Learning Computer Basics

Author:  Monica Peters

Dear Monica:  I want to learn computer basics like typing and sharing pictures on the web. Where do I start?

Dear Computer Basics:  Always remember these websites and go to them first when you want to ask a question about anything or learn anything:  Google.com, YouTube.com, Instructables.com, and HowStuffWorks.com.  The local library in Akwesasne has public computers with Internet that you can use.  The librarians are also happy to show you how to use the computer to go to those websites I just mentioned.  At the top right or top center of most websites, you will always find a small text box where you can type in your question. 

I just entered the search term “How to learn typing” in the website YouTube.com and hundreds of short focused videos are available to show you how to type, improve your typing speed, learn how to type fast, and many more similar topics about typing.  Plan to spend at least an hour or more each day to learn how to type and also to practice typing to increase your speed.  Brand new typists might be able to type a few words per minute. 

After a lot of practice, some typists can type 90 or more words per minute.  Today’s computers also check the typist’s work for errors and offer corrections, so it’s not too important to be able to type perfectly all the time.  You can practice on any computer keyboard or even an ancient typewriter if you have one available because the keys are all positioned similarly on either option. 

Another good practice technique is to use a laptop computer and type as much as you can while listening to a song or audio book or a friend talking with you that knows that you are going to be trying to type what they say as fast as you can.  You can also prop up a book or documents with long paragraphs and type what they say on your computer with a stopwatch to time you for one to five minutes at a time.  You will type as fast and accurately as you can, stopping as soon as the alarm sounds.  Count how many words you typed in one minute and write it down.  Practice every day and note if your speed and accuracy is improving.  If you are not improving go back to the online tutorials at YouTube or Google or enroll in a typing class at a local school.

You have many options to learn how to share pictures on the Internet.  You can use a mobile device or cell phone that will take pictures and send them to the Internet via email, or a popular photo sharing service such as Instagram.com, Flickr.com or even Facebook.com.  Samsung also sells pocket cameras that will send your photos to the Internet for you with minimal setup.  Make sure that you have the salesperson show you how to use the camera and how to send your pictures to either your own email or one of your friend’s email before you buy the camera or mobile device. 

I suggest you take notes on the steps the sales person shows you, so that you can refer to your notes in the future after you buy a camera or mobile device.  Sales people are usually happy to show you how to use the gadgets and computers you are thinking about buying.  If the sales person does not want to show you and let you take down notes, ask the store manager for another sales person that is able to show you how to use the gadget for what you are intending to use it for.

If you have any questions about the Internet and Computers send them to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to answer them in our next issue.