by Tammie (Wed Sep 16, 2009)
I stand
behind my husband trying not to smack him upside the head. My patience is
growing thinner than a mangy dog's fur as I show him how to navigate a web site.
It can't be THAT hard, can it? As he stumbles over the dialogue boxes and
double clicks where he shouldn't, I try to understand that maybe he doesn't
know some basic things, but I still want to yank the mouse out of his hand as
he fumbles his way into the next dialogue box.
Like many
people he is self-taught (or non-taught). He never learnt much more than how to
move the cursor, type, and then press the ‘Return' key. These methods are okay,
but it's like using a screwdriver instead of a drill to hang a picture - it
will work, but it's not efficient.
If this
sounds suspiciously like you, then making a few adjustments to how you get
around a web site and learning some easy tricks, will make your web surfing go
much smoother.
1. Learn
the lingo.
The thing you open to surf the web is called a Browser
and the company that hooks you up is your Internet Provider. These are not
interchangeable. The spot at the top of your browser where words mix with
dots and slashes is the Address Bar. Each screen of a web site
(if I have to define web site how did you get here?) is a Page. Little areas you type
information to within a web site are Dialogue Boxes.
2. Interpreting
Symbols.
At the top of your browser, near the address bar
are some symbols to make your life easier (no, trust me). An arrow facing
left is the back button that takes you to previous pages you visited. An
arrow facing right takes you to the page you left to go back. The symbol
of a house takes you back to your Home Page - the page that loads initially when
you open your browser. Other helpful symbolism - if when you go over a button,
words, or picture your cursor becomes a hand you've found a Link
to another page. Caution: sometimes a link will take you places you don't
want to go, so don't go clicking willy-nilly to see if your mouse works.
3. I Want to Go Back Again and
Again.
A Bookmark is a time-saver (to make up for all
that time you waste on the Internet). If you are on a web site you go to
frequently - a local news site, your bank, or Powder Room Graffiti - simply go
up to the Menu
Bar (the words like File, View, and Help at the very top of your
browser) to ‘Bookmark' then ‘Bookmark This Page.' When you want to go back to
the web site simply click on ‘Bookmark' then click on the name of the web site
you want from the dropdown menu. (The words for these actions may differ
with each browser).
4. Speaking of Clicking.
This seems to be a never-ending problem for newbies.
A single
click is exactly that - one click of the left button (some mouses
have no buttons, just press the mouse body). A single click is used most
often on web sites. As a warning I'm going to say to never double click on
any ‘Send' or ‘Confirm' (or similar) button because you may end up sending
something twice and this includes payments if you are buying something. Click
Once and Only Once on links. So when do you double click (pressing the left
button twice very quickly)? While you have to double click on your
browser icon to open it, double clicking is rarely used while on the
Internet. The only time that comes to mind is when clearing dialogue boxes
- double click on a word you don't want and it can be deleted with one hit of
the backspace button. The triple click (ooh, fancy) will highlight EVERY
word in a dialogue box or the address bar for quick and easy deletion.
5. Tab.
Not the nasty soft drink, but the quickest way to
navigate multiple dialogue boxes. Rather than move your hand away from the
keyboard to the mouse each time you're going to a new box, use the Tab
button. This moves your cursor to the next box and allows you to keep
typing. Occasionally, the tab will put you on a link (don't worry, you'll
be able to tell) just keep tabbing until you get to the next dialogue box.
6. Scrolling Around.
There's a slider thingie on the side of your
browser that will move you up and down (Scrolling) the web page you're on, but if
you're using a laptop and need to move the slider using the touchpad, it can
get a bit frustrating (especially for those of us watching you try to do
it). Make use of the arrow and/or Page Up/Page Down buttons on your keyboard. Much
easier and faster and it keeps your hands on the keyboard rather than fumbling
for the mouse. If your page isn't going anywhere, use the mouse once to
click somewhere on the page except on a link. You should then be able to
keyboard scroll like crazy.
These
basic tips will quicken your surfing and hopefully save your partner or
children loads of teeth-gnashing moments.
