust, it can keep your mouse from working smoothly. To clean a mechanical mouse
265. 26:12again, make sure it's unplugged. Then remove the tracking ball. By turning the ring
266. 26:17counterclockwise. It should pop right out. Use a cotton cloth or paper towel to wipe
267. 26:21it with a little rubbing alcohol. You can wipe the inside of the mouse to make sure
268. 26:26all the parts are dry before you put them back together.
269. 26:31Here's an easy tip. You can give your mouse a quick cleaning by rubbing it back and
270. 26:35forth on a clean white sheet of paper. Sometimes this is enough to remove the dust and dirt that can get stuck underneath.
271. 26:42Your monitor is going to be even easier to clean, but there are a few things to keep
272. 26:46in mind. Never spray the screen directly with water cleaner or any other kind of
273. 26:51liquid. It can leak into the monitor and damage the components inside. Never use
274. 26:56glass cleaner like windex. This can damage your screen if it has an anti-glare coating.
275. 27:01The safest method is to unplug the monitor, then wipe it with a soft cloth moistened with water.
276. 27:08You should also give some thought to cleaning other parts of your workspace, like
277. 27:11the back of your monitor and your computer case. These areas can get pretty dusty
278. 27:16if you're not careful. A lint-free cloth, sometimes called a microfiber cloth, is
279. 27:20great for wiping the casings. If you see a lot of buildup in the ventilation fans,
280. 27:25you can use a can of compressed air to clean them out. Never use furniture cleaner
281. 27:29or strong solvents on any of these surfaces. Instead, take your cloth or even a paper
282. 27:34towel and spray it with glass cleaner. Now, wipe the case and monitor housing, but
283. 27:39not the monitor screen. In a downward motion. You can make your own solution using
284. 27:44ammonia, diluted with water. The milder, the better. One more thing you can do to
285. 27:49make sure your computer stays physically healthy is to watch the airflow around the
286. 27:53case. That means no books, no stacks of paper, nothing that might block the fans
287. 27:57in the back, which are designed to keep your computer from overheating. In fact,
288. 28:01if you have a desk with a compartment for the case, you may want to position the
289. 28:05case a little towards the front or leave the compartment open. If it has a door.
290. 28:09Both of these steps will help your computer stay cool.
291. 28:17Looks good to me. Just remember to clean your equipment regularly the right way and
292. 28:22your computer is sure to stay healthy for years to come.
293. 28:29We rely on our computers for many different things. We trust them to keep our information
294. 28:35safe, including our files and personal data. That's why it's important to protect
295. 28:42your computer and do your best to keep it running smoothly. Here are some tips that
296. 28:47can help. One of the biggest threats to computer safety is malware. Malware is any
297. 28:54type of software that's designed to damage your computer or gain unauthorized access
298. 28:59to your personal info. This can include viruses, spyware, trojan horses, and other malicious software.
299. 29:08Windows computers, max and even chromebooks can get malware.
300. 29:14To protect your computer, you should use an anti-virus program like kaspersky, norton, or the built-in windows defender.
301. 29:23This helps prevent viruses from being installed, and also lets you scan your computer
302. 29:29and remove any viruses that are found. Keep in mind, no antivirus program is perfect
303. 29:35to stay safe. You should still avoid suspicious-looking ads or downloads, run regular
304. 29:41updates to your antivirus program, and also run updates to your operating system
305. 29:46to keep your computer running smoothly. The latest version of windows offers a couple
306. 29:52useful features, including storage sense and defragment, and optimize drives.
307. 29:59You can access both of these and settings or you can find them using the search bar.
308. 30:04When you turn it on, storage sense helps you free up space on your hard drive by scanning
309. 30:10for temporary files and other files that can be deleted. Once on, it will run automatically
310. 30:16in the background. Older versions of windows offer a similar feature called disk cleanup.
311. 30:23Defragment and optimize drives rearranges the data on your hard drive to help your
312. 30:28computer run faster and more efficiently. It should be running automatically on a
313. 30:34weekly basis, but you can easily check or change the schedule anytime.
314. 30:39If something bad does happen to your computer, you could lose all of your important
315. 30:44files. To prevent this, you should back up your computer regularly.
316. 30:50One option is to buy an external hard drive and copy your files to it. To make this
317. 30:56process even easier, you can use software like windows backup or time machine if you're using a mac.
318. 31:03Of course if something happens to your computer and your backup drive, you'll still
319. 31:08lose all of your files. For more security, you can use an online backup service like
320. 31:14i drive or carbonite. You may have to pay a monthly fee to use these services, but
321. 31:20the advantage is that your files will stay safe in the cloud no matter what happens to your computer.
322. 31:27Following these tips can help you protect your computer and keep your information
323. 31:32safe. You can rest easy knowing that all of your files will be there when you need them.
324. 31:44The staring at the computer for hours make you feel tired. Do you suffer from frequent
325. 31:50aches and pains? looks like you could use some help with ergonomics. Ergonomics is
326. 31:57a big subject, but basically it's about you and the things that you can do to make
327. 32:02your workspace more comfortable. As strange as it sounds, sitting at a desk all day
328. 32:08is actually very hard on your body, but if you arrange your workspace with ergonomics
329. 32:13in mind, you can avoid things like eye strain and neck and back pain. Here are some
330. 32:19tips to help you stay safe, comfortable, and productive all day long. Keyboard position
331. 32:26is important when you're typing. Your wrist should be straight and relaxed to avoid
332. 32:31any string. If you do start to fill any wrist pain, you might want to look into certain
333. 32:38products that can give you extra support, for example, an ergonomic keyboard. Next,
334. 32:44raise and lower your chair so that your wrists are in the correct position. If your
335. 32:51feet no longer reach the floor, you can find a footrest. When you're in your chair,
336. 32:57you should be sitting in a natural comfortable position. Try to avoid hunching or
337. 33:03sitting to straight. Many office chairs are adjustable and designed to give you extra
338. 33:09support in places where you need it. Like the lower back. Take the time to learn,
339. 33:15learn how your chair works. Your monitor should be a comfortable distance away from
340. 33:21your eyes somewhere between 20 to 40 inches or about an arm's length. The top of
341. 33:27the screen should be about eye level, but this may vary depending on the size of the monitor.
342. 33:35If you are working from a laptop, consider purchasing an external mouse and keyboard.
343. 33:41That way you can still place your screen at the proper distance and height while still being able to type comfortably.
344. 33:51Adjust the screen brightness on your monitor so that it matches your surroundings.
345. 33:56If you're looking at your screen and it feels like you're looking into a bright light,
346. 34:01it's too bright. If it looks dark and murky key, it's to dem. Some monitors also
347. 34:08allow you to change the color so that the screen imitates less blue light. This feature
348. 34:14might be called night mode or night shift, and some people find that it greatly reduces eyestrain.
349. 34:22Another way to avoid strain and fatigue is to take frequent breaks. For example, look
350. 34:29away from your monitor every once in a while. 20, 20, 20 is a good rule to follow.
351. 34:36Every 20 minutes. Focus your eyes on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
352. 34:44You can even download apps that will remind you when it's time to take a break. It's
353. 34:50also important to get up and move every hour or so. Walk around, have a snack, whatever
354. 34:58it takes to avoid sitting in the same position for too long.
355. 35:03Even if you work at a standing desk, it's still important to move every now and then.
356. 35:10Clutter is another common problem, and it can lead to strainer injury if you're not
357. 35:15careful. In some cases, like loose power ports, it can even be a tripping hazard.
358. 35:23If you have paperwork or supplies that can be put away, it's best to store them somewhere
359. 35:30else. Instead of leaving them on your desk, let's review. Sitting at a desk all day
360. 35:38is surprisingly hard work, but a little attention to ergonomics will help you stay
361. 35:43safe, comfortable, and productive all day long.
362. 35:53While you're using the internet, you may be picking up spyware, downloading malware,
363. 35:58or using fraudulent sites without even knowing it. But don't worry, your browser
364. 36:03does a number of things to help make sure you avoid running into malicious websites
365. 36:07and there are also some precautions you can take to stay safe.
366. 36:11Something as simple as double-checking domain names can save you from accidentally
367. 36:15visiting a site with unsafe content. Malicious sites often use deceptive web addresses
368. 36:21to trick users into believing they are on a legitimate site. Many web browsers will
369. 36:26highlight the domain when you're typing in a sites web address. In this case, it's
370. 36:30just a darker font than the rest of the web address. Being able to clearly read the
371. 36:35domain name makes it easier to double-check and make sure it's correct. This will
372. 36:39help make sure you're going to the real trusted site and not a phony site with a similar web address.
373. 36:46And if you are about to access a site that contains malware or other malicious content,
374. 36:51many web browsers will show you a warning.
375. 36:56Some websites will display this padlock image, or a similar image. When you see this,
376. 37:02you know that that site has added additional layers of protection by making sure
377. 37:06your connection to the site is secure so third parties can't see your personal information.
378. 37:11This is most commonly seen on certain types of sites, like banking sites. You won't
379. 37:17see this on all websites and that's okay. Not all sites need the extra security.
380. 37:24Finally, another easy way to make sure your browser is providing as much protection
381. 37:28for you as possible is by making sure you have the most recent version of your browser.
382. 37:33Your browser will usually notify you when it has a new version, or if there's an
383. 37:38update available. But if you think you've missed or ignored updates, you can manually
384. 37:42check for updates in chrome. Click the menu button.
385. 37:48Then select about google chrome.
386. 37:54By practicing just a few simple safety measures. You can browse the internet more safely.
387. 38:03The internet has become an essential tool for communicating, which is partly why it
388. 38:08is also become a popular target among scammers and cyber criminals. In order to safeguard
389. 38:14yourself from email scams, harmful software, or identity theft, it's essential that
390. 38:18you understand the ways you might be at risk. In this video, we'll go over the basics
391. 38:24of identifying and avoiding potentially harmful content on the internet.
392. 38:29The first line of defense begins with your email inbox. You've probably heard the
393. 38:34term spam before. In reference to junk email, spammers can send an email to thousands
394. 38:39of people at the same time, and they can do so anonymously, making anti-spam laws
395. 38:44hard to enforce, so it's important to be cautious when it comes to opening emails.
396. 38:49Fortunately, though, many email services now provide customizable features to help
397. 38:55you protect your inbox. For example, the ability to turn female images. Spam contains
398. 39:02images that senders can track when you open the email, the images load, and the spammer
399. 39:07will be able to tell if your email works, possibly resulting in more spam.
400. 39:14If you're using gmail like i am, you can turn off email images by clicking the gear icon.
401. 39:22And then selecting settings from the drop-down menu.
402. 39:28Choose ask before displaying external images.
403. 39:38Then click save.
404. 39:44Now if i get an email with images, gmail will ask if i want the images to be displayed.
405. 39:54Most email services. Also, check to see if incoming messages are spam. If it finds
406. 39:59spam, it will store the mail in a spam folder so you don't accidentally open it when
407. 40:04you're checking your email. Spam. Blocking systems aren't perfect though, and there
408. 40:09may be times when legitimate emails end up in your spam folder, so it's a good idea
409. 40:14to regularly check and make sure you aren't missing important emails.
410. 40:21To check your spam folder in gmail. Click more in the left pane, then select spam.
411. 40:30And here you can see all the emails that have ended up in your spam folder.
412. 40:37Many email services have a feature you can use to mark emails as spam in gmail. I
413. 40:43can just select the email and then click this button to mark it as spam.
414. 40:48This helps your email provider to filter out these types of messages in the future.
415. 40:55Some spam emails are simply annoying advertisements.
416. 41:00Others will claim to be contacting you about something important when what they're
417. 41:04really trying to do is steal your personal information. This is known as fishing.
418. 41:09It's a type of scam in which an email pretends to be from a bank or another trusted
419. 41:14source. In order to trick you into handing over your personal information. By asking
420. 41:20you to complete some sort of action they may want you to re enter a password, verify
421. 41:25or update sensitive information like phone numbers, addresses, or credit card numbers.
422. 41:30And they almost always tell you to do so by following links they provide. It's a
423. 41:36good idea to avoid clicking links in emails. Instead of clicking the link, re-type
424. 41:41the url into your browser's address bar to ensure that you go to the correct website.
425. 41:48For example, here's an email that looks like it's from bank of america saying that
426. 41:53some personal information has been changed and asking me to verify the changes by
427. 41:57following a few links. It looks real enough at first glance, but it's surprisingly
428. 42:03easy for scammers to create deceiving details such as these. Remember, fishing emails
429. 42:08won't always look like they're fishing. The whole purpose is to look like they're
430. 42:13from your bank credit card or another trusted company.
431. 42:17Think of it this way. If someone came to your house saying they worked for your bank
432. 42:21and they needed your social security number to verify that your the account holder,
433. 42:25would you give it to them? chances are you wouldn't give out that information. Look
434. 42:30at emails the same way. Just because an email says it's from a familiar company doesn't mean it really is.
435. 42:38Spam scams and phishing schemes will keep evolving just as the technology to stop
436. 42:43them does. But if you know what to look for and what to avoid, you can keep your inbox that much safer.
437. 42:54Suppose you're shopping online for shoes. Then you decide to check a health site and
438. 42:59you see an ad for shoes. You switch over to youtube to watch a hilarious kitten video.
439. 43:05But first you have to watch a shoe add. Later you open the facebook app on your phone
440. 43:10and guess what sponsored post about a shoe sale? how do all of these sites know that
441. 43:16you're shopping for shoes? well, websites use various methods to track your browsing
442. 43:21habits. Each site it may only gather a little bit of information, but together it
443. 43:26forms a sort of digital profile that advertisers can use to learn all kinds of things
444. 43:31about you. An advertiser can plant a small file on your computer called a tracking
445. 43:36cookie, which they can use to identify you the next time you visit one of the sites
446. 43:41they advertise on. They can also get a pretty good idea of which devices you use
447. 43:47based on your social media and email accounts or by using a technique called probabilistic
448. 43:52matching, which makes guesses about which devices belong to the same person. So one
449. 43:58way or another, all of your devices are connected to you and that means companies
450. 44:02can send you targeted ads no matter which device you're using. This does raise some
451. 44:07privacy concerns since the information is collected without your knowledge and there
452. 44:12is a fear of how this information could possibly be used. For instance, could and
453. 44:17insurance company deny coverage based on a person's browsing history.
454. 44:23You can take steps to limit the amount of data collected, such as blocking, tracking,
455. 44:27cookies in your browser settings, but with the current sophistication of tracking,
456. 44:32they're pretty easy to get around. However, there are potential upsides to all this
457. 44:36data being collected. It allows sites to recommend articles and videos based on your
458. 44:41interests and help search engines more quickly find the results you're looking for.
459. 44:45As the technology continues to advance, sites will find new ways to tailor their
460. 44:49content to better meet your needs. It's hard to say exactly italy where this will
461. 44:54lead. But for better or worse, digital tracking is part of the modern online reality.
462. 45:06If you're just getting started with windows, learning how to navigate the interface
463. 45:10is a great place to start. Let's take a look at the desktop, which is the screen
464. 45:15you see here. It includes a desktop background, also known as your wallpaper, and
465. 45:20the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
466. 45:24The taskbar is where you'll find shortcuts to some of the applications on your computer, as well as the start button.
467. 45:32In most versions of windows, you can click the start button to see a list of applications, files, and settings.
468. 45:40But if you're using windows 8, you can click the start button to return to the start screen.
469. 45:48The taskbar is also where you'll find file explorer, which allows you to view and
470. 45:53open files and folders. For now i'm going to close the window by clicking the x.
471. 46:00Let's check out more features on the desktop instead. The desktop is the main workspace
472. 46:05for your computer. To open a program, file, or folder, just double-click the icon.
473. 46:13Each time you want to open something, it will appear in a new window.
474. 46:18You have the ability to move windows by clicking and dragging the top of the window.
475. 46:23When you're done, just release the mouse. If you have more than one window open at
476. 46:28a time, you can quickly switch between them by clicking the icon for that window on the taskbar.
477. 46:35Almost all windows allow you to maximize the window so that it fills the entire screen. Just click the button here.
478. 46:44Click the button again to return the window to its original size.
479. 46:49When you're finished closing the window is easy. Just click the x.
480. 46:55That covers the basics. Now that you know your way around windows, you can start taking
481. 47:00advantage of everything it has to offer.
482. 47:07If you are just getting started with os10, learning how to navigate the interface
483. 47:11is a great place to start. First, we're going to take a look around at the desktop, which is the screen you see here.
484. 47:19It includes a desktop background, also known as your wallpaper.
485. 47:24The menu bar at the top and the dock at the bottom.
486. 47:29The dock is where you'll find shortcuts to some of the folders and applications on
487. 47:34your computer, for example, itunes, safari, and finder. To open any of the items on your dock, just click the icon.
488. 47:43There are actually several different ways that you can navigate to files, folders,
489. 47:48and apps and os 10 the finder feature is one of them will talk more about how to
490. 47:52use the finder later though. For now, i'm going to close the window by clicking the red button in the upper left corner.
491. 48:00Let's check out launchpad instead, which you can also find on your dock.
492. 48:05As you can see, launch pad gives you access to all of your applications at once, making
493. 48:10it easier to find and access the programs on your computer. To open a program, click the one you want.
494. 48:19Exiting applications is just as easy. Let's zoom in on the menu bar so you can see
495. 48:25how it works. To exit an application, click the name of the app and the upper left corner.
496. 48:32Then choose quit from the menu.
497. 48:36Also on the menu bar is the apple icon.
498. 48:40This gives you access to your system preferences, recent files, folders, apps, and
499. 48:45much more. You'll also use the apple icon whenever you want to restart or shutdown your computer.
500. 48:54On the right side of the menu bar, you'll find an icon that looks like a magnifying
501. 48:58glass. This opens a feature called spotlight, which you can use to search the contents
502. 49:03of your computer. If you're having trouble finding something, just type what you're
503. 49:07looking for, for example, a file or an app, and you'll get a list of search results.
504. 49:15The last icon in the menu bar opens the notification center, which has been included
505. 49:20in each version of os 10 since mountain lion. Here, you can keep track of the alerts
506. 49:25you receive for different applications, including events on your calendar, reminders,
507. 49:30and more. The notification center can be customized to show as few or as many alerts as you want.
508. 49:37The desktop itself is one more place where you can store files, folders, and even
509. 49:42shortcuts for easy access. This time, however, to open an item, you'll need to double click your mouse.
510. 49:52Some apps have a full-screen mode that you can activate by clicking the double arrow in the upper right corner.
511. 50:00This causes the window to expand so you can focus on the application without any other distractions.
512. 50:06To return to normal view. Press control. Command f on your keyboard.
513. 50:14Not all apps support this feature, but it's available in several of the apps that come pre-installed on your computer.
514. 50:22The last thing i'd like to talk about is using your mouse in os 10, specifically a
515. 50:26feature called natural scrolling. You can learn more about how it works by going to system preferences.
516. 50:35Then choosing mouse or trackpad depending on what you have. In this case, we'll choose mouse.
517. 50:44As you can see from the demo, natural scrolling is basically the reverse of traditional
518. 50:49scrolling. It's almost like you're pushing the content up and down on the page. This
519. 50:54may seem awkward at first, but it's actually how many touchscreen devices work. Natural
520. 51:00scrolling is the default setting, but you can always disable it by checking the box
521. 51:04here. I recommend trying it both ways to see which one you prefer.
522. 51:10While you're in this window, you can also take a look at multi-touch gestures.
523. 51:16For example, here's one that lets you go back and forth between pages using a simple
524. 51:20swipe. Os 10 supports many different types of gestures, including pinches, taps,
525. 51:26and double tabs. Depending on what your mouse or trackpad is capable of, each gesture
526. 51:32performs a specific task. To learn more, i recommend visiting this resource again
527. 51:38once you become more familiar with os 10.
528. 51:41That covers the basics. Now that you know your way around, you can start using os
529. 51:4610 and taking advantage of everything it has to offer.
530. 51:53A web browser is a tool you use to access the internet in order to make the most out
531. 51:57of the internet. It's important to understand the basics of using a web browser.
532. 52:02There are many different web browsers, including chrome, safari, firefox, and internet
533. 52:08explorer. All of them allow you to view websites, but they each have a different
534. 52:13look and feel, so picking one will depend mostly on your personal preference. Right
535. 52:18now, i'm using chrome. When you open your browser at the top of the window, you'll
536. 52:23see the address bar. This is where you'll type the web address of the page that you want to visit.
537. 52:31If you've been to a website before, your browser may suggest it or even automatically
538. 52:36complete the address for you. If you see the address you're looking for in the suggestions,
539. 52:41you can just click it or press enter when you're done typing.
540. 52:48Most of the time you're going to go from one page to another by clicking on links.
541. 52:55To go back to the page you were just on, you can click the back button.
542. 53:01To return to the first page. Click the forward button.
543. 53:08If you see a link that you want to click, but you don't want to navigate away from
544. 53:12the page that you're on, you can open the link in a new tab. Just right click the link.
545. 53:17And select open in new tab.
546. 53:22This opens the page behind the current page so it doesn't take you away from the original
547. 53:27site. You can also create a new tab by clicking here.
548. 53:33And then typing in the address or name of any site you want to visit.
549. 53:41To close a tab, just click the x.
550. 53:45If you're on a website that you know, you'll want to visit again later or website
551. 53:49that you go to frequently, you can bookmark it. Most browsers have a button right
552. 53:54next to the address bar that lets you easily bookmark any site.
553. 54:02Once you've bookmarked a page, you'll be able to go to it again. In chrome. You'll click the settings button.
554. 54:09Select bookmarks and then select the website you're looking for from the list.
555. 54:18Even if you don't bookmark a site, there's still a way to find it again later. Your
556. 54:22browser keeps track of all the websites you visit in a feature called history. All
557. 54:27browsers allow you to access your history in chrome. You can access this by clicking the settings button.
558. 54:37You can then click on a site to go to it.
559. 54:41And as you may remember from before, you can begin typing in the address bar and your
560. 54:45browser will make suggestions. These suggestions come from your history and bookmarks.
561. 54:51The locations of these buttons and other options may vary a little depending on which
562. 54:56browser you're using, but you should be able to perform all of the same actions no matter which browser you decide to use.