Basic English for Computing / Basic English for Computing (Units) / UNIT 4

Keyboard and mouse

A computer can have a variety of input devices. This allows the user to control the computer in different ways, or to put different kinds of data into the computer. The most common input device is the keyboard. Another very common input device is the mouse. This is used to control the computer when the operating system has a graphical user interface. There are different types of mouse but the one illustrated in this unit is very common.

The computer keyboard is an electronic device with keys arranged like earlier typewriter keyboards, but with extra keys. Because the output of the keys are controlled by the computer program, their function can very. For example, the print screen key sometimes copies the screen to memory and sometimes copies it to a printer, depending on the program used. The arrangement of the keys varies but most desktop PCs have an extended keyboard with keys divided into sections including the main keyboard, the function keys, the editing keys, and the numeric keypad.

The connection of computers throughout the world is known as the Internet. This allows users to send electronic mail messages (email) to each other. Each user has his or her own unique email address. The email address is made up of two main parts, the user identifier, and the computer system identifier.

For example:

Jim.Smith @ ed.ac.uk

(user identifier) (computer system identifier)

The @ sing is used to separate these main identifiers. A dot is used to separate the parts of each identifier. Note that there is usually no dot at the end of an email address.

Linked document pages on the Internet form what is known as the World Wide Web (WWW or Web). Each webpage has its own unique address. Web addresses often, although not always, begin with ‘http: //www’. The two forward slashes are commonly read as double slash. A dot is used to separate each main part of an address, and slashes are used to separate sub-areas of the address.

For example:

http: //www.microsystems.com/newproducts/downloads

^{4 Keyboard and mouse}

Tuning-in

Task 1 Match these key abbreviations with their full names.

1 Esc a Alternate

2 Alt b PageUp

3 Ctrl с Delete

4 Pgdn d Insert

5 Pgup e Escape

6 Ins f PageDown

7 Del g Control

Listening: The keyboard

Task 2 Study this keyboard. The keys are in four sections. Can you name any of the

sections?

Task 4 Listen to this description of the keyboard in Task 2. Label each section of the diagram.

Reading: The mouse

Task 5 Study this diagram which explains how a common type of mouse works. Then complete each of these statements with one word.

1 Move the mouse to the left and the cursor moves to the _________.

2 The mouse contains a rolling _______________.

3 There are ________ axles inside the mouse and two interrupter wheels.

4 When you move the mouse, the ball _______.

5 The mouse moves over a mouse ______.

Task 6 Now read this text to check your answers.

The computer mouse is a hand-operated device that lets you control more easily the location of the pointer on your screen. You can make selections and choices with the mouse button. The mouse contains a rubber-coated ball that rests on the surface of your working area or a mousemat. When the mouse is moved over that surface, the ball rolls. The ball's movements up and down, and left and right, turn the two axles inside the mouse. As they turn, detectors register the changing position. A small integrated circuit inside the mouse sends signals to the operating system, which instructs it to move the pointer on your screen.

5 10

Task 7 Look at the statements (1-7) and correct the ones which are wrong.

Example This key moves the cursor down.

It doesn't move the cursor down. It moves the cursor up.

If you are not sure, ask another student.

What does this key do?

Problem-solving

Task 8 Using the information from the Listening on page 18, and in Task 7, describe what these keys do.

Speaking

Task 10 Work in pairs. Student A should turn to page 118. Student В should turn to page 119. Read these email and website addresses to your partner. Copy down the addresses your partner reads to you.

1 ________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________

5 ________________________________________________________

Writing

Task 11 With the help of this table and the Listening on page 18, write a brief description of a keyboard. The first paragraph is done for you.

Section	Location	Main keys	Main function
Main keyboard	centre	each letter digits 0-9 punctuation common symbols	input all kinds of data
Function keys	top	F1-F12	not fixed can program them
Editing keys	right	cursor keys insert, delete	control cursor
Numeric keypad	far right	digits 0-9 mathematical operations	input numerical data

Most keyboards have four sections. The main keyboard has keys for each letter and the digits 0 to 9. It also has keys for punctuation and other common symbols. It is used for inputting all kinds of data.