Seniors Event at the Library

  FRANKSTON SENIORS FESTIVAL
  OCTOBER 3 - 14

Technology - Where do I start?


Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Join this information session to give you advice and guidance when purchasing technology such as computers or mobile phones.
 
Venue: Frankston Library, 60 Playne Street, Frankston (Melway Ref: 100A D8)
Time: 10:00am
Cost: Free
 
 
For more information: 

http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Aged_Services/Activities_Events_and_Awards/index.aspx

File Formats

A file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.
Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for different kinds of information. Within any format type, e.g., word processor documents, there will typically be several different formats. Sometimes these formats compete with each other.
File formats are divided into proprietary and open formats.
Generality
Some file formats are designed for very particular sorts of data: PNG files, for example, store bitmapped images using lossless data compression. Other file formats, however, are designed for storage of several different types of data: the Ogg format can act as a container for many different types of multimedia, including any combination of audio and/or video, with or without text (such as subtitles), and metadata. A text file can contain any stream of characters, encoded for example as ASCII or Unicode, including possible control characters. Some file formats, such as HTML, Scalable Vector Graphics and the source code of computer software, are also text files with defined syntaxes that allow them to be used for specific purposes.
Identifying the type of a file
A method is required to determine the format of a particular file within the filesystem—an example of metadata. Different operating systems have traditionally taken different approaches to this problem, with each approach having its own advantages and disadvantages.
Of course, most modern operating systems, and individual applications, need to use all of these approaches to process various files, at least to be able to read 'foreign' file formats, if not work with them completely.

References:

Wikipedia
The Computer School

Memory storage

Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components and recording media that retain digital data. Data storage is one of the core functions and fundamental components of computers.
In contemporary usage, memory usually refers to semiconductor storage random-access memory, typically DRAM (Dynamic-RAM). Memory can refer to other forms of fast but temporary storage. Storage refers to storage devices and their media not directly accessible by the CPU, (secondary or tertiary storage) — typically hard disk drives, optical disc drives, and other devices slower than RAM but more permanent.[1] Historically, memory has been called main memory, real storage or internal memory while storage devices have been referred to as secondary storage, external memory or auxiliary/peripheral storage.
Many different forms of storage, based on various natural phenomena, have been invented. So far, no practical universal storage medium exists, and all forms of storage have some drawbacks. Therefore a computer system usually contains several kinds of storage, each with an individual purpose.
A digital computer represents data using the binary numeral system. Text, numbers, pictures, audio, and nearly any other form of information can be converted into a string of bits, or binary digits, each of which has a value of 1 or 0. The most common unit of storage is the byte, equal to 8 bits. A piece of information can be handled by any computer whose storage space is large enough to accommodate the binary representation of the piece of information, or simply data. For example, using eight million bits, or about one megabyte, a typical computer could store a short novel.
Traditionally the most important part of every computer is the central processing unit (CPU, or simply a processor), because it actually operates on data, performs any calculations, and controls all the other components. The CPU consists of two (2) main parts: Control Unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The former controls the flow of data between the CPU and memory whilst the latter is used for performing arithmetic and logical operations on data.

References:

Wikipedia
Microsoft Help

MARCH 2011 - Email

Email electronic mail. The service that allows you to send messages and more all over the world in most cases instantaneously.

Every email user will have their own email address. An email address is made up of three parts.

1 – An ID (e.g. janedoe31)

2 – An @ symbol

3 – Details about where the email account is with (e.g. Yahoo.com.au)



There are a number of free Web-based email accounts you can sign up for. For example:

Yahoo
Hotmail
Gmail



Email electronic mail. The service that allows you to send messages and more all over the world in most cases instantaneously.

Every email user will have their own email address. An email address is made up of three parts.

1 – An ID (e.g. janedoe31)

2 – An @ symbol

3 – Details about where the email account is with (e.g. Yahoo.com.au)



There are a number of free Web-based email accounts you can sign up for. For example:

Yahoo
Hotmail
Gmail

*What are the basic rules?
How you use Internet communication tools will leave an impression on others. Although we all make the occasional typographical error now and then, misspelling every other word you type can be irritating to others if they have to constantly try to figure out what it is you're saying.

There are some basic netiquette rules that you should follow:

Use sentence case - that is the normal combination of upper and lower case letters used in sentences. When you capitalise words you are yelling and NO ONE LIKES TO BE YELLED AT! On the other hand, typing in all lower case is considered to be mumbling.

Keep your messages short and to the point. For many Internet users, time is money, keeping messages short means they will download faster.

Do not use abusive, racist or offensive terms. Remember the Internet is a public place, accessed by millions everyday and what may seem quite tame to you may offend others.

When first entering a chat room, it is a good idea to just simply type the word 'hello' and then wait and read the conversation for a few minutes. This gives you an idea as to what the current conversation is about, before you start adding your own comments.

Always stick to the subject of the newsgroup. People join a newsgroup because the topic interests them, they don't want to read off unrelated topic postings.

Be forgiving of others' mistakes. If someone makes a mistake, do not bombard them with messages about the mistake.

The written word can easily be misunderstood. Use emoticons to display emotions.

* Source http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/intotheinternet