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MODULE 1
COMP111 – INTEGRATED COMPUTER APPLICATION
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1.) Learn what a computer is

2.) Identify the elements of a computer system
3.) Know the advantages and disadvantages in using the computer
4.) Identify the people and their inventions that have contributed to the creation of the modern computer
5.) Discover who and where you can use computers
6.) Identify the kinds of computers
7.) Identify the hardware – input and output – components of the computer
8.) Identify the kinds of computer storage and how to take care of them
9.) Discover the different software used by a computer
10.) Learn how to take care of the computer and yourself

LEARNING RESOURCES
Jemma Development Group. (2019). Essentials of Computers (5th ed.).
LEARNING INPUTS

I. Essentials of Computer

1 The Computer

- Electronic hardware device that operates and functions through a

set of instructions called programs stored in its memory
- Works like a human brain
- Receives and accepts data (text, images, sounds, videos), processes
these data to produce an output
1.1 Elements of a Computer System
● People – most important element; they run, operate, build,
improve, write and design programs Figure SEQ Figure \*
Example: programmers, computer engineers, doctors, architects, students, etc. ARABIC 1 Computer
● Software – programs or instructions the computer follows to do its task; its purpose is to process data
into useful information for people
● Hardware – physical components that you can feel and touch
● Data – texts, numbers, sounds, images, and video entered into the computer for processing
● Connectivity – sharing and accessing data through the internet or local connection
● Procedure – step-by-step instructions to follow when using hardware, software, and data
1.2 Advantages of Using the Computer
● Speed – operate on data and commands at an incredibly fast speed
● Storage – store enormous amount of data and information in memory
● Reliability – continue operations without interruption; rarely breakdown but are easily repaired
● Consistency – inputting the same data using same program will give you the same result
● Communication – makes it possible for people to connect with others; information is shared faster and
easier
1.3 Disadvantages of Using the Computer
● Safety and Security – use of other people’s personal information for evil gains: credit card fraud, online
scams
● Health Risks – long and improper use can lead to injuries: eyes, hands, wrists (carpal tunnel syndrome),
necks, and back
● Environment – improper disposal of old computers
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● Use of power – many computers require high electricity which contributes to environmental damage
● Privacy violation – personal information stored in a computer can be viewed and stolen by others
1.4 Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics – Written by Dr. Ramon C. Barquin (1992) in his paper “In Pursuit of
a ‘Ten Commandments’ for Computer Ethics”:
1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm people
2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s files
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness
6. Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid
7. Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization
8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output
9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write
10. Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect

2 History of Computers

2.1 Who built the first computers?

● John Napier (1550-1617) – Scottish mathematician and physicist, invented the Napier’s bones used for
multiplication and long division
● William Oughtred (1575-1660) – English mathematician, invented the slide rule in 1620
● Blaise Pascal – French mathematician, invented the Pascal’s calculator (credited to be one of the earliest
calculators) or Pascaline in 1642
● Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) – German mathematician, created the Step Reckoner, which
contains the Leibniz Wheel, considered as the first mechanical calculator that can perform addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division with fairly good accuracy and speed
● 1.5 Charles Babbage (1792-1871) – English mathematician and mechanical engineer, created the first
mechanical computer: Difference Engine 1, Difference Engine 2, and the unfinished Analytical Engine;
worked with Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) the first computer programmer
● Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752-1834) – French inventor, improved on the idea conceived by French
inventor Jacques de Vaucanson to store information on punched paper or wood
● Thomas Edison (1847-1931) – his work on the light bulb led to the discovery of the vacuum tube by Sir
John Ambrose Fleming (1849-1945, English physicist). American inventor Lee DeForest (1873-1961)
improved on Fleming’s design and the Audion tube was made
● Herman Hollerith (1860-1929) – won the counting contest for the 1890 US census data. Used the idea of
punched cards and invented the card reader. Later on, he formed the company International Business
Machine (IBM)
2.2 The first True Computers
● Tide Predictor (1876) – invented by Scottish Physicist William Thomson; predicted the tide for any given
time
● Differential Analyzer (1930) – built by American professor Vannevar Bush for Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT); both electronic and mechanical and was the first to use the vacuum tube
● Mark 1 (1943) – designed by Harvard professor Howard Aiken and financed by IBM; used by the US Navy
during World War II
● Colossus (1939) – made by a team of English mathematicians and scientist; code name: Ultra; used 2400
vacuum tubes and decoded messages made by the German cipher machine Enigma
● ENIAC (1946) – Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator; built by Dr. John Mauchly and Engineer
Presper Eckert; used 18,000 vacuum tubes
● UNIVAC (1950) – Universal Automatic Calculator; made by Mauchly and Eckert under their new
company and sold to Remington-Rand Company; used by the US Military, US Census, and the US Atomic
Energy Commission; first computer sold to a private company (General Electric)
● IBM 701 (1952) – known as the defense calculator; used magnetic plastic tape as a storage medium
● IBM 650 (1953) – first commercially mass-produced computer; a smaller, lower-cost computer than the
701; used in scientific, engineering to financial applications such as payroll, inventory control, and even
college admissions
● Transistor (1946) – invented by John Barden, William Shockley, and Walter Brittain of AT&T’s Bell
Laboratories; able to do all the functions of the vacuum tube with less cost, size, and power but more
durable; Sony of Japan – first non-US based company to purchase this technology
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● Integrated Circuit (IC) or semiconductor chip (1958) – invented by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby; can
contain several hundreds to millions of transistors; led to the creation of the microprocessor which led
to the development of desktop computers
● Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (1976) – introduced Apple I and Apple II, the latter was able to display
text and graphics in color
● IBM PC (1981) – launched by IBM as their first personal computer; designed around the Intel 8088
microprocessor; this computer introduced PC-DOS (Disk Operating System) from Microsoft

3 Computers All Around Us

- Computers have advanced the human society into a different league. It is used in each and every aspect of
human life. Computers spearhead the human quest of eradicating social problems like illiteracy and poverty. They are
used in applications ranging from diagnosing a disease, designing and constructing a building, launching a space vehicle
and other complex scientific works done by scientists.

3.1 In School – word processing software that automatically corrects spelling and grammar. The use of copy and
paste to type documents easily and be able to print them
3.2 In Education – teachers are able to apply computer-based learning to several schools through online or
distant learning
3.3 In the Field of Research – gathering of tremendous information from different resources in a matter of
seconds
3.4 In the Field of Media – graphic design, film creation
3.5 In the Field of Publishing – creating page layouts for books or magazines
3.6 In the Field of Medicine – software used in magnetic resonance imaging, diagnosing diseases, and surgeries
and storing patient’s important data
3.7 In the Field of Mathematics – calculations of large numbers in a matter of seconds
3.8 In the Field of Banking – software used in ATMs that allows us to withdraw and even deposit cash without a
teller
3.9 In the Field of Travel Agencies and Hotels – hotel, plane and other online ticket reservations
3.10 In Telecommunication – sending and receiving text messages or making calls
3.11 In the Field of Defense – software embedded in many modern weapons to ensure accuracy and precision
3.12 In Malls, Supermarkets, and Online Shopping – barcode scanners, processing of payments through credit
cards or other online payment options like GCash, Paymaya, etc.
3.13 In the Field of Accounting – preparation of financial reports accurately and in a manner of seconds
3.14 In the Field of Sports – simulation software that checks flaws in an athlete’s technique
3.15 In the Field of Aeronautics – pilots train using flight simulation software
3.16 In the Field of Weather Analysts – supercomputers used to analyze and predict weather of the day
3.17 In the Office – Office (Word, Excel, etc.) applications and software used to generate plans and schedule
appointments
3.18 At Home – security and other software used to control your TVs, airconditioners, refrigerators, etc.

4 Types of Computers

4.1 Supercomputers – fastest computers in the world; have very high

processing capacity, speed of calculation, and are able to perform multiple
tasks; used in weather forecasting, climate change, molecular modeling,
quantum physics, nuclear weapons simulation, and many other military and
scientific research requiring heavy calculations Figure SEQ Figure \*

4.2 Mainframe computers – computers manufactured by IBM and are used by

large corporations and organizations for bulk data processing such as bank
transactions, consumer statistics, and large databases

4.3 Servers – main computer in a network serving and connected to several

other computers

4.4 Personal Computers – designed to be operated by an individual whose

size, price, and capabilities are determined by the usual application the
Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 3
person uses it for

● Desktop – set up on a desk or table

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● Nettop – new breed of desktop computers by Intel; usually combined in one case (monitor and CPU)
o Laptop – portable personal computer intended for mobile use
o Desktop replacement – high performance and capacity computers whose screen size is 17” and
larger screens; also called Media Center Laptop or Gaming Laptop
o Standard laptop – common size notebook with screen range of Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 4
13-15”
o Subnotebook – sizes of less than 13” screen size; usually do not
have optical disk drives and reduced number of extension slots for
USB and other connections
o Netbook – small laptop built for both portability and low price;
adequate for basic functions such as surfing the net and standard
office applications; have screen size of 10” and below
Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 5
● Tablet PC – notebook equipped with a touchscreen operated by a digital pen or stylus or fingertip
● Pocket PC – handheld or pocket-sized computer running on Microsoft
Windows Pocket PC edition; may have mobile phone features:
o Windows Mobile Classic (without phone)
o Windows Mobile Professional (with phone and touch screen)
o Windows Mobile Standard (with phone but without touch screen)
● PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) – handheld computer also called palmtop
computers
● Smart phone – mobile phone with additional capabilities such as email and
internet, keyboard, personal organizer, built-in camera, touch screen, ability Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC
to read PDF and Microsoft documents, music, photo, and video viewing

5 Computer Hardware

- Different devices connected to the computer with different tasks; also called peripherals:
● CPU (Central Processing Unit) – called the brain of the computer; follows special commands called
programs – processes the data entered into it using a computer
● Keyboard – used to type or enter data into the computer – a way of telling the computer what to do
● Monitor – allows you to see what the computer is doing – letters, drawings, pictures or movies
● Mouse – pointing device; also used to enter data and commands into the computer
● Speakers – converts electrical signals to sounds
● Printer – prints letters or pictures on paper
● Modem (Modulator-Demodulator) – communication device that allows the computer to receive and
send data and information to and from other computers; connects to the Internet
5.1 What is inside the CPU box?

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 7

Inside a CPU box

● Motherboard – also called system board and the host of the CPU; this is where all parts, components,
and devices connect using a data cable
● CPU – contained in a small chip called a microprocessor; this processes all the basic and complex
instructions
● Memory – where data and programs are placed for execution
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o RAM (Random Access Memory) – main memory where data and

programs are placed for processing; Figure SEQ Figure \*
volatile – information is lost when ARABIC 8 Motherboard and
power is turned off
o ROM (Read Only Memory) – stores important
programs; information stored is not changed or lost even when power
is off
Figure SEQ Figure \* o CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide
Semiconductor) – stores the date, calendar, and current time of the computer; powered by
batteries so that even when the computer is off, information inside it Figure SEQ Figure \*
still remains ARABIC 9 ROM
● Internal storage – where data is kept for future use, e.g. hard disk and SSD (Solid-
State Drives) Figure SEQ Figure \*
● Power supply – source of power
5.2 The Central Processing Unit
● ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) – performs basic calculations: addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division; also logical functions such as comparison of data
● Control Unit – directs what operation the CPU does first
5.2.1 Machine Cycle
- Four basic steps that the CPU repeatedly does to process its operations:
● Fetch – getting a program instruction or data from memory
● Decode – translating instructions or data that the CPU can understand and execute upon
● Execute – carrying out arithmetic or logical operation
● Store – writing the result to memory (registers)
5.2.2 Registers – high-speed data storage; they hold data and instructions temporarily but are transferred
to the CPU for processing at very high speeds
5.2.3 System Clock – generated by a quartz crystal; provides the fixed sequence in them that cannot be
varied
� Clock rate – number of ticks in one cycle measured in gigahertz (GHz): 1GHz is one billion ticks of
the system clock per second
5.2.4 CPU Cooling – needed to ensure that the processor chip is cooled to a level that it operates
efficiently
� Cooling fans
� Heat Sink – metal component attached to the CPU with fins designed to dissipate heat and
therefore cool the processor
� Water Cooling

6 Computer Data Processing – the computer needs input data and

commands from the user to work. These are then processed by
the computer to produce an output and are stored for future use.

● Input – data and commands entered into the computer

● Process – work done by the computer
● Output – result of the data processing
● Storage – data retention
6.1 Data – raw facts or details Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 12 Components of Computer
6.2 Information – processed data
6.3 Four categories of input data/output information:
o Text – numbers and letters
o Graphics – photos, clip arts, and other drawings
o Sound – music, voices, and other types of sounds
o Video – movies, short clips, takes from the video camera and other forms of video

7 Input and Output Devices

7.1 Input Devices – allow users to input data and commands into the computer

● Mouse – pointing device used to choose and open programs and data files

Figure SEQ Figure \*

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o Mechanical – uses a ball under the mouse to detect movement

o Optical – uses light (LED – Light Emitting Diode or Photo diode) as
means to detect movement
o Laser – uses infrared
laser diode to detect
movement
o Trackball – uses a ball,
operated by the thumb,
Figure SEQ Figure \*
housed in a socket to
ARABIC 13 Mouse
detect rotation
Figure SEQ Figure
o Wireless - cordless
● Webcam – allows the user to input pictures/videos
Figure SEQ
● Microphone – allows the user to input sounds/music Figure \* ARABIC
● Joystick – pointing device that pivots around to move in any direction; usually used in video games
● Scanner – scans and copies images and text on a piece of paper and converts them into digital signal
o Barcode reader – used to read barcodes on products sold in
groceries/department stores
o Credit card reader – scans credit cards
o Digitizing tablet or graphic tablet – allows one to draw images by
Figure SEQ Figure \*
hand using a pen
ARABIC 178 Scanner
● Keyboard – converts numbers, letters, and other characters as an input

Figure SEQ Figure \*

ARABIC 187 Keyboard
data or command

7.2 Output Devices – displays information to the user

● Monitor – displays information in the form of text, graphics, or video

o CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) –
vacuum tube with an electron
gun and a fluorescent screen. A
coating of red, green, and blue
are used to form images in the
form of light emitted from the
fluorescent screen
o LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) –
thin, flat display device made of Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 19 CRT and LCD Screen
color pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector
● Printer – produces a permanent/hard copy on paper of information from the computer
o Dot-matrix – functions like a typewriter; prints by hammering or
striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against a paper
o Ink jet – operates by propelling or spraying different sizes of very
small and precise amount of ink onto a paper or other media
o Laser jet – produces high quality prints or graphics on paper;
based on the principle of electrostatic printing and photography;
source of ink is a toner; prints faster than the ink jet and dot-
matrix Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 20
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o Plotter – a vector graphics printing device which operates by

moving a pen over the surface of paper usually for large
printing requirements (billboards, posters, etc.)
o Thermal printers – used in groceries or department stores;
prints faster and quieter
● Speaker – output device for sounds, music, and audio from movies and
computer alerts
● Headphone – small speaker held close to the ears of the user
● Projector – displays computer information on a white big screen usually
Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 21
used in classrooms and conferences

7.3
Input/Output
Devices –
functions as
both input and
output devices
Figure SEQ Figure \*
Figure 23 Projector
● ARABIC 22 Figure SEQ Figure \*
ARABIC
Modem – communication device that allows the computer to receive and send data to and from 24 Modem
computers

● Headset – includes a microphone and headphone

● Touch Screen – a display that can sense the incidence and position of a touch within the screen area and
at the same time displays the information

8 Computer Storage – a means to hold and store data for present and future use

Figure SEQ
Figure \*

8.1 Optical Disc – uses laser technology to store data into a circular plastic or metallic disc accessed by the use of
an optical disk drive (ODD)

● Compact Disc (CD) – most commonly used optical disc with a standard capacity of around 700 MB
(megabytes)
o CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) – CDs with pre-installed data such as music,
movies, and programs that could not be altered and are available only for access or reading
o CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) – a CD where one can permanently store or write data using a
CD writer only once
o CD-RW (Compact Disc-Rewritable) – a CD where data stored can be altered, changed, or erased
● Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) – has a better format and capacity than a CD
o DVD-ROM (DVD-Read Only Memory) – used extensively to distribute movies with a better
quality since a full-length movie can be stored in just one DVD; data stored could not be
changed, altered or deleted
o DVR Recordable - a DVD where one can permanently store or write data using a DVD writer only
once
o DVD-RW (DVD-Rewritable) - a DVD where data stored can be altered, changed, or erased
● Mini CD and Mini DVD – “3-inch CDs or DVDs” that functions just like the
standard CDs and DVDs but of smaller capacity
● Blu-Ray Disc (BD) – new generation optical disc but has higher capacity; uses
laser technology but of a different wavelength (called blue laser which is violet
colored) than the one used in CDs and DVDs
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8.1.1 Care of CDs and DVDs

● Store CDs or DVDs in a plastic case

● Avoid scratching the surface of the disc Figure SEQ Figure \*
● Clean using a soft dry cloth regularly
● Store in a cool dry place
8.2 Hard Disk – consists of one or more rigid metal plates coated with a metal oxide material that allows data to
be magnetically recorded on the surface

● External Hard disk – hard disks with enclosure either made of plastic
or metal usually aluminum

8.3 USB (Universal Serial Bus) Flash Drive – typically removable and rewritable,
physically much smaller than an optical disc; also called thumb drive Figure SEQ Figure \*
ARABIC 28 Flash
8.3.1 Care of flash drives
● Click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on your computer before
carefully removing the flash drive
● Place the cover of the flash drive when not in use
● Keep the flash drive in a cool and dry place
● Do not bend or drop the flash drive
8.4 Floppy Disk – a type of disk storage, used in the past, composed of a thin
and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium
Figure SEQ Figure
9 Computer Software – set of instructions that tell the computer what to do; also known as a program \* ARABIC 27

● System Software – programs the computer uses to manage its resources: printer, keyboard, mouse, and other
devices
o Operating System (OS) – responsible for the coordination, management, and sharing of hardware
resources and tasks in the computer
▪ Windows – developed by Microsoft
● Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista
▪ MacOS – developed by Apple for Macintosh computers
▪ Linux – OS that runs on most computers – a free software that can be downloaded from the
internet
o Utility Software – performs maintenance tasks for the computer resources: Antivirus, Defragmenter
o Device Driver – allows a particular hardware device to work and communicate with the computer
system
● Applications Software – programs that people use for their day to day tasks
o Word Processor – allows the user to create and modify documents, letters, reports, memos, and other
text documents, e.g. Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, OpenOffice Writer, AppleWorks
o Spreadsheet – allows the user to organize, analyze and store data in a tabular form (rows and columns)
where the user can also perform calculations, e.g. Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, OpenOffice Calc,
Lotus Symphony
o Personal Information Manager (PIM) – a program that includes an address book, calendar of
appointments, notes, and other information you want to manage and access when needed, e.g.
Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal
o Presentation software – used to convey information, ideas, messages, or products to a target group of
persons, e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, OpenOffice.org Impress, Apple Keynote, Adobe Persuasion
o Database programs – organizes data and information in a manner desired by the user or in a format for
its convenient recovery and access, e.g. Microsoft Access, FileMaker Pro, MySQL, Oracle, OpenOffice
Base
o Graphics software – programs used for drawing, coloring, and editing pictures, e.g. Microsoft Paint,
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw, OpenOffice Draw
o Video software – programs to create, modify and enhance, add and remove segments and other effects
a user may want to apply to video files, e.g. Adobe Premiere, Apple Final Cut, Microsoft Movie Maker,
Sony Vegas
o Computer Aided Design (CAD) software – optimized for designing of homes, buildings, cars and other
machineries, e.g. AutoCAD, VectorWorks

10 Computer Care and You

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● Position the computer for the user to work safely and efficiently
● Locate them in a cool and dry place with good ventilation
● Well-lighted and spacious place will provide efficient and safe working environment
● A sturdy and stale computer table with the right height is needed for the user to use comfortably
● Maintain cleanliness around the computer, peripherals must be cleaned with a soft dry cloth regularly
o Avoid eating and brining of food and drinks around the computer
o Arrange all things around the computer are so you could reach what you need easily. Metals such as
paper clips may cause short circuit, damage computer parts and cause electric shock to users
o All cables and connectors must be tied up together. Arrange them so that they are tucked at the back of
the computer table. Keeping cables away from walkways and reach will prevent any accidents
● Learn how to handle computers
o Learn to connect the computer peripherals to their proper port or terminals
o Keep your computer in one place only. Moving the computer always could remove some of the parts
inside from its proper place
● Provide stable power supply
o Power supply must be steady – use an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR)
o Learn the power switches of all peripherals
o Turn off or shut down the computer properly to prevent unnecessary data loss or computer malfunction
o Arrange power supply cables, AVR and extension at the back and away from reach to prevent accidental
power interruption or accident
● Listen to your body and take a break
o Prolonged use of computers may make your eyes teary and itchy and your muscles sore or painful
o Take frequent short breaks when you are working long hours in front of the computer
o Blink your eyes every now and then and look into another direction

10.1 Ergonomics – process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the
people who use them; this is to avoid injuries or discomfort in the shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, and eyes

Step 1: Your Chair

● Push your hips as far back as they can go in the chair.

● Adjust the seat height so your feet are flat on the floor
and your knees equal to, or slightly lower than, your hips.
● Adjust the back of the chair to a 100°-110° reclined
angle. Make sure your upper and lower back are
supported. Use inflatable cushions or small pillows if
necessary. If you have an active back mechanism on your
chair, use it to make frequent position changes.
● Adjust the armrests (if fitted) so that your shoulders are
relaxed. If your armrests are in the way, remove them.

Step 2: Your Keyboard

● Pull up close to your keyboard.

● Position the keyboard directly in front of your body.
● Determine what section of the keyboard you use most
frequently, and readjust the keyboard so that section is
centered with your body.
● Adjust the keyboard height so that your shoulders are
relaxed, your elbows are in a slightly open position (100° to
110°), and your wrists and hands are straight.
● The tilt of your keyboard is dependent upon your sitting
position. Use the keyboard tray mechanism, or keyboard
feet, to adjust the tilt. If you sit in a forward or upright position, try tilting your keyboard away from you at a
negative angle. If you are reclined, a slight positive tilt will help maintain a straight wrist position.
● Wristrests can help to maintain neutral postures and pad hard surfaces. However, the wristrest should only
be used to rest the palms of the hands between keystrokes. Resting on the wristrest while typing is not
recommended. Avoid using excessively wide wristrests, or wristrests that are higher than the space bar of
your keyboard.
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● Place the pointer as close as possible to the keyboard. Placing it on a slightly inclined surface, or using it on a
mouse bridge placed over the 10-keypad, can help to bring it closer.

Step 3: Screen and Document

● Centre the screen directly in front of you, above

your keyboard.
● Position the top of the screen approximately 2-3”
above seated eye level. (If you wear bifocals,
lower the screen to a comfortable reading level.)
● Sit at least an arm’s length away from the screen
and then adjust the distance for your vision.
● Reduce glare by careful positioning of the screen.
Position source documents directly in front of
you, between the screen and the keyboard, using
an in-line copy stand. If there is insufficient space,
place source documents on a document holder
positioned adjacent to the screen. Place screen at
right angles to windows
o Adjust curtains or blinds as needed
o Adjust the vertical screen angle and screen controls to minimize glare from overhead lights
o Other techniques to reduce glare include use of optical glass glare filters, light filters, or secondary
task lights

Step 4: Pauses and Breaks

● Take short 1-2 minute stretch breaks every 20-30 minutes. After each hour of work, take a break or change
tasks for at least 5-10 minutes. Always try to get away from your computer during lunch breaks.
● Avoid eye fatigue by resting and refocusing your eyes periodically. Look away from the monitor and focus on
something in the distance.
● Rest your eyes by covering them with your palms for 10-15
seconds.
● Use correct posture when working. Keep moving as much as
possible.
● Exercise your hand by
pushing on top of your
fingers, and using
backward resistance
movements. Do a
minimum of fifteen reps
for each hand at least six
times every day. This
simple exercise will
prevent you from developing carpal tunnel finger problems in the
future. Even if you don’t have any problems right now, you may prevent pain later in life by doing a few
good exercises.