Click below to see
some references:
 

Introduction to Computers

Click on an underlined link below to get lots of pictures and easy-to-understand explanations, or you can use the fold-out menu above.

General:
Hardware/Software/Data What's the difference between Hardware, Software and Data?
Computer Basics Memory vs. Storage; what affects computer speed
Memory The mysteries of memory explained (RAM, ROM, Save, Load)
Bits, Bytes and Binary  How pirates influenced computer lingo (and kilobyte, etc.)

Hardware:
Types of Computers Things to consider when buying a computer; mini, mainframe, etc.
Peripherals & Connections Peripherals; I/O (input/output); 
parallel, serial, USB
Monitors, Mice & Keyboards Pixels, resolution; also:
links to keyboard shortcuts and mouse info
Storage Useful links for diskettes, hard drives, CDs, DVDs...
Printers Pros and cons of dot matrix, inkjet, laser; color considerations
Scanners & Digital Cameras Useful links for both; 
explanation of digital images
Backup The most boring and most critical topic; useful links

Communication:
Modems A picture that makes it all clear:  what a modem does
Networks LAN, WAN; Server; Client-server or peer-to-peer

Software:
Word Processing Programs Examples of mail merge, spell check, format, word wrap...
Spreadsheets Demonstration of what a spreadsheet can do and terminology
Graphics Programs Pixels, bit map; BMP, JPG, GIF formats; demonstration
Database Programs Pictures and explanations of the most important parts of a database
Formatting Examples of fonts, points, bold, alignment , etc.
Operating Systems What the heck is an operating system anyway?

The Internet:
Introduction to the Internet ISP, IP address, backbone, bandwidth, TCP/IP
The World Wide Web URL, domain name, secure site, FTP and more
Other Internet Services Email, newsgroups, mailing lists, chat rooms (with links)
Connecting to the Internet Pros and cons of DSL, cable, satellite, and others
Searching the Web How to use Google, Yahoo, and do a search for images
Better Searches Tips to make your searches return what you want without irrelevant sites

Database Concepts:
The following are a bit dry but absolutely essential reading if you have any critical databases in your company.
Client-Server How to keep your database running lean and mean
Relational Database Design Design can make a huge difference in speed, cost, and quality
Data Integrity (Quality) How to protect the quality of the information in your database

 


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