Page 13 - Computer Basics- Student Textbook

The Screen resolution shows you the number of monitors you have connected to your computer (you can connect
up to three monitors at one time) and display the resolution of each monitor. Monitors can display various
resolutions. Monitors are measured in inches, diagonally from side to side (on the screen). ... A
computer monitor is made of pixels (short for "picture element"). Monitor resolution is measured in pixels, width
by height. 640 x 480 resolution means that the screen is 640 pixels wide by 480 tall, an aspect ratio of 4:3. For HD
(high definition) video the two common pixel resolutions are 1440x1080 and 1920x1080. 1440x1080 equates to a
4:3 frame aspect ratio and 1920x1080 equates to a frame aspect ratio of 16:9.

The more pixels that a monitor can display, the crisper the image will appear. In fact, some monitors and TVs are
able to display in 4K UHD (ultra-high density) which has a considerably higher resolution than 1080 HD video. 4K
has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 while HD consists of 1920 x 1080 pixels. 4K or UHD is four times as sharp as HD
quality, but of course, comes at a cost. Tech fans crazy for sharper resolution are sometimes paying for more pixels
than their eyes can actually see. ... The number of pixels is quadrupled for 4K TVs or monitors, but experts say that
in most cases, the human eye cannot even perceive the difference. So, don’t pay for something that you cannot
see!

Back to setting your screen resolution. If you lower your resolution, the objects on your screen will get larger.
Most monitors like to run at a fixed resolution which normally will be displayed as “recommended.” For the most
part, you want to run your monitor resolution at its recommended resolution.

In the personalize popup, you can change the background image that you see on the desktop. Perhaps you want a
picture of your girlfriend or wife on the screen, or your family, or your dog or a scenic picture that you took. You
can select a theme that the authors have created, or you can select your own picture by selecting Desktop
Background at the bottom of the popup. In the display section, you can adjust the size of images on your desktop
WITHOUT altering your screen resolution (recommended). Windows allows you so change from 100% size to 125%
or 150% (for those who need glasses to read their desktop images). You can adjust the brightness of your screen or
connect it to a projector. It is here that you control the display of all images on your desktop.

THE KEYBOARD AND MOUSE
Keyboard Commands

In order to use your computer effectively, you must interact with it using both the mouse and the keyboard. The
above image of a keyboard may closely resemble (if it is not identical to) the keyboard in front of you; learning the
function of just a few keys will help you to interact better with your computer and individual programs. The
following is a list of commonly used keys that have special functions (keep in mind that key functions can change
depending on which program you are using):

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