This resource was originally
developed by FIT Ltd.
[Fastrack to Information
Technology].
The development and
printing of this edition of
Computer and Internet
Resources for Everyone
occurred under the
Community ICT Initiative of
the Dublin Employment Pact
This project has been
assisted by funding from the
Department of the
Taoiseach, under the
Access, Skills and Content
(ASC) Initiative.
e-Cert
Computer and Internet Resources for
Everyone
© Copyright Fast Track into
Information Technology Ltd. 2007.
All rights reserved.
e-Cert is a registered Community Trademark and is the sole property of Fastrack Into Information Technology Ltd.
The Certificate of Registration was issued by the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market ( OHIM ) on the
26/02/2007. CTM no. 004910097.
Community ICT Initiative
www.fit.ie
www.dublinpact.ie
This project has been assisted by funding from the
Department of the Taoiseach, under the Access,
Skills and Content (ASC) Initiative.
Community ICT Initiative
What is Computer and
Internet Resources for
Everyone?
This booklet is designed to introduce
basic computing skills and outlines
many of the areas where you can
find help.
The accompanying CD ROM contains
the same list of helpful websites that
is contained in this booklet. If your
computer is linked to the internet,
then you will be able to view these
websites by clicking on the links
provided.
Contents
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 9
Page 12
Page 13
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Computer basics
How do I get help?
Computer programs
The internet
Instant messaging
and email
Online safety issues
Buying a computer
Website resources
Website resources for
young people
Health
Shopping
Computer jargon!
1
Computer basics
You don’t have to know a lot about
a computer in order to use one but it
is helpful to learn some of the basic
terms. The ‘computer jargon!’ section
of this booklet introduces you to some
of those terms while the rest of the
booklet provides help and advice
in accessing the internet.
The accompanying CD ROM contains
links to a number of websites that
are of interest and of use to a wide
variety people.
People learn at different rates and
computers and the internet provide
the means and the opportunity to learn
as much or as little about practically
every subject under the sun. So, take
the time to learn at the pace that best
suits you so that you get the most out
of your experience.
Enjoy the process of learning!
How do I get help?
To start with, switch on the computer
and get familiar with where the letters
and numbers are arranged on the
keyboard. You don’t need to be able
to type but this is one of the things
you might consider learning at a later
date. If this is your first time to use
a computer, it will be useful to get
someone more experienced to guide
you around what appears on the
screen and to help you use a mouse.
The BBC offers a very helpful
introductory course to using a
computer on its website at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/computertutor
Ask around
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! What
may be a big problem for you may be
a very simple one to an experienced
user - and remember, that person had
to learn from scratch too.
Help Screens
Most programs come with built-in
help files that contain a list of topics
as well as solutions to problems
you may be experiencing. These are
normally located under the far right
menu heading on the top of your
screen.
Office Assistant
Most Microsoft Office programs
come with an “Office Assistant”
that allows you to type in a question
which the ‘Assistant’ will attempt
to answer. If this assistant doesn’t
appear automatically, go to the Help
menu and choose “Use the Office
Assistant”.
Software Help
Most software is accompanied by
user manuals. Also, check for books
on how to use computers in your local
library or bookshop.
Some of the most popular manuals
are the Dummies guides
Windows XP for Dummies
The Internet for Dummies
Office 2003 for Dummies
Check for these in your local library or
bookshop.
The Internet
The internet is a vast resource
containing information on practically
everything. Once you are more
proficient in using a computer (and
assuming you are connected to the
internet) then you will be able to
access instant messaging, chatrooms,
blogs and a broad range of useful
(and not-so-useful) sources of
information on your topic of interest.
Computer courses
See if you can attend a computer
course being run at your school, youth
club or local community centre.
Many courses are now being run freeof-charge.
If you do not have a computer in
your own home, see if you can use
one in your local library or if a local
community centre will give you access
to one.
Manuals
Most software comes with user
manuals. If you do not have access to
this information, check with your local
library, bookshop or on the internet.
2
Help!
3
The Internet
Computer programs
You can use your computer to do lots
of different things:
Become a movie-maker using
Microsoft Movie Maker! With this
program, you can create, edit, and
share your home movies on your own
computer. You can even make your
own DVDs or save your movie back
onto videotape to play on television.
Have fun making graphics with
program like Adobe Photoshop,
Macromedia Freehand and
Microsoft Paint which allow you to:
• create images and animations and
• manipulate photographs taken
with a digital camera.
Using word-processing programs like
Microsoft Word, you can:
• write a letter and even
• check your spelling and
grammar.
Spreadsheet programs like
Microsoft Excel enable you to:
• create a set of accounts and
• create bar charts and graphs.
Microsoft Access is a database
management program that enables
you organise information such as
membership lists or addresses.
What is the Internet?
The internet is the largest network
in the world with information on just
about every topic imaginable. It can
be used for buying cheap flights,
booking holidays, research, emailing,
shopping and banking. It can also be
used for playing games, listening to
music, checking sports fixtures and
watching DVDs.
Specific websites are accessed by
typing a website address (such as
http://www.doit.ie) into the address
window of a browser on a computer
that is connected to the internet via a
telephone line.
Browsers
A browser is your ‘window’ on
to the world wide web. It allows
you to access and interact with
the information contained on the
web once you know the address
of the website you are looking for.
Commonly-used browsers include
Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox,
Opera and Safari.
Search engines and
directories
Search engines such as Google are
websites that allow you to search for
information on a particular subject.
Google is accessible by typing http://
www.google.com into the address bar
of your browser.
If you have not used a search engine
before, this is a good place to start.
There are a number of different
options that will help you search for
the information you require.
There are usually different
versions of search engines for
different countries.
For example: http://www.google.com
will search all over the world
while http://www.google.ie
will focus the search more
on Ireland.
Directories such as Yahoo!, AltaVista
and Lycos are similar and offer email
and news services as well.
http://www.yahoo.ie
http://www.altavista.com
http://www.lycos.com
BBC webwise
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise
This BBC website beginner’s guide
to using the internet is fun. Go to an
internet café and get help so that you
can view the site.
4
5
Instant messaging and email
Online safety issues
Instant messaging
Chatrooms, Message
Boards and Online Forums
Instant messaging helps you keep
in touch with friends (when using a
computer that is linked to the internet)
by sending and receiving messages
that will pop up in the corner of your
screen. It is like a web-based version
of mobile phone texting which even
allows you to configure the service to
let your friends know when you
are online.
More information on using Instant
Messaging and downloading the
software can be got from:
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) at http://
www.aim.com
MSN Messenger at http://www.
messenger.msn.com
Yahoo Messenger at http://www.
messenger.yahoo.com
Email
Email is also a popular way of keeping
in touch with others. Many companies
offer free email accounts from their
websites. These include:
Eircom at http://www.eircom.net
Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
Google at http://www.gmail.com
Follow the instructions on the website
you have chosen to provide your
email service. You can choose an
email address for yourself and a
password to access that part of the
website where the emails you receive
are stored. You should then be able to
send emails to friends and relatives.
You may be advised not to open
emails from addresses that you
do not recognise as they are
likely to be spam or junk mail or
worse, they could contain viruses that
can harm your computer.
Do not send confidential information
or passwords through email. Hackers,
looking for such information can easily
infiltrate your email. Remember: Every
email you send passes through other
people’s computers. Treat it as if you
are sending a postcard through the
normal mail.
Attachments
Attachments are files such as letters
or images that can be attached to
an email and sent to another person
at their email address. However,
computer viruses can also become
attached to an email. If you are in any
doubt about an attached file, don’t
open it. It could wreck your computer
if you do.
Never give out personal details such
as your name, address or telephone
number in chatrooms or message
boards.
It is impossible to really know to
whom you are talking to in a chat
room.
Never agree to meet anyone you have
only ever had contact with on the
internet.
Netiquette
[Observing the unofficial rules and
ways of behaving on the Internet]
Never send threatening or abusive
emails to anyone.
Remember:
•
•
•
Most websites keep records of the
computers that look at the site.
Some computers have ‘Spyware’
– a type of software that tracks
everything you type.
Schools and parents might be
checking on your internet usage.
Passwords
Never give out passwords or bank
account details to anyone.
Use a strong password and do not
share it with anyone. A random
combination of numbers, letters and
punctuation, over eight characters
long is recommended.
Memorise your passwords; don’t write
them down.
Email
Only share your email address with
people you know and tell them that
it’s private.
Do not open attachments to emails
from people you do not know and be
wary about opening attachments from
people you do know.
Never reply to junk or spam mail.
6
7
Buying a computer
Safety precautions for
Children
As parents, it is also important to
learn about the potential dangers
of the internet. These include
websites dedicated to pornography,
hate, gambling and crime. Largely
unregulated, the internet can provide
opportunities for paedophiles,
fraudsters and bullies to take
advantage of the vulnerable or
inexperienced internet users.
Outlined below is a list of some
precautions you might take to protect
your children:
•
Make yourself aware of the
websites that your children are
using and what they use them for.
Children tend to use the internet
more for entertainment and
interacting with others than do
adults. It is therefore important,
for example, to check history files
and to investigate and research the
chatrooms they might be using.
• Keep the computer where you can
see it in a busy part of the house.
8
•
Encourage your child to discuss
anything uncomfortable they have
come in contact with. Let them
know that they can turn to you if
they receive bullying text messages
or emails online.
•
Limit their access to websites
that you consider unsuitable or
inappropriate for them. This can be
done using ‘filtering’ software.
Most of the website addresses
provided in this section link to
websites that provide information
on how to obtain, install and
operate these programs.
•
Assess the quality and truth of the
information they access. Don’t
believe everything you read on the
internet!
Become aware and keep yourself
updated on all of the issues so that
you are able to deal with them.
For further information on safety see:
Kid Smart
http://www.kidsmart.org.uk
What do I need the
computer for?
Many people buy computers so
they can access the internet to send
emails, shop online and enable
their children to access educational
resources on the internet. A computer
is also useful for word processing
and graphics software to help with
homework and school projects.
Make a checklist. Take the time to
shop around, do your research, make
comparisons and learn the lingo!
Do I need a printer, scanner, digital
camera, speakers, webcam etc?
Big or small?
The faster the processor and the
bigger the memory, the more
powerful the computer. Speed is
measured in MegaHertz (MHz) or even
GigaHertz (Ghz) and is one measure
of a computer’s power. Check what
software you will require and what
software comes with the computer.
The less expensive computer should
be sufficient for basic internet
services, email and letter writing.
Laptop or a desktop?
Laptop computers can be easily
moved around or stored away
but tend to be more expensive
than desktop computers. Desktop
computers have bigger screens
that are better when playing games,
watching DVDs or creating graphics.
Some people find the desktop’s
keyboard and mouse easier to use
than those on a laptop.
Mac or PC?
PCs are the most common types of
computer and there are many brands.
They use compatible software and
so can share a wide range of files
and information. Apple Macintosh
computers (or Macs) use different
software, display information slightly
differently and tend to be more
expensive than other PCs. They are
very popular with graphic designers
and also come in desktop as well as
laptop versions.
Cash or Credit?
Check the payment options available.
Interest free credit, if available, may be
an attractive offer.
New or second-hand?
Computers have a lifespan of about
four years, not because they break
down, but because technology
moves on so fast. New software
demands more memory and a
higher specification. It is therefore
not normally recommended to buy a
second-hand computer.
Buy from a reputable dealer and
check the guarantee and any
extended service agreements offered.
Look for a computer with a guarantee
that covers manufacturing defects
and other problems. Make sure you
understand exactly what is covered
under the guarantee. Most new
computers are covered for a year,
and some warranties include on-site
maintenance.
9
DIY or Expert help?
Setting up the computer for the first
time can be tricky. It may be better
in the long run to get someone with
some experience to do it.
Siemens
http://www.siemens.ie
Today or tomorrow?
Finally, resign yourself to the likelihood
that the day after you buy your
computer, there will be a newer, faster,
cheaper model for sale!
Dell Computers
http://www.dell.ie
Check out the following websites
at an internet café as part of your
research into what to look out for
when buying a home computer or do
a search for computer shops in your
local area using Google.
National Centre for Technology in
Education
http://www.ncte.ie This website
provides information on purchasing
computer equipment with the
requirements of a person with special
needs in mind.
The School Gate
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/
schoolgate
PC World
http://www.pcworld.com
Apple Macintosh
http://www.apple.ie
Hewlett Packard and Compaq
http://www.hp.com
Sony
http://www.sony.ie
Connecting to the internet
All of the following companies offer
broadband and other internet services
as part of a telephone, cable television
or wireless service:
Eircom
http://www.eircom.ie
Esat BT
http://www.esat.com
Chorus
http://www.upc.ie
Digiweb
http://www.digiweb.ie
Irish Broadband
http://www.irishbroadband.ie
NTL
http://www.upc.ie
Perlico
http://www.perlico.com
Clearwire
http://www.clearwire.ie
Buying a Computer - For
Dummies!
http://www.dummies.com
Yes, there is actually a Dummies
Guide to buying a computer! Buy
it online or order it from your local
bookshop.
Techcentral.ie
http://www.techcentral.ie
Informative article on the likely
developments in the home computer
market up to the end of 2006.
School Resources
http://www.school-resources.co.uk
Checklists.com
http://www.checklists.com/
computers.html
10
11
Website resources
You can now find a wealth of public
services information online regarding
your social and civil rights, welfare
entitlements and allowances as well
as information on social services and
free legal advice.
Three extremely useful and
comprehensive websites are:
Website resources for young people
Other useful online resources include:
Free Legal Advice Centres
http://www.flac.ie
Consumers’ Association
of Ireland
http://www.consumerassociation.ie
Citizens information
http://www.citizensinformation.ie
The Society of Saint Vincent
de Paul
http://www.svp.ie
Comhairle
http://www.comhairle.ie
National Disability Authority
http://www.nda.ie
Department of Social Welfare
http://www.citizensinformation.ie
Threshold
http://www.threshold.ie
Age & Opportunity
http://www.olderinireland.ie
Revenue Commissioners
http://www.revenue.ie
These websites cover a variety of
topics and provide information and
advice of interest to young people:
The National Youth Federation
http://www.youth.ie
BBC Online
http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch
Face-Up
http://www.faceup.ie
Samaritans
http://www.samaritans.org
The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.
Know Your Rights!
The following websites provide
information for children and young
people.
Drugs Awareness
Drugs Ireland
http://www.drugsinfo.ie
Teenage Health
irishhealth.com
http://www.irishhealth.com
This website contains a section
on nutrition and health issues for
teenagers
Social, Personal and Health
Education
http://www.sphe.ie
Beauty & Fashion
Off the Rails
http://www.rte.ie/tv/offtherails
Being Girl
http://www.beinggirl.co.uk
Childline
http://www.childline.ie
ISPCC
http://www.ispcc.ie
Children’s Rights Alliance
http://www.childrensrights.ie
12
13
Computer Games
The computer you are using may
already have some games installed
such as Solitaire, Minesweeper and
Pinball. You will find them in the
‘Games’ folder under ‘Programs’
which is normally accessed by
clicking on the ‘Start’ menu at
the bottom left-hand corner of
your screen.
Lots of games can be played on the
internet, especially if your computer
has broadband access. There are
links to games websites below and
you can also search for games by
typing the word ‘online games’ into a
search engine or directory.
Online Shopping without a
Credit Card
3V Vouchers
http://www.3v.ie
Permanent TSB, Alphyra and 3V
Transactions Services have launched
a disposable credit card voucher with
a set, prepaid credit limit that can be
used to shop online. The Vouchers
can be purchased by anyone aged
16 years or more, who has a mobile
phone and an email address.
Sport
Check out these sports websites
for up-to-date news on Irish and
international sports and fixtures.
http://www.games.yahoo.com
http://www.shockwave.com
http://www.soccergaming.com
RTE Sport
http://www.rte.ie/sport
Music
Sky Sports
http://www.skysports.com
The links below bring you to
websites containing information
on downloading music as well as
information on bands, films, videos
and songs. You can use a search
engine to get information on your
favourite bands.
Note that you may not be able to
listen to music over the internet if your
computer does not have speakers or
headphones!
GAA
http://www.gaa.ie
Camogie
http://www.camogie.ie
Homework Help
The following websites provide
help and information to primary and
secondary school students. They also
contain special sections on the Junior
Certificate and Leaving Certificate
examination courses.
http://www.skoool.ie
http://www.scoilnet.ie
http://www.examsupport.ie
See if there are any learning or
homework resources at your local
library by accessing your local library’s
website through: http://www.library.ie
Books
Children’s Books Ireland
http://www.childrensbooksireland.com
Events information and links about
books for young people.
Careers and Further
Education
The following websites contain
information on colleges, careers,
courses, employment opportunities
and voluntary work both in Ireland and
abroad.
Central Applications Office
http://www.cao.ie
Fáilte Ireland
http://www.failteireland.ie
FAS
http://www.fas.ie
Irish Vocational Educational
Association
http://www.ivea.ie
Volunteering Ireland
http://www.volunteeringireland.com
Youth Information Centres
http://www.youthinformation.ie
Youth Work Ireland
http://www.youthworkireland.ie
Social Networking
http://www.bebo.com
http://www.myspace.com
http://www.facebook.com
http://www.apple.com/itunes
http://www.mtv.com
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com
http://windowsmedia.com
14
15
Health
Shopping
Keep up-to-date on the most
current health issues. Check the
websites listed below for benefits or
entitlements or to find out what health
facilities are in your local area.
Irish Family Planning Association
http://www.ifpa.ie
Eircom.net Health Channel
http://home.eircom.net/health
Department of Health and Children
http://www.dohc.ie/agencies
Action Breast Cancer
http://www.cancer.ie/action/
Bupa
http://www.quinnhealthcare.ie
The Dublin Well Woman Centres
http://www.wellwomancentre.ie
VHI
http://www.vhi.ie
Irish Health
http://www.irishhealth.com
ASH Action on Smoking & Health
http://www.ash.ie
OASIS-Maternity Benefits
http://www.oasis.gov.ie/birth
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
http://www.drcc.ie
Use your credit card to purchase
almost anything online or sinply
browse the web to find the best
prices.
Ticketmaster
http://www.ticketmaster.ie
Carzone
http://www.carzone.ie
Buy4Now
http://www.buy4now.ie
Online.ie
http://www.online.ie
ShopIreland.ie
http://www.shopireland.ie
eBookers
http://www.ebookers.ie
Aer Lingus
http://www.aerlingus.com
Ryanair
http://www.ryanair.com
16
17
Computer jargon!
Apple Mac: This is the common
name for the Apple Macintosh
personal computer used a lot in
the publishing and graphic design
industries because of its suitability
for graphics programs. (Apple)
Macs differ in appearance, price
and functionality from most other
computers that use the Microsoft
Windows operating system.
Blog: A blog is a web-based journal,
diary or newsletter that is usually
updated frequently.
Broadband: Broadband refers to
the high-speed transmission of large
amounts of information including
video and audio data across channels
such as telephone lines but with
a greater capacity than traditional
telephone lines.
CD-ROM: A CD ROM is used
for storing different types of files
(including audio files). “CD” stands
for compact disk and ‘ROM’ stands
for ‘Read-Only-Memory’ (which
means that you cannot record onto
the disk). Newer CDs called CD-Rs
or CD-RWs do allow you to record
onto them. In order to read or play the
information that is contained on a CD,
it must be inserted into the CD-drive
of the computer (if the computer
has one).
Chatroom: A chatroom is a website
or part of a website where a number
of users can communicate in real
time. Chatrooms are often monitored
by moderators who look out for
offensive or undesirable behaviour.
Participants rarely use their real
18
names so it is not always possible to
know with whom you are chatting.
CPU: The Central Processing Unit is
the computer’s brain and therefore the
most important part of the computer.
This is where it performs calculations
and coordinates the other parts
of the computer. The speed of the
processor is called the clock speed
that measures how fast the processor
can carry out instructions. Speed is
measured in MegaHertz (MHz) or even
GigaHertz (Ghz) and is one measure
of a computer’s power.
Crash: A computer may ‘crash’ if
it cannot cope with the amount of
information it is processing. The
program you are using may stop
responding or ‘freeze’. To free up
memory usage you may have to
close other programs and/or attempt
closing the program that has frozen
by pressing the Ctrl and Alt and Del
buttons all at once. This will normally
close the program but you may lose
your work. If this happens frequently,
the memory of your computer may
need to be increased.
Cursor: The cursor is normally a
blinking, movable indicator on your
screen marking the position where
you should begin typing. It may also
be an arrow or pointer and is moved
around the screen using the mouse.
Desktop: Normally refers to all that is
visible on screen once your computer
has started up and includes icons
such as a recycle bin.
DVD: DVD stands for ‘Digital Versatile
Disc’ or ‘Digital Video Disk’. It is an
optical disc the same size as a CD but
with a much greater storage capacity.
In order to read or play the information
that is contained on a DVD, it must
be inserted into the CD-drive of the
computer (if the computer has one).
File: Where computers are
concerned, this refers to a letter,
document, image or spreadsheet
created using an application.
Floppy disk: A floppy disk is a
magnetic storage device encased in
a square flat plastic cover. It can
be inserted into computer (if it has
a floppy disk drive) and is used for
swapping files between computers.
Floppy disks are used less and less
nowadays as people use CD ROMs
and send files to each other using email.
Hard disk: this is a permanent
storage unit, like a record, made up
of magnetic disks containing files and
software inside the computer.
Hardware: These are the physical
parts to of a computer that include the
CPU, the keyboard, the mouse, the
monitor etc.
Icons: These are the little images
that represent applications or
files. Clicking on an icon using the
mouse and the cursor will cause the
application or file to open for use.
IT: IT stands for Information
Technology. This is the area of
engineering that
deals with the use and role of
computers and telecommunications
in processing, accessing and
transmitting information.
Message Boards: This is website or
facility on a website normally centred
around a topic of common interest
that permits users to post and reply
to messages from other users and to
view previous discussions. They are
also known as discussion groups,
web forums, discussion boards,
discussion groups or bulletin boards.
Modem: This is an electronic
hardware device that is plugged into
a telephone socket and a computer
allowing a computer to access the
internet. Nowadays, most modems
are built in to the computer so you just
need to connect the computer to the
telephone network directly to access
the internet.
Monitor: This is the screen that
displays your work.
Mouse: This is the hand-operated
electronic device that duplicates the
movement of your hand and controls
the location of the cursor on the
screen as you move it around (usually
on a mouse mat). It normally has two
buttons used for ‘right-clicking’ and
‘left-clicking’. The left button is the
one that you will use most.
19
MP3: This stands for “MPEG-1 Audio
Layer-3” and is a digital, compressed
music file. To play an MP3 file on
your computer you will need to use
an application such as iTunes or
Windows Media player.
PC: This is an acronym for ‘Personal
Computer’.
Peripherals: A peripheral device is a
piece of hardware that is connected
to the computer but is external to
the main processing parts of the
computer. Examples of peripherals
include printers, keyboards, scanners,
speakers etc.
Program: This is a piece of
software specifically developed
to carry out a particular task such
as word-processing and typing,
creating graphics or for working with
spreadsheets (which are used mostly
for accounts). A program is often
called an ‘Application’ and examples
include Microsoft Word, Adobe
Photoshop and Microsoft Excel.
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RAM: RAM refers to Random Access
Memory which is that part of the
computer’s memory used when
an action is being performed by a
program. RAM can be increased by
purchasing and installing additional
memory chips thereby increasing the
quantity of information that can be
processed at any one time.
Software: Software refers to
applications and files stored on a
hard disk, CD or floppy disk as well
as programs, instructions and code
that enable a computer to operate in
specific ways.
Website: This is a collection of files
on the world wide web arranged to
display a particular set of information
using text and images. Audio, video
and animations are often included as
are facilities for interacting with others
and for feeding back information.
Windows: This is Microsoft’s
operating system. It is characterised
by a graphic user interface (as is the
Apple Mac) that, among other things,
determines how everything looks and
what software can be used on the
computer. There are several versions
of Microsoft windows eg: Windows
XP, Windows Vista, but all versions
work in the same way. Windows XP
is currently the most commonly used
operating system.