Tutorial 1: Introduction to Computers/ Introduction to Windows Operating System

1. Use the Library/Internet to write a short note for the following:

a) Definition of Computer, Information Technology and Information Systems. List
at least three definitions of each.
b) History of transistors, looking specifically at their impact on development of
computers. Make a note on Moore’s Law
c) Look up at the history of computers – year, key inventors etc.
d) Look-up at the History of Windows Operating System. Find out the name of some
other popular operating systems. Try to find some data on the market share of
Windows operating system and some of its key competitors in both areas: PCs
and Servers
e) Research and compare the capabilities and costs of Linux and the most recent
version of Windows Operating System for Server.

2. Getting Familiar with Windows Operating System

a) Explore the various start-up and shut-down options
b) Explore the interface of the Windows Operating System: Start Button, Desktop,
Desktop Properties, Taskbar, Icons and Folders (My Computer, My Documents,
Recycle Bin etc.), System Tray
c) Determine the hardware configuration of your system – Microprocessor, Hard
Disk Capacity, Hard Disk Partitions, Monitor Resolution and Color Capability
d) Check the Availability of Main Programs and Software Packages on you machine
and list them as per the categories discussed in class.
e) Identify as many icons as you can in your system, and the program file associated
with them. Make a list. [Enable viewing of file extensions, if required]
f) Create a directory for storing tutorial files. [Always mail a copy/take backup]
g) Create a shortcut on the desktop for the same
h) Change the icon of the directory and shortcut
i) Explore “Searching for files and folders”, “Delete and Restore”
j) Check if you have drivers for printer, pdf printer, scanner installed on your
machine

Tutorial 2: Basic Internet Services/ Tools

3. Using the Internet for personal productivity, team collaboration and interaction
with instructors
a) Open an e-mail account for official purpose (if not having already)
b) Register yourself in the yahoo/google group of your class

c) Creating a team website using Google Sites (https://sites.google.com/) or a

team blog
d) Emailing the website address to others including your instructors.
e) Upload your tutorial/assignment on the website and inform your instructors

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Tutorial 3: Office Packages (September 26, 2010)

a) Which version of Microsoft Office is installed in your PC?

b) What are the different programs and tools available in the MS Office
installed on your machine?

c) Look through the history of Microsoft Office at Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office

d) Look through the menus of the three popular MS Office packages – MS

Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint and make a note of functionalities that
are similar and different in all the three.

e) With due permission from the concerned person, download and install
OpenOffice in one or two computers in your lab. (http://www.openoffice.org/)
Making a list of applications available in the particular version. Try to do one
or two assignments of your tutorial in open office.

f) To get an idea of development through open source look through

http://projects.openoffice.org/index.html

g) Explore Google Docs by attempting one or two tutorial assignments in it.

You can look through the help videos uploaded on YouTube to get started.

h) Write a short note on your comparative experience of using Microsoft

Office, Open Office and Google Docs. Which interface was most convenient?

i) Search the Internet for MS Office Vs Open Office Debate. On your team’s
website, add a link to the article you found most informative. In your opinion,
which software did reviewers rate higher?

j) Which MS Office software is similar to Google Docs? Search the Internet

for MS Office Vs Google Doc Debate. On your team’s website, add a link to
the article you found to be most useful. Also post your
observations/comments.

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Tutorial 4: Basics of Internet and WWW (September 26, 2010)

a) Checkout the brief history of the Internet, WWW and related technologies at
http://sixrevisions.com/resources/the-history-of-the-internet-in-a-nutshell/

b) Browsers: What parameters are used for bench marking Web Browsers? Name
few popular web browsers and find their Market Share. How can managers make
use of the information about market share of browsers?

c) Which are the most popular search engines? Find their market share and mention
how such information can be useful to manager?

d) Explore and describe in a line the various search options are provided by popular
search engines like google, and bing.

e) Explore the concept of Wikipedia: Look through the entries on Microsoft Office,
Open Office, Google Docs etc.

f) List some of the sites related to social book marking. How can such sites be useful
to students and others? Make an attempt to make use of social book marking.

g) List some of the sites where you can access journal and other scholarly articles?

h) Explore the new web and mobile applications at www.googlelabs.com. Try out
application like Google transliteration (http://www.google.com/transliterate/) and
write you comments.

i) How can sites like wikimap, google map and google earth be useful to individuals
and organizations?

j) How will you download videos uploaded on Youtube and save it for later use? In
which formats can the downloaded videos be saved? Which program will you
need to view the downloaded videos?