Computer Science Tutorial

 

COMPUTER SCIENCE

TOPIC:  ALPHANUMERIC KEYS

IDENTIFICATION OF ALPHANUMERIC KEYS

Alphanumeric keys: These are used for typing letters, numbers and notations into the computer. The various keys in the alphanumeric keys are:

1. Letter keys: The letter keys (A-Z) work like the typewriter. When the letter keys are pressed alone, the lower case type appear on the screen. When the keys are pressed while holding down the shift key, the upper-case letter are produced. 
2. Spacebar key: The spacebar key adds a blank space between characters and it is the longest key on the keyboard.
3. Number keys: The number keys (0-9) work like those on a typewriter. When any of these keys are pressed, the number appears on the screen. When you hold down the shift key and press the number, the upper symbol labelled on the key appears.
4. Symbol keys/notation keys: the symbol keys have two symbols on them. The lower symbol is produced when the key is pressed alone while the upper symbol is produced when the key is pressed while holding down the shift key. Examples of the symbol keys are #, $, %, (, ), [, ] e.t.c.
5. Caps lock keys: it is used to type in upper case letter/capital letter.
6. Shift key: it is used in combination with another key to type an uppercase letter. There are basically two shift keys on the keyboard.
7. Enter key: it shows the end of a line or entry.
8. Backspace key: It moves the cursor one space backward on the screen each time it is pressed. It delete a character or word from the back
9. Tab key: It causes the cursor on screen to move a set of spaces.

Exercise                                    

1. Cap lock keys is used for ————–
2. List five examples of notation keys.
3. Which key is the longest key on keyboard?

Assignment

Practice on how to type with your keyboard.

CORRECT FINGER POSITION ON THE HOME KEYS

The four finger excluding the thumb of the left hand are placed on “asdf” while the four fingers of the right hand are placed on “; Lkj” and are called home keys. Hence, try to master the keyboard to know the positions of the keys, and then type without looking at the keyboard but the copy.

CORRECT FINGER MOVEMENT ON THE HOME KEYS

After placing the fingers on the home keys, the finger should strike a key at a time to avoid key jam. The two little fingers are used to strike the guide keys (a & ;). The remaining finger on the left except the left and right thumb are used to strike “sdf” while the rest finger on the right hand are used to strike “Lkj”.

Exercise

1. Try to master the keyboard to know the positions of the keys.

Assignment

1. What is basic service key?
2. Give two examples of basic service keys