Therefore these are the programmes that I need to research into to make this project worthwhile and easier for the family to make sense of etc…
The main programmes I need to explain are the following:
- Microsoft word
- Microsoft excel
- Microsoft access
- Microsoft publisher
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- The internet
Expanded information on programmes needed:
Microsoft word: Microsoft word is an extremely easy programme to use; it’s what I have used to type this information! Basically anyone could use it. It’s very easy to get the hang of, and will neaten up those letters you need to send out to keep in touch and will make documents look of a high standard, this programme offers a variety of different things such as:
- different layouts
- bold headings
- line spacing
- paragraphing
- different colour fonts
- print preview – so you are able to view what the print out will look, like without printing it out and wasting paper and ink
- different fonts
- different font sizes
- Aligning the text to where you want it. E.g. left, centre, justified or right
- You are able to save your work and will be stored there for as long as you need it as long as you have saved it
- Page and specific text borders
- Text boxes
- Spell check
- And grammar check
- Language translator
- Different background effects
- Letter writing
Microsoft excel:
Microsoft excel is a very much used programme by families, it can be used to sort out your financial data etc… and sort out all your money accounts so it is organised
- It can be used for financial documents
- For appointments to be stored
- To keep records
- To keep addresses/phone numbers and personal details etc…
- Organize your big schedule etc…
- It can be used to write dates in
Above is the template of Microsoft excel, as you can see it is very much a layout
of a spreadsheet.
Microsoft access:
Is database-information storage:
Field and record are two items used within this data base and so to understand the programme you need to understand these two items:
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Field- A field is a column on a datasheet and defines a data type for a set of values in a table. For a mailing list table might include fields for first name, last name, address, town, county, post code, and telephone number.
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Record- A record in a row on a datasheet and is a set of values definite by fields. In a mailing list table, each record would contain the data for one person as specified by the overlapping fields.
Access is used for:
- Storing data
- Storing names
- Storing addresses
- Phone numbers
- Personal details
- Medical history
- Appointments
- Financial statements etc…
This is a Microsoft access view of the database
Spread sheets:
Are tables containing numbers and formulae and other items containing information. They are set out in rows and columns. One item of information is held in the cell.
The cells are identified with different codes the column is lettered and the row is numbered.
Charts and surveys can be produced on this type of programme, i.e. the results from the survey can be inputted into the spreadsheet and then from these results a chart maybe produced, making it into pie/bar/line/scatter charts etc…
Another advantage is that you can input all your financial documentation to sort them out and spreadsheets also allow you to add all the costs up etc… with only you typing in a certain code such as:
Internet Explorer- offers a wide area of research, searching from the World Wide Web – to just the UK or Ireland and Great Britain. You are able to research deeply into different different things that are offered in this world. And look at it for personnel use etc… it allows you to search for anything!
The best website to visit if you are searching for things is this site offers one of the greatest search engines. Others include:
- Yahoo.co.uk
- Search.msn.co.uk
- alltheweb.com
- aol.search.aol.com
- askjeeves.com
These are just a few search engines there are many more out there just waiting for you to use them.
Above is an example of the internet layout and a view of the google website.
The internet also allows you to get in contact with people via email one of the newest way of contact. Email is a great way to pass on documents and share ideas and just basically keep in contact etc…
The best email site on the web and the most used would have to be try it. Here is an example and how to use this site and email (on the following page)
The net also offers many other opportunities e.g. online shopping or you could even complete a degree in a subject on the net and get a degree and be able to enter into different jobs etc… there is also many revision websites/tutorials available online.
Connecting computers to the Internet.
A modem is a device that allows you to connect and interact with other people on the net. One computer uses its modem to dial a phone number. At the other end of the line, another modem answers the call. The two modems then attempt to connect together. If they connect, due to both having the correct processing speeds etc…
Internet service providers (ISPs) are network type things which provide the boundary like thing between computers, allowing data to flow between them regardless of their location. ISPs offer ways of connecting into the Internet's 'network of networks'
After you have connected your modem you will need to then sign up to a network e.g. Yahoo, which just basically means that when you log onto the net Yahoo will be the website that appears on your screen you can then go on from there and search any site. It’s just a display type thing.
To find out how to use email here is a PowerPoint presentation on how to use hotmail, the world most used email service.
Choosing a network/server for the internet
What is a network?
Having a network allows you to be able to connect and transact with other computers i.e. sending files/emails. It is a type of connection.
There are two types of networks:
LAN – Local area network connecting a small area of computers such as a building or a school
WAN – Wide area network such as the internet
How are these networks connected?
LAN – is connected by dedicated
Hardware:
The mouse works by sensing your motions and your clicks and then sends them into the computer, which makes things happen.
As you can basically see this is inside a laser printer and how it all works. When the printer is turned on it is automatically connected to the computer and so when you are ready to print it will go through this process.
These 2 speakers would be connected to the computer and would release the sound effects of the computers movements. But to get a good sound you must have quite a high quality of speaker.
This is how a modem works it connects to the internet and phone line and so when you click to go online it sends messages from the phone line to the modem and connects you.
A scanner processes images, by scanning a picture of some sort, then sending the image into the computer where you can change the image into how you would like it to look.
A monitor is where you can actually see what is happening if there wasn’t a monitor then you couldn’t use a computer, they project the images when you ask the computer to do something by
A typical UXGA adapter takes the digital data sent by application programs, puts it in video random access memory and uses, and a digital-to-analog converter to make it into analogue data to display.
A digital camera- Take a photograph using a film emulsion, process it chemically, print it onto photographic paper and then use a digital scanner to sample the print.
Microphone- microphones have a small, light material in them called a diaphragm. When the sound vibrations reach the diaphragm, they make the diaphragm vibrate.
Keyboard- a keyboard is a series of switches connected to a microprocessor.
A suitable computer system for you and your family:
This system will be extremely suitable for you and your family because it includes everything in the package which is all the basics and is an up to date computer and is a reasonable price at just £599
It includes a scanner, printer, speakers, monitor and the hard-drive also the keyboard.
This would be a great package because you have a family and would most likely use all of these parts e.g. scanner to scan family photos in and printer to print out children’s homework and the speakers to allow sounds to be heard i.e. off games. This computer can also easily be hooked up to a phone line to allow you to use the internet.
This is the new system I would recommend.
Analysis – of a computer system present and future is needed before I install this computer system. This involves finding out whether the new computer system is needed at all and exactly what it will be used for Setting up and developing a computer system can take a very long time, it needs to be broke down into small stages because it is such a big job. And each stage needs different types of skills.
Feasibility – I now need to ask you and myself a few questions:
- Will this new computer system be technically able to be set up in the time it’s needed to?
- And will it save you and your family money in the long run?
This system is for you at home with your family not a business so therefore if you want to spend money on a new system then it may not be money saving but will definitely be beneficial because the newer systems are easy to use and are quick to start up. And the newer systems do not take long to set up as they are quicker at processing than the older ones.
This package allows you to have all the hardware and will include in the package the basic software to get you started.
Validation is an automatic computer check to ensure that the data entered is sensible and reasonable. A table of different types;
Validation is also used to scan credit card information.
Verification is a check to ensure that the data entered exactly matches the original source.
There are two main methods of verification:
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Double entry (typing the data in twice and comparing the two copies). This can take much more time and means higher wage costs.
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Proofreading data . This method involves somebody checking what is on the screen is the same as on the input document.
How is data organized when it is stored in a computer?
Read Only Memory (ROM) is computer memory that cannot be changed by a program or user. ROM retains its memory even after the computer is turned off. For example, ROM stores the instructions for the computer to start up when it is turned on again.
Random Access Memory (RAM) is a fast temporary area where programs and data are stored whilst the computer is switched on. For example, when you load a word processing program it is loaded into RAM.
Backing store - magnetic disks
Magnetic disks are the most common backing storage medium. Magnetic disks include 3.5-inch portable floppy disks and also the hard disk drive fixed inside your computer.
Floppy disks
You can read data from and write data on to a floppy disk. Floppy disks can be moved between computers and usually store up to 1.44 Mb. They have three main uses:
- to transfer small files of data from one machine to another
- to back up important small files that are stored on your hard disk
- to store restricted files that you don't want all other users of your computer seeing
Hard disks or hard drives
Hard disks have storage capacities thousands of times larger than floppy disks. Data can be transferred to and from a hard disk much more quickly than from a floppy disk.
Your hard disk will be where you store:
- the operating system
- programs
- the majority of your data files