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Subsections
This portion of the presentation provides an overview of the Windows
OS. Below are some of the key terms.
A basic software that manages and provides access to various resource
within computer system, such as memory, disk, and other hardware
devices. It also oversees application programs running on the
system. Basic user interface is also provided by the operating
system. Popular operating systems include Microsoft Windows series,
MacOS, and Unix.
Software that provides more specific functionalities, such as word
processor, spreadsheet, Email program, Web browser, etc. Application
programs make use of the functionalities provided by the underlying OS
to access various resource on the system.
In early years of computer age, users typed in instructions for
computers to perform tasks. These instructions are called commands,
and are typed in from the keyboard. With recent OS, users are not
required to memorize all the commands to perform various tasks since
most functionalities are accessible through interactions with objects
on screen. That is, there are small pictures of buttons and other
items, called icons, displayed on the screen, and users point and
click them with a pointing device. In many situations, however, there
are alternative ways to perform the same task through the keyboard.
A device used to point an arbitrary point on the screen. In most
cases, this is a mouse. Track-ball and touch-pad are other popular
pointing devices.
Users are presented with this screen after turning on the computer.
This screen is a dialog box which prompts the user for the user name
and the password. After supplying correct user name and password,
users are presented with the initial screen which consists of the
Desktop, the Start Button, and the Taskbar.
This is a narrow area along the lower edge of the screen. Icons which
represent application programs currently running are lined up in this
area. Right hand half of the Taskbar is called ``system tray,'' or
``Systray.'' This area contains icons of programs that are currently
running. Programs shown in this area may have no opened window
associated with. Far right end of the Taskbar, next to the system
tray area, is the clock. left to the system tray is the area where
icons representing currently opened windows are shown. Left to that
area, icons to launch certain programs are lined up, and these icons
are called ``quick launch icons.''
The Start Button is located to the left of the Taskbar. Clicking on
this button brings up the ``Start Menu.'' The Start Menu is a menu of
programs and functionalities available to the user, and is
customizable. The Start Menu can be brought up by pressing either the
Windows key, or the CTRL+ESC keys.
This is a large area above the Taskbar and the Start Button. This
area is called the Desktop because it resembles the top of an office
desk, where there are folders and documents are placed. The Desktop
is shown if there is no other window opened. It contains icons and
associated text labels representing folders, documents,
functionalities of the Windows OS, etc.
In most cases, when an application program is started, a rectangular
area on the screen is used for interaction between the program and the
user. This area is called ``window.'' The interaction between the
program and the user using a window is through displaying messages,
accepting user inputs, presenting menus, etc. What is displayed in a
window differs depending on the application program being used.
If there are multiple application programs running, there can be one
window for each program. In this case, windows may be placed side by
side, or a window may be overlapping a part of another window. The
layout of the windows can be adjusted by the user.
Size of windows is also adjustable. It can be as large as entire
screen. When a window is occupying the entire screen, this window is
``maximized.'' Windows can be ``minimized'' as well. When minimized, a
window is represented as an icon on the Taskbar, in between the quick
launch icons and the system tray.
In order for application programs to accept user input from the
keyboard, the window associated to that program must be ``focused.'' On
focused window, a small symbol called ``caret'' is shown to indicate
where the input is sent to. Caret is sometimes referred to as
``cursor.''
This is the upper edge of the window where name of the application
program associated to the window is shown. Sometimes it also provides
additional information such as name of the file being edited and so
on. Right to the title bar are the buttons to adjust the window size.
And left to the title bar is an icon the control menu.
In many programs, you can find a menu bar behind the title bar.
Several items are lined up horizontally, and these are categories of
functionalities that can be accessed via the menu bar. Clicking on one
of them brings up a menu of functionalities under that category.
Some application programs place a tool bar behind the menu bar. This
is a series of button placed horizontally, and clicking on one of them
activates certain functionalities. In most cases, functionalities
accessible through the buttons on the tool bar are also accessible
through the menu bar.
Often, one window contains another window. The outer window, the
parent window, is the one that contains title bar, menu bar, tool bar,
etc. The inner window, the child window, is area that is used for
actual task. For example, parent window of a word processing software
may contain the title bar, the menu bar, the tool bar, and the child
window where users are presented with the file being edited, and can
do the actual editing.
Depending on the application program being used, there may be other
components presented on the parent window. Many programs use the very
bottom part of the window as an area to display current status of the
task being performed and this is often referred to as the ``status
bar.'' Some programs have more than just one tool bar, or may have no
tool bar or status bar.
Application programs display smaller child windows from time to time
to ask for user input, or offering some information. These windows
are called ``dialog box.'' Dialog box can contain one or more of the
following components. These are often referred to as ``controls.''
Note that these are most frequently used controls and there are other
types of control as well.
This is where the application program displays some message to the
user. The message can be some information, or instruction for the
user how to provide necessary information using the dialog box.
Buttons are small icons which can be clicked on by pointing device.
Clicking on buttons cause certain action to be performed depending on
the functionalities each button is associated to. Most commonly used
buttons are the ``OK'' button and the ``Cancel'' button. By clicking on
the OK button, the user lets the program know that he/she understands
the information provided in the dialog box and provided all the
information asked for in the dialog box. By clicking the Cancel
button, users can interrupt and cancel the action the program was
about to perform. Dialog boxes that consist of only an OK button and
a message area are often seen. In this case, the dialog box
disappears as soon as the user finishes reading the message and clicks
the OK button.
Edit boxes are where users type in text information.
Same as edit boxes except users cannot change what is shown in this
area. They are used for the same purpose as message area.
Check boxes are small boxes often placed beside some text. Check
boxes can have two states, on (checked) or off (unchecked). By
clicking on them, the state can be changed from on to off or vice
versa. A typical case where they are used is when users need to
indicate whether they want to have certain function turned on or not,
and the accompanying text describes the function.
Radio buttons are a group of multiple number of buttons whose purpose
is to let users choose one option from multiple options. They
resemble multiple check boxes, except that only one button can be
checked, and one button must be checked in the case with radio
buttons.
The purpose of combo boxes is the same as radio buttons. Only the
visual aspect is the difference between the two. They are small boxes
with currently selected option displayed. When a combo box is clicked
on, it expands and shows other available options so that users can
choose different option.
Some dialog boxes have more than just one screen. This can be thought
of as multiple sheets of paper, with each sheet of paper being a
dialog box. These sheets of paper are called ``tabs.''
List views are often found within dialog boxes. It can, however,
appear in other context as well. For example, items on the Desktop is
presented in a list view.
List views can contain various items. One of the most common purposes
for using list views is to present a list of files. Users can ``select''
one or more items, and perform specific function on them.
A file is a chunk of arbitrary length of electric data. Every file
has a name, and users and application programs can access it using its
name. It can contain any data, including, but not limited to,
document, program, audio, and so on. When an application program is
started, for example, a file contains the program is read by the OS,
and the OS follows the instructions stored in the file and perform the
tasks that are needed in order to make the application program usable
by users.
Folders are used to organize files. Files are often put into
different folders according to their purposes. Arbitrary number of
folders can be created by users. Folder can contain files, shortcuts,
and folders. Note that the term ``directory'' is sometimes used instead
of ``folder,'' but both of them refer to the same notion.
Many computers have a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, and a
CD-ROM drive. A floppy disk is a removable medium often used to share
information among different computers. The storage capacity of floppy
disks is very small. The hard disk drive is often contained within
the computer, and has much larger storage capacity. This is where all
the programs and the Windows system are stored. Each drive has a
name, called ``drive letter.'' Usually, the floppy drive is called
``drive A,'' and the hard disk drive is called ``drive C.'' And often, a
colon (`:') is appended to the drive letter to indicate it is a drive
letter, so as in ``a:'' and ``c:.'' Note that when list of disk drives is
shown by the Windows, each drive looks as if they are folders. And it
is safe in many cases if you think of them as folders.
A shortcut can be thought of as an alias to a file or folder. Files
and folders can have as many aliases as necessary in the form of
shortcuts. Shortcuts can be placed in any folder, in the Start Menu,
or on the Desktop. Users are encouraged to create shortcuts to
frequently accessed documents and frequently used programs and place
them on a convenient location. For sighted users, it would be on the
Desktop, and for speech output users, it would be in a folder in the
Start Menu. The Start Menu is actually a folder containing shortcuts
to programs and more folders, so it is possible to modify it to suit
the needs of individual user.
Users can assign key strokes to activate shortcuts, and these key
strokes are called shortcut keys. Assignments of a shortcut key to a
shortcut is done through the property dialog box of the target
shortcut.
The simplest pointing device used with the Windows OS is a mouse with
two buttons. By moving the mouse, a symbol on the screen called mouse
pointer is moved. Action of pressing and releasing the left button on
the mouse is called ``click,'' and doing it quickly twice is called
``double-click.'' Action of clicking right button on the mouse is
called ``right mouse click.'' When a user clicks on an icon, it means
the mouse pointer is on the icon and the user clicks the left mouse
button there.
Results of clicking, double-clicking, and right-clicking vary
depending on the application program being used and on the context.
Right-click often brings up a menu of functionalities available in
that context. This menu is called ``context menu.'' For example, if
the mouse pointer is on an icon representing a file when
right-clicked, actions which can be taken against that file is
presented as a menu. If the same icon is clicked (with the left
button), it is likely that the file is opened with an appropriate
application program.
In many situations, most of the things that can be done with pointing
device can also be done with keyboard, without using pointing device.
Here are some of most commonly used keyboard commands.
Table 1:
Keyboard Commands Available Anytime
| Windows Key |
Display the Start Menu |
| CTRL + ESC |
|
| Windows Key + u |
Start the utility manager |
| Windows key + D |
Go to the Desktop |
| Windows key + M |
|
Menu Key (Right Windows)
Shift + F10 |
Display the context menu if the
mouse pointer is on any object with a context menu |
| ALT + TAB |
Change the focus to another open window |
Table 2:
Keyboard Commands Commonly Available Within Applications
| ALT |
Move the focus to the menu bar |
| ALT + F4 |
Close the window and exit the application |
| ALT + SPC |
Call the control menu |
| CTRL + F4 |
Close the current child window |
| CTRL + TAB |
Change to another child window |
| Shift + the arrow keys |
Select objects |
| CTRL + C |
Copy selected object to the clipboard |
| CTRL + X |
Cut and move selected object to the clipboard |
| CTRL + V |
Paste object in the clipboard to the point where the mouse pointer or
the caret is |
| CTRL + Z |
Undo the changes made immediately before pressing this key
stroke |
| CTRL + the left/right arrow keys |
Move the caret one word at a time |
| HOME |
Move the caret to the beginning of the line |
| END |
Move the caret to the end of the line |
| CTRL + HOME |
Move the caret to the top of the edit window. (This often means move
the caret to the beginning of the document being edited.) |
| CTRL + END |
Move the caret to the bottom of the edit window. (This often means to
move the caret to the end of the document being edited.) |
Table 3:
Keyboard Commands In Dialog Boxes
| TAB |
Move to the next control |
| Shift + TAB |
Move to the previous control |
| Enter |
If pressed on a button, activate the button.
If pressed elsewhere, activate the default button. |
| SPC |
If pressed on a check box, change the status of the check box.
If pressed on a button, activate the button. |
| arrow keys |
If pressed on a radio button, another button is checked.
If pressed on a combo box, the down arrow expands the box, and the up and
the down arrows moves through the menu items. Moving away from the
combo box by TAB or Shift + TAB, or pressing the Enter key collapses
the combo box and displays the newly selected menu item. |
| ESC |
If there is a Cancel button, activate the Cancel button. |
| CTRL + Tab |
Move to the next tab |
| CTRL + Shift + Tab |
Move to the previous tab. |
Table 4:
Keyboard Commands In List Views
| the arrow keys |
Move to different item within the list view |
| any letter, numbers, punctuation keys |
Move to the next item on the list whose name begins with that
character |
Next: 2 Computer Access For
Up: TEACHING THE WINDOWS TO
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Masafumi NAKANE <max@imgsrc.co.jp>