Using Devices and Handling Information
WHAT IS AN APPLICATION?
An application, simply put, an application or app is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, while those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. When you open an application, it runs inside the operating system until you close it. Most of the time, you will have more than one application open at the same time, which is known as multi-tasking.
Lots of apps are free and can be found using places such as Google Play store, the apps store or Windows store.
Desktop applications
There are lots desktop applications and they fall into categories. Some are full featured (like Microsoft Word), this means that the app can do lots of things for you, while others may only do one or two things.
Word processors (most common examples being Microsoft Word or Google Docs):
A word processor allows you to write a letter in its basic form and this is where most of you will stop but it also allows you to design a poster, write an agenda or even make an invoice for something that you have sold.
Web Browsers
A web browser is a tool you use to access the Internet. Most computers come with a web browser already installed, most will use a browser that is associated with the operating system. The most used browser is Google and it can be downloaded to your desktop as an app, the app is called Google Chrome. Other examples of browsers include Internet Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Safari.
Media Players
If you want to listen to music or watch a movie you've downloaded, you'll need to use a media player. Windows Media Player and iTunes are the most common media players.
Games
There are many types of games you can play on your computer. They range from card games like Solitaire to action games. In honesty, the genre of games is endless. Many games require a lot of computing power, so they may not work unless you have a newer computer but don’t worry about that now.
Mobile Apps
Desktop and laptop computers aren't the only devices that can run apps. You can also download apps for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, each device will have a different way of downloading the app but in general, you will be able to get the apps from the apps store of your device
How to Install Google Chrome on Windows 10/11
Open any web browser such as Microsoft Edge, type “google.com/chrome” into the address bar, and then press the Enter key. Click Download Chrome > Accept and Install > Save File.
By default, the installer will be placed in your Downloads folder. Navigate to the appropriate folder in File Explorer, double-click “Chrome Setup” to open the file, and then click the “Run” button.
When prompted to allow this app to make changes to your device, click “Yes.” Google Chrome will begin the installation and open the browser automatically upon completion.
How to check if your browser is up to date:
1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. At the top right, click More.
3. Click Update Google Chrome. Important: If you can't find this button, you're on the latest version.
4. Click Relaunch.
Now we have installed Google Chrome, let's look at its features.
Google Chrome is a free web browser from Google. With its clean design and advanced features, Chrome has quickly become one of the most popular web browsers worldwide.
Chrome's features:
Speed: Because Chrome was designed with web applications in mind, performance with websites like Gmail and Facebook is especially fast and reliable.
Security: Chrome has a variety of tools to help keep you safe online. It is constantly updating, so you're always protected from the latest malware and phishing scams. For example, Chrome will show you a warning whenever you visit a page that is potentially dangerous.
Customisation: While Chrome's design is simple, the Chrome Web Store makes it easy to customise Chrome with web apps, themes, and extensions. But we won’t go into that in this course, but it is good to know it can be done, it’s all about individualisation.
It even translates!! Great on your mobile device if you are in a different country (be careful of data roaming charges though)
Accessing Chrome
Seeing as you are using Windows, Chrome will add a shortcut on your desktop. Whenever you want to open Chrome, just double-click the icon. You can also access it from the Start menu or pin it to the taskbar.
Chrome for mobile devices
Chrome can also be used as a web browser on mobile devices. Available for both iOS (Apple devices) and Android (most other mobile devices), the Chrome app allows you to browse the web, open multiple tabs, conduct searches, and much more.
Internet searching/browsing
We may need to search for a specific item or website when we are browsing, so how can we narrow down the search?
Here’s are some tips on how to do a basic internet search:
With a few basic search strategies, you can usually find almost anything you want. It doesn't matter if you're using Google or any other search engine because these techniques are effective no matter where you search.
· Keep it simple: Make your searches brief by focusing on keywords, then keep the number of these keywords to a minimum. This way, you're more likely to get relevant results.
· Consider suggestions: As you enter your term, search engines will suggest the most popular results involving the term so don't be afraid to select one, as they can often give you plenty of new ideas.
· Use natural language: You don't have to use complicated words or phrases to get results. Search engines can recognise the language you naturally use in your everyday life, so feel free to try whatever comes to mind.
But what if I want to go further?
These days, search engines have become incredibly effective at getting you the results you want. However, there are rare occasions when you may need to search for very specific information that a normal search can't find. That's where Google's Advanced Search comes in.
You can access it from the Google search results page by clicking Settings and selecting Advanced Search. From there, you can search in a multitude of ways, from finding results that contain an exact word or phrase to narrowing down your results by language or reading level.
The above is a slightly longer way of doing things, we can shorten the search by adding a few punctuation marks to shorten the results we are shown for our search. Let’s have a look:
· Exclude terms using the minus (-) symbol
Trying to narrow the focus of your search? A helpful Google search tip is to type your desired search term, then space, then the minus symbol and the word you want to ban from your search results. For example, looking for information on the Outer Banks, not the latest Toyota? “Corolla -car” brings up all the fun, fascinating facts about Corolla, NC, wild horses and all. Other than potential car ads, the search will omit all things Toyota.
· “And,” “not,” and “or” are helpful in the same way
When looking to include two things in a search together, these terms can be used to curate a more accurate list.
· To search for an exact phrase, use quotation marks (“ ”)
Quotation marks signal to Google that you’re looking for an exact match. Searching within quotes only finds results that include all of those words, in that specific order. Searching without quotes populates results that include the words you typed, but necessarily not in the order you searched.
Whilst it is nice to find information about a subject, you may also want an image. To find an image, we are going to use the same principles as the basic search above, keep the wording simple and use natural language. Once you have entered the subject into the search bar and hit search, the search results will come up, all we need to do is hit the image tab and you will see lots of pictures, this is where you can copy or save the image.
The last thing that we need to think about (for this course) when search for a website is the relevancy of the website.
For example, I search for William Shakespeare, I will find lots of sites that will give me a lot of information about the playwright, but how do I know what the real information is?
If your boiler broke at home, would you go for the first person to come and give you a quote or do you shop around and then make an informed decision on the people you see? Internet searching should be done in the same way.
Most of the time, Wikipedia will be one of the top search results (they pay to be at the top), but anyone with an account can make/change/alter/enhance/discredit etc the search result on Wikipedia so it is best to double check using other sources. If the company or person is a worldwide known name, the chances are they will have their own website and therefore you can use their website as a credible source, look below, Wikipedia at the top and William’s webpage is number 3…
It is also a very good idea to make sure that you are searching for the UK opposed to the rest of the world. If I need to search for something within the UK, I always add that to the search too.
But is that the last thing we need to think about?? NO!
This section is also about the first thing we need to think about! Basically, this is about the start, the middle and the end…
Safety!
Introduction to Internet safety
There's almost no limit to what you can do online. The Internet makes it possible to access information quickly, communicate around the world, and much more. Unfortunately, the Internet is also home to certain risks, such as malware, spam, and phishing. If you want to stay safe online, you'll need to understand these risks and learn how to avoid them.
Adopting a safer mindset
Computers can often give us a false sense of security. After all, no one can physically harm you through a computer screen. But to stay safe online, you'll want to take a more cautious approach. Here's one way to think about it: Treat the Internet as you would a shopping mall.
Most people don't consider a shopping centre to be an especially dangerous place. You can go there to shop and meet up with friends. But there are also small things you may do to stay safe, even if you don't think about them very often. For example, you probably wouldn't leave your car unlocked or give your credit card number to a stranger.
Apply this same mindset whenever you're online. You shouldn't be afraid to use the Internet, but remember that it comes with many of the same risks you'd face in the real world.
Creating strong passwords
You'll need to create a password to do just about everything on the Web, from checking your email to online banking. And while it's simpler to use a short, easy-to-remember password, this can also pose serious risks to your online security. To protect yourself and your information, you'll want to use passwords that are long, strong, and difficult for someone else to guess while still keeping them relatively easy for you to remember.
Your browser's security features
Your computer faces different threats whenever you browse the Web, including viruses, malware, and spyware. The good news is your web browser has a lot of built-in security features to help protect your computer.
Check the web address
Malicious websites often use deceptive web addresses to trick users. For example, www.wellfargo.com looks similar to www.wellsfargo.com, but it's missing the “s” in the middle.
Double-checking the domain name is a good way to ensure you're going to the real, trusted site not a fake site with a similar web address.
Look at the security symbol
Some websites will display a lock symbol in the address bar. This is most commonly seen with certain types of websites, like online stores and banking sites. This means the website is using an HTTPS connection, which makes it safe to enter your personal information. You'll also see https at the beginning of the URL.
Dates
Look for the published date on the website, too long ago may mean the information you are looking at is outdated and more relevant info is now in place.
Update your browser regularly
New viruses and malware are created all the time, so it's important to update your browser regularly. Your browser will usually notify you when it has an update available, but you always have the option to update manually. In this example, we're updating Google Chrome to the most recent version, but the exact update procedure will vary depending on your browser.
Avoiding spam and phishing
From email to instant messaging to social media, the internet is an essential communication tool. Unfortunately, it's also popular among scammers and cybercriminals. To protect yourself from email scams, malicious software, and identity theft, you'll need to understand how to identify and avoid potentially dangerous content in your inbox, including spam and phishing attempts.
Dealing with spam
If you've ever received unwanted emails, you may already be familiar with spam, also known as junk email. Spam messages can clutter your inbox and make it more difficult to find the emails you actually want to read. Even worse, spam often includes phishing scams and malware, which can pose a serious risk to your computer. Fortunately, most email services now include several features to help you protect your inbox from spam.
Spam filters
Whenever you receive an email, most email providers will check to see if it's a real message or spam. Any likely spam messages will be placed in the spam folder so you don’t accidentally open them when checking your email. Spam-blocking systems aren’t perfect, though, and there may be times when legitimate emails end up in your spam folder. We recommend checking your spam folder regularly to make sure you aren’t missing any important emails.
Phishing
Phishing scams are messages that try to trick you into providing sensitive information. These often appear to come from a bank or another trusted source, and they'll usually want you to re-enter a password, verify a birth date, or confirm a credit card number. Phishing messages may look real enough at first glance, but it’s surprisingly easy for scammers to create convincing details.
Other common email scams
Spam and phishing are common problems, but there are many other types of email scams you may encounter. Some will promise to give you a lot of money if you advance a small amount upfront. Others may pretend to be from people you know in real life, and they'll often ask you to send money or download an attached file.
As with spam and phishing scams, remember to trust your best judgement. You should never send someone money just because you've received an email request. You should also never download email attachments you weren't expecting because they might contain malware that could damage your computer and steal your personal information.
Spam, scams, and phishing schemes will continue to evolve and change. But now that you know what to look for and what to avoid you can keep your inbox and computer that much safer.
Backing up your files
we become more dependent on technology to help accomplish our everyday tasks, we tend to forget how easily the information stored on our computers can be lost. Imagine what would happen if your computer was misplaced, damaged, or even stolen. Would you lose any important music, documents, photos, or other files?
While it may be possible to repair or recover your computer, the files could be lost forever. You can protect your files from accidental loss by creating a backup on an external hard drive or online backup service. Should anything happen to your computer, you can rest easy knowing your files are still safe and secure.
Backing up files manually
If you only want to back up certain files, you can copy them directly to an external hard drive. This is an easy way to protect your most important files and folders, like certain documents or an important project.
To back up a file or folder, connect the external hard drive to your computer, then simply click and drag the desired items to the external drive. A copy will now exist on both the computer and the external drive.
Backing up files automatically
While it's easy to copy files and folders to an external hard drive, it's also easy to forget. You never know when you might need to access your files, so you'll want to back them up regularly to make sure you always have a copy of the most recent version. To simplify the process, most computers can automatically back up certain files or even your entire hard drive.
Using Windows
Windows Backup (also known as File History in Windows 8) allows you to create automatic copies of certain files or folders. You can also use Windows Backup to save a system image, which creates a backup of your entire hard drive, including your files and any applications you have installed
Backing up your files online
Even if you back up your files regularly on an external hard drive, it's still possible to lose your data. For added security, you can also back up your files in the cloud. When you store something in the cloud, it's saved online to servers instead of a hard drive. The main advantage of cloud-based storage is that your files are much less vulnerable to risks like theft or accidental damage.
What is the cloud?
You may have heard people using terms like the cloud, cloud computing, or cloud storage. But what exactly is the cloud?
Simply put, the cloud is the Internet, more specifically, it's all of the things you can access remotely over the Internet. When something is in the cloud, it means it's stored on Internet servers instead of your computer's hard drive.
Why use the cloud?
Some of the main reasons to use the cloud are convenience and reliability. For example, if you've ever used a web-based email service, such as Gmail or Yahoo! Mail, you've already used the cloud. All of the emails in a web-based service are stored on servers rather than on your computer's hard drive. This means you can access your email from any computer with an Internet connection. It also means you'll be able to recover your emails if something happens to your computer.
Other uses of the cloud
· File storage: You can store all types of information in the cloud, including files and email. This means you can access these things from any computer or mobile device with an Internet connection, not just your home computer. Dropbox and Google Drive are some of the most popular cloud-based storage services.
· File sharing: The cloud makes it easy to share files with several people at the same time. For example, you could upload several photos to a cloud-based photo service like Flickr or iCloud Photos, then quickly share them with friends and family.
Protecting your computer
Your computer faces many potential threats, including viruses, malware, and hard drive failure. This is why it's important to do everything you can to protect your computer and your files.
Using phone verification
If you've used a webmail service like Gmail, Outlook.com, or Yahoo! Mail in the past few years, you may have been asked to provide a phone number to help verify your account. As we start to conduct more and more of our everyday tasks online—like paying bills and shopping from online stores—it's become increasingly important for many web providers to verify your identify and prevent others from abusing your account. Your phone number is one of the easiest ways to verify your identity with an online service provider.
How does phone verification work?
When you're creating an account or trying to recover a lost password, you may be asked to enter your phone number. Your provider will send you a text message (or call your phone) with a verification code, which you can then enter online. This lets them know that you're a real person and not someone else trying to gain access to your account—basically, it's an easy way to prove that you are who you say you are.
Does phone verification pose a risk to my privacy?
Not everyone feels comfortable sharing their phone numbers with large companies like Google and Microsoft. And while it may seem like a lot of personal information to give away, it's important to realize that phone verification mainly exists to protect your account. It's very unlikely that your phone number would be used for any other reason.
While we can't speak from a legal perspective, we can say that almost everyone in our office has used phone verification for several online services over the past few years. We've never been contacted by those providers except to verify our accounts, nor do we have any reason to believe the phone numbers were sold to advertisers or telemarketers. It may help to think of phone verification like providing an emergency contact number—if something goes wrong with your account, it will be easier for the online service provider to contact you directly.
Some services, like Google and Facebook, even let you use a phone number as part of a two-step verification program. Basically, whenever you sign in to your account from a new computer, you'll need to use your phone to enter a verification code. This makes it much more difficult for someone else to hack into your account.
2 step verification
This is how 2 step verification works for Google, other services will be very similar but you get the idea of what it is
It's easier than you think for someone to steal your password
Any of these common actions could put you at risk of having your password stolen:
· Using the same password on more than one site
· Downloading software from the Internet
· Clicking on links in email messages
2-Step Verification can help keep bad guys out, even if they have your password.
Imagine losing access to your account and everything in it
When a bad guy steals your password, they could lock you out of your account, and then do some of the following:
· Go through – or even delete – all of your emails, contacts, photos, etc.
· Pretend to be you and send unwanted or harmful emails to your contacts
· Use your account to reset the passwords for your other accounts (banking, shopping, etc.)
Signing in to your account will work a little differently
· You'll enter your password
Whenever you sign in to Google, you'll enter your password as usual.
· You'll be asked for something else
Then, a code will be sent to your phone via text, voice call, or our mobile app. Or, if you have a Security Key, you can insert it into your computer’s USB port.
Keep sign-in simple
During sign-in, you can choose not to use 2-Step Verification again on that particular computer. From then on, that computer will only ask for your password when you sign in.
You'll still be covered, because when you or anyone else tries to sign in to your account from another computer, 2-Step Verification will be required.
An extra layer of security
Most people only have one layer – their password – to protect their account. With 2-Step Verification, if a bad guy hacks through your password layer, he'll still need your phone or Security Key to get into your account.
Sign in will require something you know and something you have
With 2-Step Verification, you'll protect your account with something you know (your password) and something you have (your phone or Security Key).
Verification codes made just for you
Codes are uniquely crafted for your account when you need them. If you choose to use verification codes, they will be sent to your phone via text, voice call, or our mobile app. Each code can only be used once.
Identifying and Solving Technical Problems:
Sometimes technology goes wrong, so how can I solve basic issues?
My PC/laptop freezes:
· Try restarting your computer. Many basic problems can be resolved easily and quickly this way.
· Press the Ctrl & Alt & Del keys on your keyboard together at the same time. This should bring up a menu that will allow you to run Task Manager. In Task Manager, switch to the Applications tab. Highlight any programs with the status 'Not Responding' and choose End Task. You may be asked to confirm if you want to end the unresponsive program, so choose Yes. Do this for all programs that are not responding.
· If all else fails and you cannot shutdown/restart your computer, then hold down the power button on the machine until it forcibly turns off. Wait a few seconds and then turn it back on again.
My PC/laptop won’t turn on:
· Check that all the cables are securely plugged into the back of the machine and the monitor.
· Check that the power cables are plugged into a power socket and the socket has been turned on.
· Try using a different power socket or, if you are using a power extension strip, plug the power cable directly into a power socket in the wall.
· Replace the power cable with one that you know works.
· Check if there are any lights on at the front of the machine:
· With laptops, try removing the power cable and the battery. Hold down the power button for about ten seconds, and then plug the battery and power cable in again. Press the power button to see if it switches on.
My PC/laptop is slow at doing anything:
· Don't have too many programs running at the same time. Each running program consumes an extra bit of the system's resources.
Having multiple open windows for the same program (e.g. having three Word documents open) also lowers resources as each window takes up a bit of memory and processing power.
· If you are not using an app or program, close it so that the files/programs you are working in can speed up a little.
General tips to keep in mind
There are many different things that could cause a problem with your computer. No matter what's causing the issue, troubleshooting will always be a process of trial and error—in some cases, you may need to use several different approaches before you can find a solution; other problems may be easy to fix. We recommend starting by using the following tips.
· Write down your steps: Once you start troubleshooting, you may want to write down each step you take. This way, you'll be able to remember exactly what you've done and can avoid repeating the same mistakes. If you end up asking other people for help, it will be much easier if they know exactly what you've tried already.
· Take notes about error messages: If your computer gives you an error message, be sure to write down as much information as possible. You may be able to use this information later to find out if other people are having the same error.
· Always check the cables: If you're having trouble with a specific piece of computer hardware, such as your monitor or keyboard, an easy first step is to check all related cables to make sure they're properly connected.
· Restart the computer: When all else fails, restarting the computer is a good thing to try. This can solve a lot of basic issues you may experience with your computer.
There are a million and one things that can go wrong with a laptop/PC, some are listed above, but we may also have the following issues:
· Logging in issue
· Internet issues
Depending on the system that you are using, depends on how you remedy the login issue, most systems will have a “Forgotten Password” or “Having difficulty logging in” section, this will guide you through how to log back in to the desired system.
As for Internet issues, here are some common ways to solve internet issues
Check your power
We have all done it. Slammed, poked at, and jabbed our computer’s keyboard and wondered why it wasn’t working, without ever checking to see if they power is on. If your internet is out, step one is definitely to make sure that your router has not gotten unplugged or is half-in, half-out.
Check the router’s LED lights. If you see no lights at all, your router is probably unplugged or not getting any power at all. The fix here is as simple as it gets: disconnect the power supply and reconnect it.
Check your network connection
If you are not getting an internet connection on only one device, like your phone or your laptop, but you are getting an internet connection on others, check your Wi-Fi connection. If you are connected to a network, but you still do not have internet, it is time check your computer’s Network via the System Preferences, right-click on the Network Icon -> select Trouble Shooting to run a diagnostic check (on a PC). The icons you may see include these common ones:
Restart your system
Begin with your router - unplug the power source, wait 30 seconds, and then plug it back in. Once your router is back on, check the system again and see if your internet connection has returned. If it has not, do the same unplugging and restarting task with your computer and power strip.
Check your router
Physically examine your router and make sure that everything is connected where it should be. Check all of your router’s lights and look out for any problem colours like orange or red lights, and whether or not any of your lights are blinking. If this still doesn’t fix the issue, you may need to contact you IT dept or your Internet Service Provider.
Working with files
Understanding how to work with files and folders is an important part of using your computer. Once you understand how files and folder work, you'll use them all the time. In this section, we'll show you the absolute basics of working with files, including how to open files, move your files into folders, and delete files.
What is a file?
There are many different types of files you can use. For example, Microsoft Word documents, digital photos, digital music, and digital videos are all types of files. You might even think of a file as a digital version of a real-world thing you can interact with on your computer. When you use different applications, you'll often be viewing, creating, or editing files.
Files are usually represented by an icon. In the image below, you can see a few different types of files below the Recycle Bin on the desktop.
What is a folder?
Windows uses folders to help you organise files. You can put files inside a folder, just like you would put documents inside a real folder. In the image below, you can see some folders on the desktop.
File Explorer
You can view and organise files and folders using a built-in application known as File Explorer (called Windows Explorer in Windows 7 and earlier versions).
To open File Explorer, click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, or double-click any folder on your desktop. A new File Explorer window will appear. Now you're ready to start working with your files and folders.
From File Explorer, double-click a folder to open it. You can then see all of the files stored in that folder.
Notice that you can also see the location of a folder in the address bar near the top of the window.
To open a file
There are two main ways to open a file:
Find the file on your computer and double-click it. This will open the file in its default application. In the example above, the Microsoft Word document (BdayInvites.docx), will open using the Microsoft Word application.
Open the application, then use the application to open the file. Once the application is open, you can go to the File menu at the top of the window and select Open.
Moving and deleting files
As you begin using your computer, you will start to collect more and more files, which can make it more difficult to find the files you need. Fortunately, Windows allows you to move files to different folders and delete files you no longer use.
To move a file
It's easy to move a file from one location to another. For example, you might have a file on the desktop that you want to move to your Documents folder.
Click and drag the file to the desired location.
Release the mouse. The file will appear in the new location. In this example, we have opened the folder to see the file in its new location.
To create a new folder:
Within File Explorer, locate and select the New folder button. You can also right-click where you want the folder to appear, then select New > Folder
The new folder will appear. Type the desired name for the folder and press Enter. In our example, we'll call it School Documents.
The new folder will be created. You can now move files into this folder.
To rename a file or folder:
You can change the name of any file or folder. A unique name will make it easier to remember what type of information is saved in the file or folder.
Click the file or folder, wait about one second, and click again. An editable text field will appear.
Type the desired name on your keyboard and press Enter. The name will be changed.
To delete a file or folder:
If you no longer need to use a file, you can delete it. When you delete a file, it is moved to the Recycle Bin. If you change your mind, you can move the file from the Recycle Bin back to its original location. If you're sure you want to permanently delete the file, you will need to empty the Recycle Bin.
Click and drag the file to the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. You can also click the file to select it and press the Delete key on your keyboard.
To permanently delete the file, right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Empty Recycle Bin. All files in the Recycle Bin will be permanently deleted.
To delete a file without sending it to the recycling bin, use the SHIFT + DEL keys. The selected file will be permanently deleted.
Note that deleting a folder will also delete all of the files within that folder.
Finding files on your computer
To search for a file (Windows 10):
In the Cortana Search Box next to the Start button, type to search for a file or when you have opened the start button, just start typing. The search results will appear above the search box.
Tips for finding files
If you're still having trouble finding the file you need, here are some additional tips.
Try different search terms. If you're using the search option, try using different terms in your search. For example, if you're looking for a certain Microsoft Word document, try searching for a few different file names you might have used when saving the document.
Open the last application used to edit the file. If you know you used a certain application to edit a file, open that application and select File > Open > Recent from the menu. The file may appear in the list of recently edited files.
Move and rename the file after finding it. Once you've located the file, you may want to move it to a related folder so you can find it more easily in the future. For example, if the file is a picture, you might move it to your Pictures folder. You may also want to give it a file name that will be easy to remember.
Does size matter??
Files have a different sizes, this means that only a certain amount can be stored in each file when transferring the file to back up or in email. Different email providers allow for different size of emails to be sent, the email size includes the size of any file you are sending.
File sizes are sized as below:
· 1 B = 1 byte;
· 1 kB = 1000 bytes;
· 1 MB = 1000 kB;
· 1 GB = 1000 MB or 1 000 000 000 bytes.
How do I see the size of a file?
File or attachment size is usually easily accessible, if not already prominent. In Windows, right-clicking on any file, folder, or drive and choosing "Properties..." will show the size. In an Explorer window, you can select "Details" from the "View" menu; or in a file open or save dialogue box there is a "View" button from which you can also choose "Details". If you then click on the word "Size" at the top of the column, you can group together the largest files in a folder.
A basic size range of files can be seen below:
· Kilobyte (KB): 1000 bytes = 1 KB
· A short email (text only) = 5 KB
· A five-page paper = 100 KB
· Megabyte (MB): 1000 KB = 1 MB
· The average size of a webpage = 2 MB
· A 3-minute long MP3/music file = 3 MB
· A standard CD-ROM = 700 MB
· Gigabyte (GB): 1000 MB = 1 GB
· 256 MP3/music files = 1 GB
· 600 high-resolution images = 2 GB
· A standard DVD = 4.38 GB
· Terabyte (TB): 1000 GB = 1 TB
· 1,000 copies of the Encyclopaedia Britannica = 1 TB
· 400,000 songs = 2 TB
· 900,000,000 photos = 3 TB
Most email providers will allow between 20-30Mb of data, so you can see there isn’t a lot to play with, so how do we send larger files via email?
· Through links to cloud storage
· ZIP files (a way of making the files smaller and held together in a folder)
· External storage device
Or
· A free file sharing service
Something else that you may see or hear is the term, Mbps.
Mbps (megabits per second) is a way that broadband/internet speeds are measured in 'megabits per second', often shortened to Mb Mbits p/s or Mbps. Bits are tiny units of data, with a megabit representing a million of them. The higher the number of Mbps (megabits per second) you have, the speedier your online activity should be. A high number should mean that downloads complete more quickly, webpages load faster, streaming of music or videos begins more rapidly and any video calls or online games played should display smoothly.
What if I need help?
There are lots of self-help routes when it comes to the internet, the world is literally your oyster!
Listed below are some really useful ways to support your learning and if you have any questions.
YouTube
YouTube is a video sharing service where users can watch, like, share, comment and upload their own videos. The video service can be accessed on PCs, laptops, tablets and via mobile phones.
I find lots of help on here as it allows me to go step by step through a process whilst watching and listening to the support
Chat hubs
Most websites will have a chat function, this allows you to ta lot the company and seek their advice whilst online
FAQs
Most websites will have an FAQ section, this will detail the most common issues they face from customers and usually, they are a great support mechanism to help rectify your issue
Forums
An online community of like-minded people that share an interest. The people within may be able to offer support and help or an ear to bend.