Summer School: Computers 101

Have you ever stood behind one of those “computer people” and thought, “Huh?” as their fingers danced around the keyboard in an obscure series of keystrokes? Wondered which software they use to unearth long lost files or where they downloaded the latest cool software, but were afraid to ask? It is not an issue of finding a mystical source of truth on computing, rather a matter of knowing where to find the right information quickly. To get you started, try these quick tips:

Cut to the chase.
Shortcuts are a handy way of achieving repetitive tasks quickly, without the hassle of moving your hand to your mouse all of the time. It might not seem like a huge savings, but then again, look at how many of your colleagues or friends use them. Try them out and you will be surprised how soon you come to rely on them:

For PC Users:

  • Typing Alt + Tab lets you switch quickly between two windows, or scroll through all open windows to flick to a different document or program. This function is a slacker’s best friend, as you can quickly switch from your IM-ing to something that looks a bit more official.
  • Use Ctrl + Shift + any arrow key when you want to quickly highlight blocks of text to copy or cut. It beats holding down the SHIFT key and endlessly scrolling through sentences one character at a time if you’re mouse averse (or mildly tipsy).
  • Tired of scanning the whole webpage to find that one sentence you wanted to read about your ex? Hit Ctrl + F, and a box will appear where you can type in a specific word or phrase. Then hit enter, and the page will “magically” find that police log entry about him getting into a bar fight. Ha!
  • For more short cuts, visit Microsoft support.