#computer skills fundamentals: learn to use the file explorer and learn who to find menu buttons

[myothertardisisonthemun]

Hi. My job is to explain this stuff to small children, so here are some basics:

Connect basically means the computer or devices know each other exist, and have worked a way out how to send data to each other. Sometimes this happens automatically when you plug one device into another using a cable, like most generic computer mice work. Sometimes, like a Bluetooth or other wireless connection, this requires a bit more set up from people.

A network is a whole bunch of computers and computer compatible machines all linked together in this way so they can share files and information this way.

A file is a collection of information. Files and folders were choosen as an analogy because on the surface level, they work sorta similar to their real life counterparts. When you save information in word for example, that produces a .docx file. The (sometimes hidden) letter code at the end of a file name tells the computer what sort of thing that information is supposed to represent, like if those ones and zeroes are supposed to represent, by telling it what programs it's supposed to use to open it.

A folder is a way to sort out your files. All your folders end up saved on one of your computer's drives - the actuall machinery that works like long term memory for the computer. On a Windows machine, you can navigate your drives, folders and files using Windows explorer, the app with the manila folder icon. On a toy computer Mac, you can use the finder. These are also one way to access other machines on the network

A location tells your computer where in it's data (memory) or network, to look for something. There are many types, like memory addresses, network locations, web addresses, file locations, but let's focus on that last one. Imagine you're downloading something from the internet. The computer needs somewhere to put that file - that information. Typically, if no settings have been changed, this will be in the downloads folder, in your account's folder, in the users folder, in the C drive.

This computers knows this location as a file address something like: C/users/headspacehotel/downloads

A progam is basically just another word for what you probably know as an app. There are programs which aren't apps in that sort of way, but dont worry about them for now. A program is basically a file, or collection of files usually which make up instructions that the computer can follow. When you click on your Firefox icon for example, the computer is told to go to the location of firefox.exe, and follow those instructions. This is called running the program. Those instructions tell the computer how to draw the Firefox window and all its buttons, to get data from the internet, to apply any settings you saved, and so on.

Why do 70% of people Understand Computer and refuse to tell the other 30% of us how to achieve enlightenment