Klara & Dori: Computer Use F.A.Q. 101

[x-squirrel.livejournal.com]

While working on her blog instead of her homework, Dori gets approached by Klara to instruct her in the use of computers.

Doreen was inside for the moment, in the common room. She sat on the couch with her laptop on its name sake working on a post for her blog. Her non-school related blog. She didn't think many people here knew about that one, but that was okay. She doubted very many people would get into it. It was just her rambling about comics, being a mutant and teenager. She didn't think it was anything overly special, but it was something to do and something she could work on.

Something that wasn't homework was always a bonus. Monkey Joe watched her type from his perch on top her head. This was almost contentment.

It had occurred to Klara that learning how to use a computer was probably important, given that many people typed up their assignments rather than printing them out by hand. Her handwriting was tidy enough that people could read it without a problem the vast majority of the time, but it would be tidier if she could type it out. There was also the fact that if she ever decided to apply to college, professors expected work to be typed.

"Pardon me, Doreen," she said quietly as she walked into the room. She was using a portable computer and didn't appear to be working on an assignment, but one never knew. "Am I interrupting your work?"

Doreen looked up and smiled at the new girl brightly, not caring that it showed off her bucked teeth a bit, "Nope. I'm not working on my homework right now," which wasn't to say that it was DONE or anything. This was a brain break. She could handle her blogging better than school work. "Did you want to sit down? I can put on a movie or something," Doreen said, as Monkey Joe turned around to stare quizzically at Klara.

Sure, Doreen hadn't talked to the new girl much, but that wasn't any reason to say they weren't friends.

"Actually...I was hoping that you would please show me how to use a computer," said Klara. It sounded odd, and most kids her age were quite accustomed to them, but she had no idea how to use one. "I grew up in an Amish community and never learned to use one, and I thought it would help with schoolwork."

People seemed to have fun with them, too. Although she preferred books and gardening and making sweets, she thought she might be able to find something she liked as well. She heard people talking about how just about everything was on the internet. She also wanted to surprise Joseph by sending him an email one day.

"Oh, totally!" Doreen said, "If you want to sit down I can go over the basics with you. Those are really easy," she said. "Did you want to know just how to write stuff or how to use the internet too?" she asked, smiling, "Oh, and games! There are lots of games!"

"Well, school would be the most important reason for learning," Klara reasoned, "but I would like to learn how to use the internet and play some games, too. Well, not the violent ones, but I am sure there would be at least a few games I might like."

She especially wasn't interested in any of those games where the female characters appeared to be mostly naked, but those games tended to also be violent from what she had seen.

"Um... you might like Tetris maybe...? Or Animal Crossing...." Doreen said. It was hard to think of very many games that didn't have some form of violence.

"I have never heard of either of those," said Klara honestly. "But I will try them if you think I might enjoy them. For now, though, if you could just show me the basics of how to use a computer so I will not break one by accident, I would appreciate it."

"One's a puzzle game. The other is... kinda hard to describe. But it's animals, in houses, growing stuff, kinda," Doreen said. It was the type of game she would've played when she was a little kid. Like when she had been into Pokemon Snap!. "But yeah, it's really easy. First you have to turn it on. On the school computers that's this button right here," Doreen said, pointing, "If you get yours I can show you how it works. It won't take you long at all to figure it out."

"I will be back in a minute or two," said Klara, going to retrieve her computer. She hadn't even touched it as of yet, so she was glad that she'd be able to get a bit of help.

True to her word, she returned in roughly two minutes with everything that she thought she'd need. She brought the laptop, and she brought the plug that came along with it.

Plunking down beside Doreen, she inquired, "So, what are we going to start with, first?"

"First, I'll plug it in for you," Doreen said happily, quickly doing so after snapping her laptop shut. She had told the couple people she was talking too over AIM that she'd be back later.

"Let's open it up," Doreen said, carefully opening Klara's laptop. Likely the other girl's computer wasn't treated to be pretty much completely claw proof. Which is why she had changed from her old laptop (that had been ancient anyway!) to the school's one. "Now, press that button. And if it's the first time it's going to want you to set up your user name and stuff. Mine's Squirrel," she said happily.

"User name?" Klara questioned, confusion apparent in her tone of voice and facial expression. "What is a user name?"

"It basically tells the network who you are. It can be anything you want," Doreen said, "It's what logs you into the journals and stuff," she explained, "I picked Squirrel because I like Squirrels. Some people use their names. So, pick something and a password, that's kinda like a key so only you can use your computer, and we'll go from there."

Klara thought about it for a moment, then slowly typed in the word "rosebud" for her username. She wasn't sure what to put in for her password at first, then finally settled on her date of birth. It was easy enough to remember.

"What now?" she asked.

"Okay, now we need to get your journal stuff all set up, but that's easy. You're doing really great so far," Doreen said and pointed to the desk top, "Those little pictures are icons. They stand for the different programs the computer has. Click that one twice, quickly, to open it," she said pointing to the journal one.

It took a couple of tries to click on it correctly since it was Klara's first time ever using a computer, but eventually, she did it right and the program opened.

"Is this the program I would use to do my homework?" the chloropath inquired.

"Well, no... Not exactly," Doreen said, "But the teachers will post stuff on their journal from time to time about class stuff so it's still good to check. And you can talk with everyone like this and maybe introduce yourself. So you don't have to go around saying hi to everyone in person. I think people would like that. I mean, everyone kind of wants to know more about you," Doreen said, "But in a good way. Not in a bad sort of gossipy way. If you click here, you'll minimize the program. What you want for most of your homework is called 'Word' and it's a word processor... um, kind of like an electronic notebook you can type in. It even checks your spelling. OH! And before I forget, they have a screen saver set up on your computer too, so after like five minutes your screen will go dark, but the computer hasn't turned off. It's just to save power when you're not using it. Touching the mouse pad here," she pointed to the square, "will turn it back on and ask for your password. It's like giving the computer a nap."

Klara giggled softly at the idea of a machine needing a nap like a small child would. "It gets tired?"

She did take in what Doreen was explaining, though. She'd have to try things out for herself, but mostly she was able to follow along and understand. She supposed she could always use a manual, and ask where needed. There were enough people who were aware of her Amish background that people probably wouldn't treat her questions as stupid if she happened to ask about something she didn't understand.

"I suppose if they can get sick, they can get tired...I have heard that computers can get viruses. I overheard someone complaining about their computer getting a virus."

Doreen paused for a long moment. She had to repress her urge to burst out laughing, "Um... they do but it's not like people getting sick. See, a computer will only do what you tell it to," she explained, "So some people tell it to do things that they shouldn't and are bad. That's what a virus is. And it doesn't really get tired, it's just the monitors take up a LOT of energy. So it's best to make sure they turn off from time to time, even if your computer is still running." In the end, at least, Klara was bright and a quick study. It wasn't nearly as bad as Dori feared it could be.