Table of Contents

Curriculum of Operate Personal Computer.................................................................................................3

Resource Requirements..............................................................................................................................5
Session Plan-1..............................................................................................................................................6
Session Plan-2..............................................................................................................................................7
Session Plan-3..............................................................................................................................................8
Session Plan-4..............................................................................................................................................9
Session Plan-5............................................................................................................................................10
Lo1. Identify the functions of PC hardware components..........................................................................11
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................11
Basic concepts of Computer and its functions.......................................................................................11
Components of hardware and its functions..........................................................................................13
Summery...............................................................................................................................................16
Self-check..............................................................................................................................................17
Lo2. Understand operation of the system and application software.........................................................19
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................19
Application software..............................................................................................................................20
Summery...............................................................................................................................................21
Self-check..............................................................................................................................................21
Lo3. Perform basic operation and maintenance procedures.....................................................................22
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................22
Connecting Pc system............................................................................................................................23
Basic keyboarding skills.........................................................................................................................29
Simple hard ware faults and its corrections..........................................................................................34
Maintain and care a PC system..............................................................................................................34
4.1 Protect Your Computer from Damage.........................................................................................34
4.2 Troubleshooting...........................................................................................................................35
4.3 Cleaning the Mouse and Keyboard..............................................................................................36
Maintaining Your Hard Drive.............................................................................................................37
Summery...............................................................................................................................................39
Self-check..............................................................................................................................................40
Lo4. Operate a printer...............................................................................................................................42

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 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................42
1. Ways of Printer documents...............................................................................................................42
2.Printer hardware faults.......................................................................................................................45
Summery...............................................................................................................................................46
Self-check..............................................................................................................................................46
Lo5. Apply ergonomic principles for safe operation..................................................................................48
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................48
1. Ergonomic principles.........................................................................................................................48
Summery...............................................................................................................................................54
Self-check..............................................................................................................................................54
References.................................................................................................................................................56

2
Curriculum of Operate Personal Computer
MODULE TITLE: Operate Personal Computer Level I 2010 E.C

MODULE TITLE: Operating Personal Computer

MODULE CODE: LSA CDV1 03 1017

NOMINAL DURATION: 40 hrs

MODULE DESCRIPTION: : This module defines the competency required to operate a Personal
Computer (PC) with its basic software programs and to communicate via electronic data interchange

LEARNING OUT COMES

At the end of the module the trainee will be able to:
Lo1. Identify the functions of PC hardware components.
Lo2. Understand operation of the system and application software
Lo3. Perform basic operation and maintenance procedures
Lo4. Operate a printer.
Lo5. Apply ergonomic principles for safe operation

MODULE CONTENTS:
Lo1. Identify the functions of PC hardware components.
1. Basic concepts of Computer and its functions.
2. Components of hardware and its functions.
Lo2. Understand operation of the system and application software.
1.Purposes and operations of software system.
2. Application of software.
Lo3. Perform basic operation and maintenance procedures.
1. Connecting Pc system.
2. Basic keyboarding skills.
3. Simple hard ware faults and its corrections.
4. Maintain and care a PC system
Lo4. Operate a printer.
1. Ways of Printer documents.
2. Printer hardware faults.

3
Lo5. Apply ergonomic principles for safe operation.
1. Ergonomic principles.

LEARNING STRATEGIES:
 Lecture-discussion
 Group work
 Individual assignment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
 Oral questioning
 Written test

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA.
Lo1. Identify the functions of PC hardware components.
 Identify Hardware components in terms of device type and functions.
 Identify interaction of components in terms of the flow of data between them.
Lo2. Understand operation of the system and application software.
 Identify and describe stem software in terms of its purpose and operation
 Identify and state application software and its purpose in terms of outputs.
 Describe the interaction between system software and application software.
Lo3. Perform basic operation and maintenance procedures.
 Connect basic components of a PC system to enable it to be operated safely
 Power up a PC system according to organizational requirements
 Identify and correct simple hardware faults and report according organizational requirements
 Maintain and care a PC system according to organizational requirements.
Lo4. Operate a printer.
 Data from a personal computer is displayed on printed output media based on instructions
 Identify simple printer hardware faults and remedy printer relate error message according to
manuals
Lo5. Apply ergonomic principles for safe operation.
 Explain Ergonomic principles in terms of user physical well-being.
 Explain ergonomic requirements in terms of environment.

4
 Resource Requirements
LSA CDV1 03 0417
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Recommended
Item No. Category/Item Description/ Specifications Quantity Ratio
(Item: Learner)

A. Learning Materials

1. TTLM Related to module 10 1:4

2. Textbooks Related to specific module 2 1:18

3. Reference Books Related to the competence 4 1:9

4. Journals/Publication/Magazines

Learning Facilities &

B.
Infrastructure

1. Lecture Room 7x8=56m2 5 1:36

That can accommodate 25%

2. Library 1:50
of the total trainees at once

C. Consumable Materials

Stationeries (White board marker, require

1. In packets
chalk board, Papers, etc.) ) d

D. Tools and Equipment

1. White board Standardized 5 1:36

2. Blackboard Standardized 5 1:36

3 Computer with accessories Standardized 15 1:45

4 Flash disc/CD Standardized 10pcs 1:1

5 LCD projector Standardized 1 1:36

6 Printer Standardized 5 1:8

5
 Session Plan-1
Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer
LO. 1 Identify the functions of PC hardware components.
Session Objectives At the end of this session the learners shall be able to:

 Identify Hardware componentsin terms of device type and functions.

 Identify interaction of components in terms of the flow of data between them.
.
Activities Nom.
Dur
Contents Learning Methods
Introduction 20min. Introduction of the module and its contents  Lecture
Body 2:00hrs. 1. Basic concepts of Computer and its functions.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
2:00hrs. 2. Components of hardware and its functions.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
Evaluation 1:30hrs. Group work and written exam
Summary 1:30hrs. Wrap-up and feedback Discussion
Resources  TTLM Markers Papers
 Handouts Computers LCD, Projector
Prepared by: __________________________________ Checked By: ___________________________

6
 Session Plan-2
Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer
LO. 2 Understand operation of the system and application software.
Session Objectives At the end of this session the learners shall be able to:

 Identify and describe stem software in terms of its purpose and operation
 Identify and state application software and its purpose in terms of outputs.
 Describe the interaction between system software and application software.
Activities Nom.
Dur
Contents Learning Methods
Introduction 30min. Revising previous lesson and relating it to the daily lesson  Lecture
Body 2.00hrs. 1.Purposes and operations of software system.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
2:00hrs. 2. Application of software.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
Evaluation 2:30hrs. Group work and written exam
Summary 1:00hrs Wrap-up and feedback Discussion
Resources  TTLM Markers Papers
 Handouts Computers LCD, Projector
Prepared by: __________________________________ Checked By: ___________________________

7
 Session Plan-3
Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer
LO. 3 Perform basic operation and maintenance procedures.
Session Objectives At the end of this session the learners shall be able to:
.
 Connect basic components of a PC system to enable it to be operated safely
 Power up a PC system according to organizational requirements
 Identify and correct simple hardware faults and report according organizational requirements
 Maintain and care a PC system according to organizational requirements.
Activities Nom.
Dur
Contents Learning Methods
Introduction 20min. Revising previous lesson and relating it to the daily lesson  Lecture
Body 1.00min. 1. Connecting Pc system.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
2:00hrs. 2. Basic keyboarding skills.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
2:00hrs. 3. Simple hard ware faults and its corrections.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
2:30hrs. 4. Maintain and care a PC system  Lecture, explanation ,discussion
& demonstration
Evaluation 3:00hrs. Group work and written exam
Summary 2:30hrs. Wrap-up and feedback Discussion
Resources  TTLM Markers Papers
 Handouts Computers LCD, Projector
Prepared by: __________________________________ Checked By: ___________________________

8
 Session Plan-4
Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer
LO. 4 Operate a printer.
Session Objectives At the end of this session the learners shall be able to:
.
 Data from a personal computer is displayed on printed output media based on instructions
 Identify simple printer hardware faults and remedy printer relate error message according to manuals
Activities Nom.
Dur
Contents Learning Methods
Introduction 30min. Revising previous lesson and relating it to the daily lesson  Lecture
Body 1.00hrs. 1. Ways of Printer documents.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
2:00hrs. 2. Printer hardware faults  Lecture, explanation &discussion
Evaluation 2:20hrs. Group work and written exam
Summary 1:30hrs. Wrap-up and feedback Discussion
Resources  TTLM Markers Papers
 Handouts Computers LCD, Projector
Prepared by: __________________________________ Checked By: ___________________________

9
 Session Plan-5
Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer
LO. 5 Apply ergonomic principles for safe operation.
Session Objectives At the end of this session the learners shall be able to:

 ExplainErgonomicprinciples in terms of user physical well-being.

 Explain ergonomic requirements in terms of environment.
Activities Nom.
Dur
Contents Learning Methods
Introduction 30min. Revising previous lesson and relating it to the daily lesson  Lecture
Body 1.00hrs. 1. Ergonomic principles.  Lecture, explanation &discussion
Evaluation 2:30hrs. Group work and written exam
Summary 2:00hrs. Wrap-up and feedback Discussion
Resources  TTLM Markers Papers
 Handouts Computers LCD, Projector
Prepared by: __________________________________ Checked By: ___________________________

10
TVET Information Sheet Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
LOGO Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Lo1. Identify the functions of PC hardware components.

Introduction
Computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user and
processes it under the control of set of instructions (called program), gives the result (output),
and saves it for the future use.
Contents
1. Basic concepts of Computer and its functions.
2. Components of hardware and its functions.

Basic concepts of Computer and its functions.

Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross terms:

• Takes data as input.

• Stores the data/instructions in its memory and use them when required.

• Processes the data and converts it into useful information.

• Generates the output

• Controls all the above four steps.

Definition Computer is an electronic data processing device which accepts and stores data input,
processes the data input, and generates the output in a required format.
Following list demonstrates the advantages of computers in today's arena.
1) High Speed
• Computer is a very fast device.

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• It is capable of performing calculation of very large amount of data.
• The computer has units of speed in microsecond, nanosecond, and even the picosecond.
• It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as compared to man who will spend
many months for doing the same task.
2) Accuracy
• In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate.
• The calculations are 100% error free.
• Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy provided that correct input has been given.
3) Storage Capability
• Memory is a very important characteristic of computers.
• A computer has much more storage capacity than human beings.
• It can store large amount of data.
• It can store any type of data such as images, videos, text, audio and many others.
4) Diligence
• Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness and lack of concentration.
• It can work continuously without any error and boredom.
• It can do repeated work with same speed and accuracy.
5) Versatility
• A computer is a very versatile machine.
• A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done.
• This machine can be used to solve the problems related to various fields.
• At one instance, it may be solving a complex scientific problem and the very next moment it
may be playing a card game.
6) Reliability
• A computer is a reliable machine.
• Modern electronic components have long lives.
• Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.
7) Automation
• Computer is an automatic machine.

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• Automation means ability to perform the given task automatically.
• Once a program is given to computer i.e., stored in computer memory, the program and
instruction can control the program execution without human interaction.
8)Reduction in Paper Work
• The use of computers for data processing in an organization leads to reduction in paper work
and results in speeding up a process.
• As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required, the problem of maintenance
of large number of paper files gets reduced.
9)Reduction in Cost
• Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high but it substantially reduces the
cost of each of its transaction.
Following list demonstrates the disadvantages of computers in today's arena
1)No I.Q
• A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to perform any task.
• Each instruction has to be given to computer.
• A computer cannot take any decision on its own.
2)Dependency
• It functions as per a user’s instruction, so it is fully dependent on human being
3)Environment
• The operating environment of computer should be dust free and suitable.
4)No Feeling
• Computers have no feelings or emotions.
• It cannot make judgement based on feeling, taste, experience, and knowledge unlike a human
being.

Components of hardware and its functions.

Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a computer i.e. the components
that can be seen and touched.
Examples of Hardware are following:
Input devices -- keyboard, mouse etc.
Output devices -- printer, monitor etc.
Secondary storage devices -- Hard disk, CD, DVD etc.

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Internal components -- CPU, motherboard, RAM etc.

 Input Devices

Following are few of the important input devices which are used in a computer:

• Keyboard , Mouse, Joy Stick, Light pen, Track Ball, Scanner, Graphic Tablet, Microphone,
Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR), Optical Character Reader(OCR), Bar Code Reader, Optical
Mark Reader(OMR)

1) Keyboard

Keyboard is the most common and very popular input device which helps in inputting data to the
computer. The layout of the keyboard is like that of traditional typewriter, although there are
some additional keys provided for performing additional functions.

Keyboards are of two sizes 84 keys or 101/102 keys, but now keyboards with 104 keys or 108
keys are also available for Windows and Internet.

2) Mouse

Mouse is most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control device having a small
palm size box with around ball at its base which senses the movement of mouse and sends
corresponding signals to CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.

Generally it has two buttons called left and right button and a wheel is present between the
buttons. Mouse can be used to control the position of cursor on screen, but it cannot be used to
enter text into the computer.

Advantages of Mouse

• Easy to use,not very expensive,moves the cursor faster than the arrow keys of keyboard.

3) Track Ball

Track ball is an input device that is mostly used in notebook or laptop computer, instead of a
mouse. This is a ball which is half inserted and by moving fingers on ball, pointer can be moved.

14
Since the whole device is not moved, a track ball requires less space than a mouse. A track ball
comes in various shapes like a ball, a button and a square.

4) Scanner

Scanner is an input device which works more like a photocopy machine. It is used when some
information is available on a paper and it is to be transferred to the hard disc of the computer for
further manipulation. Scanner captures images from the source which are then converted into the
digital form that can be stored on the disc. These images can be edited before they are printed.

5) Digitizer

Digitizer is an input device which converts analog information into digital form. Digitizer can
convert a signal from the television or camera into a series of numbers that could be stored in a
computer. They can be used by the computer to create a picture of whatever the camera had been
pointed at. Digitizer is also known as Tablet or Graphics Tablet because it converts graphics and
pictorial data into binary inputs. A graphic tablet as digitizer is used for doing fine works of
drawing and image manipulation applications.

6) Microphone

Microphone is an input device to input sound that is then stored in digital form. The microphone
is used for various applications like adding sound to a multimedia presentation or for mixing
music.

7) Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR)

MICR input device is generally used in banks because of a large number of cheques to be
processed every day. The bank's code number and cheque number are printed on the cheques
with a special type of ink that contains particles of magnetic material that are machine readable.
This reading process is called Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR). The main
advantages of MICR is that it is fast and less error prone.

8) Bar Code Readers

Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded data (data in form of light and dark
lines). Bar coded data is generally used in labelling goods, numbering the books etc. It may be a

15
hand held scanner or may be embedded in a stationary scanner. Bar Code Reader scans a bar
code image, converts it into an alphanumeric value which is then fed to the computer to which
bar code reader is connected.

 Output Devices

Following are few of the important output devices which are used in a computer.

• Monitors

• Graphic Plotter

• Printer

 Monitors

Monitors, commonly called as Visual Display Unit (VDU), are the main output device of a
computer. It forms images from tiny dots, called pixels that are arranged in a rectangular form.
The sharpness of the image depends upon the number of pixels.

 Printers

Printer is an output device, which is used to print information on paper. There are two types of
printers: Impact Printers and Non-Impact Printers

Summery
Basic concepts computer is an electronic data processing device which accepts and stores
data input, processes the data input, and generates the output in a required format.
Its functions are:-

• Takes data as input.

• Stores the data/instructions in its memory and use them when required.

• Processes the data and converts it into useful information.

• Generates the output

• Controls all the above four steps.

Computers have advantages and disadvantages

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 Advantages of computersare: - High Speed, Accuracy, StorageCapability, Diligence,and
Versatility,Reliability, Automation, Reduction in Paper and work reduction in Cost

Disadvantages of computers are:-No I.Q,Dependency,Environment, and No Feeling

Hardware componentsare:-
 Input devices -- keyboard, mouse etc.
 Output devices -- printer, monitor etc.
 Secondary storage devices -- Hard disk, CD, DVD etc.
 Internal components -- CPU, motherboard, RAM etc.

Self-check
TVET Self-check Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
LOGO Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Answer the following questions on your own paper.

Questions

The trainee should answer the following questions

1. What isComputer?
2. Write five functions of any digital computer?
3. What are advantages of computers?
4. What is hardware represents?
5. What are hardware components?

Answer key
1. Computer is an electronic data processing device which accepts and stores data input,
processes the data input, and generates the output in a required format.
2.Five functions of any digital computer are :-
• Takes data as input.

17
 • Stores the data/instructions in its memory and use them when required.
• Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
• Generates the output
• Controls all the above four steps.
3.Computers advantages are:-
 High Speed
 Accuracy
 Storage Capability
 Diligence
 Versatility
 Reliability
 Automation
 Reduction in Paper Work
 Reduction in Cost
4.Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a computer i.e. the
components that can be seen and touched
5.Hardware components are following:
 Input devices -- keyboard, mouse etc.
 Output devices -- printer, monitor etc.
 Secondary storage devices -- Hard disk, CD, DVD etc.
 Internal components -- CPU, motherboard, RAM etc.

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TVET Information Sheet Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
LOGO Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Lo2. Understand operation of the system and application software.

Introduction
An electronic device that stores, retrieves, and processes data, and can be programmed with
instructions. A computer is composed of hardware and software, and can exist in a variety of
sizes and configurations.

The software is the instructions that makes the computer work. Software is held either on your
computer’s hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD or on a diskette (floppy disk) and is loaded (i.e. copied)
from the disk into the computers RAM (Random Access Memory), as and when required.

Contents

1.Purposes and operations of software system.

2. Application of software

1. Purposes and operations of system software.

System Software
 programs controlling the operation of the computer and devices
 Starting application programs
 Transferring data between devices
 Resides in the memory (copied from the disk into the memory- loaded)
System Software examples
Operating system
 Coordinates all communication between hardware devices
 Resides in the STORAGE device
 Needs to be loaded in the memory every time the computer is turned on (Stays in the
memory until?)
 Tells the computer hardware/software how to operate:
What input/out put devices are there
Definition of Operating System: “An Operating system is a program that controls the execution
of application programs and acts as an interface between the user of a computer and thecomputer

19
hardware.” A more common definition is that the operating system is the one program running
at all times on the computer (usually called the kernel), with all else being applications programs.

An Operating system is concerned with the allocation of resources and services, such as memory,
processors, devices and information. The Operating System correspondingly includes programs
to manage these resources, such as a traffic controller, a scheduler, memory management
module, I/O programs, and a file system.

Following are some of important functions of an operating System

• Memory Management

• Processor Management

• Device Management

• File Management

• Security

• Control over system performance

• Job accounting

• Error detecting aids

• Coordination between other software and users

All computer systems have an operating system. Currently, there are three dominate typical user
operating systems.

o Macintosh OS,

o Microsoft Windows OS,

o Linux.

Application software
An application program is the type of program that you use once the operating system has been
loaded.
Examples include word-processing programs, spreadsheets and databases.

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  Word processing applications
 Microsoft Word
 Lotus Word Pro
 WordPerfect
 Spreadsheets
 Microsoft Excel
 Lotus 123
 Database
 Microsoft Access
 Lotus Approach
 Payroll
 Sage software
 Presentation tools
 Microsoft PowerPoint
 Lotus Freelance
 Desktop publishing
 Abode Photoshop
 Multimedia applications
 Microsoft's Encarta CD-ROM based encyclopedias

Summery

 An application program is the type of program that you use once the operating system has
been loaded
 An Operating system is a program that controls the execution of application programs
and acts as an interface between the user of a computer and the computer hardware.” A
more common definition is that the operating system is the one program running at all
times on the computer (usually called the kernel), with all else being applications
programs.

Self-check

TVET Self-check Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer

LOGO Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Answer the following questions on your own paper.

Questions

The trainee should answer the following questions

1. What is operating system mean?

21
 2. Currently, there are three dominate typical user operating systems. What are they?
3. Following are some of important functions of an operating System

A. Memory Management B. Processor Management C. A & B D. None

4. What is an application program?

Answer key
1. Operating system is a program that controls the execution of application programs and
acts as an interface between the user of a computer and the computer hardware.
2.They are -
a. Macintosh OS,
b. Microsoft Windows OS,
c. Linux.
3.CA & B
4. Application programis the type of program that you use once the operating system has been
loaded.

TVET Information Sheet Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer

LOGO Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Lo3. Perform basic operation and maintenance procedures.

Introduction
This section of Module is designed to empower the Community development Workers to take
care of minor computer problems. Without the knowledge here, many lab managers will end up

22
letting computers sit idle that could be easily put back into service, or paying for expensive
repairs that could have been handled locally. There will still be times when computers fail and
need to be sent out for repair by an expert
Contents
1. Connecting Pc system.
2. Basic keyboarding skills.
3. Simple hard ware faults and its corrections.
4. Maintain and care a PC system

Connecting Pc system

Step 1. Connect the keyboard and mouse

These days, all keyboards and mice connect to a USB port. Even if they're wireless, there will
still be a receiver which plugs into one (or possibly two) USB ports.

The USB cable looks like this:

The plug will fit only into a matching USB port on your PC. If there's a choice between black or
blue USB ports, use the black ones. Blue ones use the new USB 3.0 standard, which is best
reserved for fast storage devices such as hard drives and USB flash drives.

23
Ideally, plug your keyboard and mouse into USB ports at the back of your PC rather than the
front.

You might see green and purple connectors (below) on your PC for the keyboard and mouse:
these are the old PS/2 standard and aren't used these days.

Step 2. Connect the monitor

Monitors use a variety of standards to connect to PCs, but the main ones are: VGA, DVI and
HDMI.

There's also DisplayPort, which looks a bit like HDMI, but that's still rare.

24
If there's a choice, use DVI or HDMI. VGA is best avoided as it isn't a digital connection. Your
monitor may have come with only a VGA cable (below) but might have DVI and HDMI inputs
as well. If this is the case, you should buy an HDMI or DVI cable and merely use the VGA cable
as a temporary measure.

Below is an HDMI cable, and can send both video and audio to a monitor.

Some monitors with HDMI don't have built-in speakers, and might only have a headphone
output. Generally it's best to connect separate speakers to your PC (see below).

This is a DVI cable, and sends only video from the PC to the monitor.

If your monitor has only a VGA input, but your PC doesn't have a VGA output, you will need a
VGA-to-DVI converter. They look like this:

25
You should find one has been supplied with your PC, but if not, they are inexpensive to buy.

When connecting the video cable to your PC, be sure to connect it to the right output. Some PCs
have two graphics cards - one that's built-in and a separate one that's on a plug-in card (PCI
Express).

If this is the case, you want to connect the monitor to the PCI Express graphics card, which will
be located separate to the other connectors on the back of the PC.

The general rule is to plug your monitor into the lowest possible port.

Step 3. Connect the network

Unless your PC has built-in Wi-Fi, you'll need to connect a network cable to get internet access.
This is a network cable.

26
This is the socket into which you need to plug it:

If your PC doesn't have wireless networking and isn't close enough to your broadband router,
you might need to buy some power line networking (HomePlug) adaptors.

Step 4. Attach speakers and microphone

Most PC speakers connect via a standard 'minijack' cable which has the same 3.5mm connector
as most headphones. Connect your speakers to the green minijack output on the rear of your PC.

27
Most PCs will have three minijack outputs, since they can produce surround sound. If you have
surround-sound speakers - also known as 5.1 - they should have colour-coded connectors. Green
is for the main left and right speakers, orange is for the center speaker and subwoofer, and black
is for the rear (surround) left and right speakers.

A pink minijack connector is for a microphone. Light grey is for side speakers in a 7.1-channel
speaker system. There may also be green and pink connectors on the front panel of your PC, to
which you can connect headphones and a microphone respectively.

Step 5. Connect power to PC and monitor

Virtually all PCs and monitors use the standard 'kettle' lead connector for power.

28
Typically you'll need two power cables, one for the PC and one for the monitor. Some monitors,
however, have an external power supply, so you won't plug the kettle lead directly into the
monitor.

Once both the PC and monitor are connected to the mains, ensure any switches are set to the I
position, rather than O and then press the power buttons on the front of  both devices and your
new PC should spring into life.

Basic keyboarding skills.

Keyboard Height: upper arms should not have to extend very far forward to reach the keyboard
or the mouse. The forearms should be approximately parallel to the floor when keying. There
should be no more than a very slight reach up or down. If the keyboard is too low, your
shoulders and arms will become tired.
Distance from the Keyboard: one hand-span. Hand-span tells you how far you should sit
away from your keyboard. If you sit too far away, you will not be able to reach the keys above
home row. If you sit too close, you will not be able to reach the keys below home row.
Positioning Yourself: feet flat on the floor. They help balance your body for keyboarding.
Crossing your ankles or knees puts a strain on your spine. Sit up straight to keep your spine

29
straight and comfortable as well as provide balance. Elbows in will help keep fingers positioned
on the home row.
Wrist Position: slightly curve your fingers as they rest on the home row keys. Don’t raise your
palms so much that your wrists arch. Maintaining proper wrist position helps avoid fatigue in
your hands. If you wrists rest on your keyboard, this will cause you to make typing mistakes.
Eyes on Copy: just like a driver keeps his eyes on the road, you will make fewer mistakes if you
learn to keep your eyes on what you want to type.
Fingers Anchored: rest your fingers on the home row keys. When you reach for a key on the
top or bottom row, remember to bring your fingers back to the home row position.
Lighting and Your Eyes: people tend to stare at the computer screen without blinking. Make
sure you blink while at the computer to minimize your risk of dry-eye syndrome. Adjust the
height and angle of the monitor (if possible) for comfortable viewing and to reduce screen glare.

A Typical PC Keyboard: keyboards will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but generally
have four areas: Function Keys, Typewriter Keys, Cursor Control Keys, and Numeric Keypad.

Function Keys: these keys are assigned a special task or function. Here is a sample of common
function keys and associated tasks.
F1 Get Help or visit Microsoft Office Online

30
F5 Find and replace
F7 Choose the Spelling command (Review tab)
F8 Usually used with LCD projector/dual monitor device.
F10 Show Key Tips
F12 Choose the Save As command (Microsoft Office Button)
F keys are also used in combination with the Shift, Alt, and Ctrl keys. (For a list of Function
keys and combination commands, click Help feature of your program. Enter shortcut keys. Click
Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Office.)
Typewriter Keys: letters, numbers, and punctuation keys. Additional keys include the space
bar, shift key (for capital letters and top symbol on keys), and Caps Lock key for a series of
capital letters. Press the Enter key to begin a new paragraph in a word processor program
(alsothe same as clicking the OK button in a dialog box) The Spacebar separates a series of
letters and/or numbers into Standard English text.
Cursor Control Keys: also called arrow keys, which move your text cursor in the direction of
the arrow.
Numeric Keypad: similar to a calculator for entering numbers and doing mathematical
operations quickly and easily. (You may also have a calculator shortcut key on your keyboard.)

31
32
Menu key - The key's symbol is a small icon depicting a cursor hovering above a menu. The
key's primary function is to launch a context menu with the keyboard rather than with the right-
mouse button.

33
Simple hard ware faults and its corrections.
Transient faults are a huge concern in silicon-based electronic components, such as SRAM,
DRAM, microprocessors, and FPGA. Those are devices that have a well-documented history of
transient faults mainly caused by energetic particles.
An important obstacle for safety critical systems to achieve maximum reliability is represented
by the susceptibility of those systems to faults produced by radiation. In addition, as
manufacturing technologies evolve, the effects of ionizing radiation become a primary concern.
Due to the reduction in size of the transistors and the reduction in critical charge of logic circuits,
the susceptibility of technologies to information corruption is increasing [1–3]. Collisions of
particles with sensitive regions of the semiconductor can change stored information in
ROM/RAM and lead to logic errors, for example, in processor circuits. In this context, single
event upsets (SEU) are effects induced by the strike of a single energetic particle (ion, proton,
electron, neutron, etc.) in the semiconductor.
Traditionally, two different types of techniques have been used to mitigate upsets: fault
avoidance, and fault tolerance techniques. Fault avoidance techniques, usually at the device
level, such as silicon on insulator or hardened memory cells, usually involve IC process changes.
These techniques have drawbacks in terms of cost, chip area, and speed of operation.

Most computers come installed with a program that allows a user to scan the hard disk for faults
and even repair them if possible. On many Windows computers there is a program called
Scandisk, found in StartAll ProgramsAccessories System Tools  Scandisk. Another
option is to run a program called Chkdsk, available on all Windows computers. To run Chkdsk,
go to Start My Computer and then right click on the image for the C: drive. Select
Properties and then click on the Tools tab. Under Error Checking, click Check Now. The
computer may require the check to happen while restarting the computer and if so will schedule
this task to occur.

Maintain and care a PC system

4.1 Protect Your Computer from Damage

34
Like any kind of equipment, your computer requires care and maintenance to run smoothly. A
number of factors can cause damage to your computer's hardware (the physical parts inside the
computer) or media (storage devices like CD-ROMs and hard drives):

 Extreme heat, cold, or humidity can cause physical damage to a computer's internal
components or media (external and internal).
 Electrical or magnetic fields can damage computers and media. Sources of magnetic
fields include magnets, motors, speakers and televisions.
 A damaged cable will prevent the computer from communicating with input or output
devices.
 Dust can damage hard drives and floppy disk drives and can prevent computers from
cooling properly.

As you know, computers require electricity to operate. As such, problems can arise when there
are power outages and power irregularities (called power spikes or power surges). If the power
goes out while a file is open, the computer will shut off and all changes to the file since the last
time you saved will be lost. Power spikes are sudden surges of increased electricity that usually
occur when the power comes back on after an outage. They can also be caused by atmospheric
conditions (such as lightning) in buildings with poor or defective wiring. Power spikes can cause
physical damage to many of the components of your computer, especially the hard drive.

4.2 Troubleshooting

There are several common problems you are likely to experience with a computer at some point.
More serious problems like hard drive failures or malfunctioning monitors (monitors which do
not display or display incorrectly) are not as widespread as they once were, but difficulties with
hardware devices like printers and scanners are still common. Often the device is not plugged in
or turned on, or it is not connected to the computer correctly. Sometimes the device itself is not
set up properly. Below are some simple hardware troubleshooting tips:

 Make sure the power is on to the device. Most computer equipment will have a power
light or even a display screen.
 Make sure devices that need external power sources are plugged in.

35
  Check the connections to the device.
 Check the connections to the computer.
 Make sure all cables are in good condition.
 Verify the setup of the device.
 Make sure the computer is set up to work with the device.

Troubleshooting computer problems can be a difficult task. Fortunately, there are some basic
steps you can follow to help solve many computer-related issues. The following exercise will
provide you with an example of how these steps may work in a real-world situation. Imagine that
you are trying to print out a report, but there are problems with the printout.

4.3 Cleaning the Mouse and Keyboard

Poor maintenance is often the cause of many hardware problems. If a mouse becomes dirty, it
will not track smoothly. When a keyboard is contaminated with food particles (usually caused
when people eat at their desks) the keys become “sticky,” meaning they do not spring back up
immediately after you press them. Dust particles (including paper dust) cause printers to jam and
smear your printouts. Keeping these and other devices well maintained will make them work
better and last longer.

There are several simple things you can do to help maintain your computer.

 Regularly clean the keyboard and mouse.

 Clean the printer of any dirt or dust to prevent jamming.
 Carefully remove any paper jams. Damaging the printer will make it jam more often and
decrease print quality.

While there is a lot that you can do to your computer to keep it running smoothly, there are some
maintenance activities that should only be performed by an experienced professional. These
include:

 Replacing or upgrading internal components of the computer.

 Repairing physical damage to peripheral equipment.
 Re-routing or adding electrical connections.

36
The activity below will help you learn the steps to clean your mouse and keyboard. Keeping a
clean work area will help prolong the file of your computer hardware, and will reduce the
amount of routine cleaning needed to maintain them. Important: Get your teacher's permission
before disconnecting any input device or cleaning any part of your computer. For this activity,
you will need cotton swabs, a lint-free cloth, rubbing alcohol, and compressed air.

1. If you are using an optical mouse, all you need to do is make sure the exterior of the
mouse is clean.
2. If you are using a mechanical mouse, disconnect it from the computer.
3. Turn the mouse upside down and remove the plastic ring that holds the ball in place.
There are usually arrows that tell you in which direction to turn the ring.
4. Remove the ball and check for lint on the ball and inside the mouse.
5. Use a cotton swab and a small amount of rubbing alcohol to clean the rollers inside the
mouse. Clean the mouse ball with a swab.
6. Allow the mouse and ball to dry before reassembly.
7. Clean your mouse pad and the area of your desk where the mouse will be used.
8. To clean your keyboard, first turn off your computer.
9. Disconnect the keyboard from the computer.
10. If you have a can of compressed air, spray between all of the keys.
11. Turn the keyboard over and gently shake out the crumbs and dust.
12. Use a cotton swab and a small amount of rubbing alcohol to clean between the keys.
13. Use a damp lint-free cloth (water is fine) to wipe the keys.
14. Allow the keyboard to dry before connecting it to your computer.
15. Clean the area around your keyboard to keep dust away from your keyboard.

Maintaining Your Hard Drive

If you do not regularly take the time to organize your desk, it will become harder and harder to
find what you need. Just like your desktop, your hard disk will become cluttered if you do not
take the time to organize it. Poorly organized files will lead to a decrease in the performance of
your computer. It will take longer to locate the files you need. Keeping a clean and organized

37
hard disk will result in better system performance. The easiest way to do this is to delete unused
or temporary files regularly.

A variety of utility programs are available to help keep your computer safe and running without
errors. Some are supplied with the Windows operating system, others are available for free, and
some are available for purchase.

 Defragmentation software like Diskeeper or the one supplied with the Windows
operating system gather files into one area on the hard disk to make searching faster.
 Disk Compression programs like Virtual Drive and FarStone are designed to minimize
the amount of space used by files on the computer.
 Disk Scanning programs like ScanDisk (supplied with the Windows operating system)
check for and attempt to repair errors on the hard disk.
 Firewall software like ZoneAlarm and BlackICE keep others from accessing the computer
through the Internet.
 Spyware Detectors like Spybot SP and BPS Spyware Detector check and remove spyware
programs that send information from the computer to the Internet.
 Virus Detection software like Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan detect and remove
potentially damaging viruses from the computer.

Defragmenting your hard disk is an important part of maintaining your computer. The activity
below will guide you through the steps to analyze and defragment your hard disk. Note:
Analyzing and defragmenting can take some time (from several minutes to several hours). Make
sure you have enough time to perform this activity before you start. Also, make sure to have the
permission of your teacher before beginning this activity.

1. On the Windows taskbar, click start, then navigate to All Programs, then Accessories,
then System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
2. The Disk Defragmenter dialog window .

38
 The Disk Defragmenter window

3. Click Defragment now.

4. When defragmentation is complete, click Close.

Summery
Connecting Pc system properly withsteps- Step 1. Connect the keyboard and mouse, Step 2.
Connect the monitor, Step 3. Connect the network, Step 4. Attach speakers and microphone,
Step 5. Connect power to PC and monitor

Basic keyboarding skills

Keyboard Height: upper arms should not have to extend very far forward to reach the keyboard
or the mouse. The forearms should be approximately parallel to the floor when keying. There
should be no more than a very slight reach up or down. If the keyboard is too low, your
shoulders and arms will become tired.
Distance from the Keyboard: one hand-span. Hand-span tells you how far you should sit
away from your keyboard. If you sit too far away, you will not be able to reach the keys above
home row. If you sit too close, you will not be able to reach the keys below home row.
Positioning Yourself: feet flat on the floor. They help balance your body for keyboarding.
Crossing your ankles or knees puts a strain on your spine. Sit up straight to keep your spine
straight and comfortable as well as provide balance. Elbows in will help keep fingers positioned
on the home row.

39
Wrist Position: slightly curve your fingers as they rest on the home row keys. Don’t raise your
palms so much that your wrists arch. Maintaining proper wrist position helps avoid fatigue in
your hands. If you wrists rest on your keyboard, this will cause you to make typing mistakes.
Eyes on Copy: just like a driver keeps his eyes on the road, you will make fewer mistakes if you
learn to keep your eyes on what you want to type.
Fingers Anchored: rest your fingers on the home row keys. When you reach for a key on the
top or bottom row, remember to bring your fingers back to the home row position.

Lighting and Your Eyes: people tend to stare at the computer screen without blinking. Make
sure you blink while at the computer to minimize your risk of dry-eye syndrome. Adjust the
height and angle of the monitor (if possible) for comfortable viewing and to reduce screen glare

Simple hard ware faults and its corrections.

Transient faults are a huge concern in silicon-based electronic components, such as SRAM,
DRAM, microprocessors, and FPGA. Those are devices that have a well-documented history of
transient faults mainly caused by energetic particles.

An important obstacle for safety critical systems to achieve maximum reliability is represented
by the susceptibility of those systems to faults produced by radiation

Maintain and care a PC system other ways poor maintenance is often the cause of many
hardware problems. So toprotect your computer from damage and care from

Extreme heat, cold, or humidity, Electrical or magnetic fields, Adamaged cable, Dust

Self-check
TVET Self-check Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
LOGO
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Answer the following questions on your own paper.

Questions

The trainee should answer the following questions

40
 1. How to protect your computer from damage?
2. What is cause of many hardware problems?

Answer key
1.

A. prevents the computer from communicating with input or output devices.

B. prevents computers from cooling properly.

C. Regularly clean the keyboard and mouse.

D. Clean the printer of any dirt or dust to prevent jamming.

E. Carefully remove any paper jams

2. Poor maintenance

TVET Information Sheet Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer

41
LOGO Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Lo4. Operate a printer.

Introduction
Printer is an output device, which is used to print information on paper.
There are two types of printers:
• Impact Printers
• Non-Impact Printers
Contents
1. Ways of Printer documents.
2. Printer hardware faults

1.Ways of Printer documents.

A) Impact Printers
The impact printers print the characters by striking them on the ribbon which is then pressed on
the paper.
Characteristics of Impact Printers are the following:
• Very low consumable costs
• Very noisy
• Useful for bulk printing due to low cost
• There is physical contact with the paper to produce an image
These printers are of two types: Character printers and Line printers
Character Printers
Character printers are the printers which print one character at a time.
These are further divided into two types: These are Dot Matrix Printer (DMP) and Daisy Wheel
2) Dot Matrix Printer
In the market one of the most popular printers is Dot Matrix Printer. These printers are popular
because of their ease of printing and economical price. Each character printed is in form of
pattern of dots and head consists of a Matrix of Pins of size (5*7, 7*9, 9*7 or 9*9) which come
out to form a character that is why it is called Dot Matrix Printer.
 Advantages

42
• Inexpensive
• Widely Used
• Other language characters can be printed
 Disadvantages
• Slow Speed
• Poor Quality
3) Daisy Wheel
Head is lying on a wheel and pins corresponding to characters are like petals of Daisy (flower
name) that is why it is called Daisy Wheel Printer. These printers are generally used for word-
processing in offices which require a few letters to be sent here and there with very nice quality.
 Advantages
• More reliable than DMP
• Better quality
• The fonts of character can be easily changed
 Disadvantages
• Slower than DMP
• Noisy
• More expensive than DMP
4) Line Printers
Line printers are the printers which print one line at a time.
These are of further two types
• Drum Printer
• Chain Printer
5) Drum Printer
This printer is like a drum in shape so it is called drum printer. The surface of drum is divided
into number of tracks. Total tracks are equal to size of paper i.e. for a paper width of 132
characters, drum will have 132 tracks. A character set is embossed on track. The different
character sets available in the market are 48 character set, 64 and 96 characters set. One rotation
of drum prints one line. Drum printers are fast in speed and can print 300 to 2000 lines per
minute.
Advantages

43
• Very high speed
Disadvantages
• Very expensive
• Characters fonts cannot be changed
6) Chain Printer
In this printer, chain of character sets are used so it is called Chain Printer. A standard character
set may have 48, 64, or 96 characters.
 Advantages
• Character fonts can easily be changed.
• Different languages can be used with the same printer.
 Disadvantages
• Noisy
B) Non-impact Printers
Non-impact printers print the characters without using ribbon. These printers print a complete
page at a time so they are also called as Page Printers.
These printers are of two types
• Laser Printers
• Inkjet Printers
Characteristics of Non-impact Printers
• Faster than impact printers.
• They are not noisy.
• High quality.
• Support many fonts and different character size.
1) Laser Printers
These are non-impact page printers. They use laser lights to produce the dots needed to form the
characters to be printed on a page.
Advantages
• Very high speed
• Very high quality output
• Give good graphics quality
• Support many fonts and different character size

44
Disadvantages
• Expensive.
• Cannot be used to produce multiple copies of a document in a single printing.
2) Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are non-impact character printers based on a relatively new technology. They print
characters by spraying small drops of ink onto paper. Inkjet printers produce high quality output
with presentable features.
They make less noise because no hammering is done and these have many styles of printing
modes available. Colour printing is also possible. Some models of Inkjet printers can produce
multiple copies of printing also.
Advantages
• High quality printing
• More reliable
Disadvantages
• Expensive as cost per page is high
• Slow as compared to laser printer

2.Printer hardware faults.

Problem: Printing is too slow.

Solution: Rev up printer performance--and save ink in the process--by reducing print quality for
everyday output. While printer settings vary by model, here's how to switch to draft-printing
mode in most Windows apps. Select Print and Properties, and then look for a setting that
reduces print quality. With the HP Photosmart 8450, for instance, change the default print quality
setting from Normal to Fast Draft (click screen-shot at right). Other speedup suggestions: Print
pages from websites without graphics, and add RAM to your printer, if possible. Read "Speed
Up Everything" for more tips.

Problem: Ink and/or toner costs too much.

45
Solution: PC World has written a lot about the printing industry's sneaky practices over the
years. To wit: They snare you with dirt-cheap printers sold at or below cost, and then stick it to
you later with ultra-pricey consumables.

Based on our tests, we can't recommend third party vendors' remanufactured or refilled ink
cartridges, which may not give you your money's worth. One cost-saving solution is to buy
higher-capacity cartridges. If you print a lot, try an ink cartridge with a 250-plus page yield, or a
toner cartridge with a 2,000-plus page yield.

Problem: Windows is sending print jobs to the wrong printer.

Solution: For some mysterious reason, Windows may select a new default printer--the one it
automatically sends print jobs to. (This happened to me when I upgraded from Vista to Windows
7.) To fix this glitch in Windows 7, click Start (the Windows icon in the lower-left corner of the
screen) and select Devices and Printers. Under Printers and Faxes, right-click the printer you
want to make the default, and select Set as default printer.

Summery
 Printer is an output device, which is used to print information on paper.
 In the market one of the most popular printers is Dot Matrix Printer. These printers are
popular because of their ease of printing and economical price. Each character printed is
in form of pattern of dots and head consists of a Matrix of Pins of size (5*7, 7*9, 9*7 or
9*9) which come out to form a character that is why it is called Dot Matrix Printer.

Self-check
TVET Self-check Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
LOGO
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Answer the following questions on your own paper.

Questions

The trainee should answer the following questions

1.Write characteristics of Impact Printers?

2.Explian advantagesof Dot Matrix Printer?
3. Which of the following isthe most popular printers?

46
 A. Dot Matrix Printer B. Impact Printers C. Daisy Wheel D. Line Printers
4. Explain disadvantages Drum Printer?

Answer key
1.

• Very low consumable costs

• Very noisy
• Useful for bulk printing due to low cost
• There is physical contact with the paper to produce an image
2.
o Inexpensive
o Widely Used
o Other language characters can be printed
3. A. Dot Matrix Printer
4.
 Very expensive
 Characters fonts cannot be changed

47
TVET Information Sheet Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
LOGO Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Lo5. Apply ergonomic principles for safe operation.

Introduction

To a large extent the above standard still applies, but there have been significant advances in the
field of ergonomics since 1990, as per the graphic here.

Consideration should be given to the:

 accessories required to operate properly

 layout of equipment on the desk
 Location of furniture in the room.

Content

1. Ergonomic principles.

1.Ergonomic principles.

Keyboards

Place the keyboard in a position that allows the forearms to be close to the horizontal and the
wrists to be straight. That is, with the hand in line with the forearm. If this causes the elbows to
be held far out from the side of the body then re-check the work surface height.

Some people prefer to have their wrists supported on a wrist rest or the desk. Be careful not to
have the wrist extended or bent in an up position.

Chairs

48
Adjust the seat tilt so that you are comfortable when you are working on the keyboard. Usually,
this will be close to horizontal but some people prefer the seat tilted slightly forwards.

Your knees should be bent at a comfortable angle and greater than 90º flexion. If this places an
uncomfortable strain on the leg muscles, or if the feet do not reach the floor, then a footrest
should be used. The footrest height must allow your knees to be bent at 90º; the height of the
footrest may need to be adjustable.

Adjust the backrest so that it supports the lower back when you are sitting upright. A range of
chairs is available.

Phones

Avoid cradling the phone between your head and shoulder when answering calls. If you need to
use your computer at the same time, use a headset or the phone's hands-free/speaker-phone
capabilities if the environment is suitable.

Monitors

Set the eye-to-screen distance at the distance that permits you to most easily focus on the screen.
Usually this will be within an arm's length.

Set the height of the monitor so that the top of the screen is below eye level and the bottom of the
screen can be read without a marked inclination of the head. Usually this means that the centre of
the screen will need to be near shoulder height. Your eyes should be level with the tool bar.

People who wear bifocal or multi-focal lenses will need to get a balance between where they see
out of their lenses and avoid too much neck flexing. The height of the monitor can be adjusted
using a monitor riser.

Document holder

Place the document holder close to the monitor screen in the position that causes the least
twisting or inclination of the head.

49
Desks

Adjust the height of the work surface and/or the height of the chair so that the work surface
allows your elbows to be bent at 90º, forearms parallel with the floor, wrist straight, shoulders
relaxed.

Place all controls and task materials within a comfortable reach of both hands so that there is no
unnecessary twisting of any part of the body. Most people prefer the document holder to be
between the keyboard and the monitor. There are many different types of document holders
available.

Lighting, glare and reflection

Lighting

Place the monitor to the side of the light source/s, not directly underneath. Try to site desks
between rows of lights. If the lighting is fluorescent strip lighting, the sides of the desks should
be parallel with the lights. Try not to put the screen near a window. If it is unavoidable ensure
that neither the screen nor the operator faces the window.

If the monitor is well away from windows, there are no other sources of bright light and
prolonged desk-work is the norm, use a low level of service light of 300 lux. If there are strongly
contrasting light levels, then a moderate level of lighting of 400-500 lux may be desirable.

Glare and reflection

It is important to detect the presence of glare and reflection. To determine whether there is glare
from overhead lights, sit down and hold an object such as a book above the eyes at eyebrow level
and establish whether the screen image becomes clearer in the absence of overhead glare.

To detect whether there are reflections from the desk surface, hold the book above the surface
and assess the change in reflected glare from the screen.

You can eliminate or reduce the influence of these reflections in a number of ways:

50
  Tilt the screen (top part forwards) so that the reflections are directed below eye level.
 Purchase an LCD screen.
 Cover the screen with a light diffusing surface or anti-glare screen.
 Negative contrast screen (dark characters on light background) will reduce the influence
of these reflections.

If you experience eye discomfort when using a bright screen you should make the following
adjustments:

 Turn the screen brightness down to a comfortable level.

 Look away into the distance in order to rest the eyes for a short while every 10 minutes or
so.
 Change the text and background colours. We recommend black characters on white or
yellow background, or yellow on black, white on black, white on blue and green on
white. Avoid red and green and yellow on white.

Using a mouse

A well-designed mouse should not cause undue pressure on the wrist and forearm muscles. A
large bulky mouse may keep the wrist continuously bent at an uncomfortable angle.

Pressure can be reduced by releasing the mouse at frequent intervals and by selecting a slim-line,
low-profile mouse. Keep the mouse as close as possible to the keyboard, elbow bent and close to
the body.

Keyboard equipment and radiation

Computer screens emit visible light that allows the characters on the screen to be seen. Weak
electromagnetic fields and very low levels of other radiation that are not visible to the human eye
can be detected by sensitive instruments. Similar emissions are produced by television receivers.

The levels of most radiations and electromagnetic fields emitted from computers are much less
than those from natural sources, such as the sun or even the human body, and are well below

51
levels considered to be harmful by responsible expert bodies such as the International Radiation
Protection Association (IRPA).

Posture while typing

Good posture is essential for all computer users. You should adopt a natural and relaxed position,
providing opportunity for movement, from which you can assume a number of alternative
positions.

 There is no single, rigidly defined position.

Typing technique

Typing is a physical activity, and using a keyboard requires skill, hence the need to learn correct
typing technique. Unskilled ('hunt and peck') typists are particularly at risk of "occupational
overuse injury" because they:

 often use only one or two fingers which may overload the finger tendons
 are constantly looking from keyboard to screen to keyboard, which may strain neck
muscles
 often adopt a tense posture (wrists bent back and fingers 'poised to strike').

The University acknowledges the importance of learning correct typing technique. Departments
should ensure that untrained staff receive appropriate training.

Speed of keying

The efficiency and speed of modern computers makes it possible for a skilled operator to type
extremely quickly. This capability, reinforced by workload pressures, means the potential exists
for operators to key at speeds which may cause or contribute to occupational overuse syndrome.

The role of the repetitive movement in injury is not fully understood, but is believed to interfere
with the lubrication capacity of tendons, and the ability of muscles to receive sufficient oxygen
supplies.

52
Ten thousand to 12,000 keystrokes per hour is considered an acceptable standard.

Length of time on the keyboard

The maintenance of a fixed posture for long periods is tiring and increases the likelihood of
muscular aches and pains. In addition, long periods of repetitive movement and sustained visual
attention can also give rise to fatigue-related complaints.

It is recommended that operators take regular postural/stretching breaks to reduce intense periods
of repetitive movement.

Employees newly engaged in keyboard work, and staff returning from an absence of two or more
weeks, need a period of adjustment. The adjustment may be achieved through reduced work
rates, or provision of alternative duties with a gradual reintroduction to keyboard work.

Jobs should be designed and organized so that either:

 Computer-related tasks can be interspersed with non-computer related, or

 Computer based tasks can be rotated amongst several staff (task/job sharing).

It is not the change of task per se, but the change to using different movements and postures that
is important. The whole purpose of task variety is to give the overloaded structures a necessary
break.

Supervisors should ensure that workload controls are exercised using the following strategies:

 planning ahead to avoid peaks, and rushed jobs

 delegating fairly to all staff not just the best workers
 considering the total workload of the individual (often comes from a number of sources)
 clearly defining each operator's workload
 implementing systems of prioritization such as work request forms and waiting lists
 using relief staff
 applying strict tests to the use of 'urgent' labels
 discouraging 'endless' drafts

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  discouraging the use of typed internal minutes and memoranda
 encouraging authors to have realistic expectations
 teaching authors keyboard skills
 teaching operators how to be assertive, and how to prioritize
 supporting operators when authors impose unrealistic expectations
 refusing illegible drafts.

Posture and environment

Change your posture at frequent intervals to minimize fatigue. Avoid awkward postures at the
extremes of the joint range, especially the wrists.

Take frequent short rest breaks rather than infrequent longer ones. Avoid sharp increases in work
rate. Changes should be gradual enough to ensure that the workload does not result in excessive
fatigue.

After prolonged absences from work the overall duration of periods of keyboard work should be
increased gradually if conditions permit.

Summery
 Ergonomic principles is it depends to the following points:

Keyboards, Chairs, Phones, Monitors, Document holder, Desks, Lighting, glare and reflection,
Using a mouse, Keyboard equipment and radiation, Posture while typing

Self-check
TVET Self-check Unit of Competence: Operate Personal Computer
LOGO
Module Title: Operating Personal Computer

Answer the following questions on your own paper.

Questions

The trainee should answer the following questions

1. What is an ergonomic principle of keyboards?

2. --------is essential for all computer users.

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 3. What is an ergonomic principle of document holder?
4. Supervisors should ensure that workload controls are exercised using the
following strategies
A. planning ahead to avoid peaks, and rushed jobs
B. delegating fairly to all staff not just the best workers
C. discouraging 'endless' drafts
D. All

Answer key
1. Place the keyboard in a position that allows the forearms to be close to the
horizontal and the wrists to be straight
2. Good posture
3. Place the document holder close to the monitor screen in the position that causes
the least twisting or inclination of the head.
4. D.All

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References
1. Jerome Casey,”Computer Hardware: Hardware Components and Internal PC
Connections”Dublin Institute of Technology, jerome.casey@dit.ie, 2015
2. Computer Fundamentals for Teachers , Major Competencies

3. Basic Computer Operation and Troubleshooting

4. SeemaSirpal, “Basic computer concept”, Delhi University
Computer Centre
5. How to MakeYour Computer Workstation Fit You, published by the Workers’ Compensation
Board of BritishColumbia.

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