4/17/23

COMPUTER APPLICATION IN
Computer Acquisition and Safety
JOURNALISM
LECTURER: MUKHWANA ERICK
(Bsc.Csc(MUK),PGD I.T(MUK)HCIA AI (Huawei) • Computers, like any other piece of electronic equipment, need special care
HCIA Datacom(Huawei)) and attention in order to perform properly and safely. There are many
tasks that should be done, and caution that should be taken to ensure
Email: eryque7@gmail.com / emukhwana@cis.mak.ac.ug proper working, and safety of all components of the computer system. In
this unit, we shall concentrate on some daily do's and don'ts and
CONTACT: 0702383384 precautions that any one in a computing environment should know.
CONTACT HOURS: Tuesday@5pm ,Friday@5pm, Saturday@1pm

COURSE UNIT : COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Lecture 3
Computer Acquisition and Safety

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A Computer laboratory Management Of Computers And Their

This is a special room/ place where computers are kept and students learn
practical uses for computers from.
The computer laboratory Rules and Regulations
Computer components should be kept dust-free. Avoid smoking and exposing
computers to dust.
• Never try to remove the cover on your computer or touch inside the system
unit. There are many sensitive components. Instead, take it to a qualified
technician.
• Keep all liquids and food items away from your computer.
• Never use your computer during a storm. The computer is connected to
electricity and that means that lightning could be conducted to the
computer. etc
Environments
• After the establishment of the computer laboratory, a number of precautions
should be observed to provide a safe conducive environment for teaching and
learning as seen below:
• Avoid direct sunlight and high Temperatures that may damage hardware
components.
• Always use surge protectors, Uninterruptible Power supply (UPS) or voltage
stabilizers to ensure steady power supply to safeguard their system.
• Protection against fires. A computer room should have fire extinguishers of
carbon dioxide but not water or powder.
• Proper cable installation and placement. Cables should be preferably along
walls, avoiding danger of exposing the user to electric shock
• Burglar proofing avoid unauthorized access to computer room.

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• Fit strong locks, doors, windows
and roofing. Security should be
good around computer room to
avoid thefts.
• Overcrowding of either machines or people should be avoided.
• Always install lightening conductors to the computer laboratory to protect
the machines and the users of the computers.
• Ventilation should be good. Good aeration enables the computer to cool
and hence avoids overheating
• Minimize Electrical noise / interferences in the computer environment.
ELECTRICAL NOISE refers to externally radiated signals that cause
undesirable additions to the current voltage.
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• High Humidity of over 70% may cause rusting of the metallic parts of the
computer system.
• A computer room should have enough light avoid eyestrain, and
headaches.
• Radiation filter screens should be fitted to reduce the light that reaches
the eye.
• Standard furniture: The table on which a computer is placed must be
strong and wide enough to bear the weight and accommodate all the
peripheral devices
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• Electrical noise is commonly generated by devices like Fluorescent lights of
high frequency, Motors, Battery Chargers, Inverters, Radios, television, and
Cell phones.
• Dust control. When setting up the computer laboratory, consider a location
away from excessive dust.
• The room should have special curtains and computers should remain
covered using dust covers when not in use.
• Dump Control: Humidity must be regulated in the computer laboratory to
remain at an optimum 50%.
• Low humidity may cause static electricity to build and damage sensitive
components.
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Maintenance of Computers In Good Working
Conditions
The following measures should always be carried out to keep computers in
good working conditions:
• Regular servicing should be done for hardware and software updates to
ensure proper working conditions of the computers.
• Computers require special cleaning even on the outside including hardware
parts such as the mouse and keyboard to perform correctly
• Always use optimizer utilities that modify programs to make computers to
improve performance and make them to run more quickly.
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• Always use and regularly updated antivirus software. Viruses and worms are
horrible computer-unfriendly programs that can crash your system and
cause damage.
• Avoid Installation Marathons -Sometimes, installing a new program can
cause conflicts within your system.
• It is therefore advisable to use the computer long enough to see how your
system responds to the installation before installing the next program.
• Carry out Disk Defragmentation when necessary.
• A computer is a storehouse for large amounts of data and so, Having a
disorganized computer slows down the processing time.
• Disk Defragmentation organizes files in a way where the computer can
easily access everything.
• Disk Defragmentation is the process in which scattered pieces of individual
files and free space are reorganized and stored in an adjacent manner (next
to each other) on the disk.

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The importance of servicing and Activities involved in servicing and

maintenance of computers regularly maintenance of computers
• To prolong the life span of hardware and software. • Repairing and replacing damaged parts.
• To ensure the proper functioning of the computer. • Upgrading software.
• To update outdated software programs such as antivirus, Operating • Installing power guards/surge protectors.
System, application software.
• Scanning devices before use
• To increase the efficiency of the computer.
• Disk cleaning
• To increase functionality of the computer.
• Emptying recycle bin
• To remove faulty hardware and replace with new ones thus preventing
system failure. • Firewall activation
• Disk defragmentation
• Upgrading software
• Blowing dust off
• Installing software and
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• Covering computers with dust orICTwater proof jackets.
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Tools used in servicing and maintenance of Ways of how computer hardware can be kept
computers safe in a laboratory
• Blower • Burglar proofing the room.
• Screw driver • Installing fire prevention and control equipment.
• Providing stable power supply.
• Needle nosed pliers
• Installing lightening arrestors on the computer room
• Wire cutters • The room should be well laid out with enough space for movement.
• Tweezers or part retrievers • Dust and dump proofing the computer room.
• Chip extractors • Cables and power sockets should be well insulated and of the correct power
rating to avoid short circuits that can damage computer components.
• Crimping tool • The users should not eat or drink in the computer laboratory.
• Flash light

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Ways computers can be damaged in a Ways how computers can be safeguarded

laboratory. against damage

• Defacing computers by use of sharp objects like a campus.
• Eating and drinking in the lab.
• Placing computers on non- flat surfaces.
• Using un-grounded power sources.
• Opening a computer when it is running.
• Moving the computer while it is running.
• Working with a computer in a dusty environment.
• Placing a computer on a flat surface.
• Avoid drinking and eating in a computer lab.
• By following strict rules in laboratory.
• Installing antivirus programs on the computers.
• Using of passwords.
• Instituting a user log.
• Sensitizing computer users.
• Punishing / fining offenders.
• Activating a firewall facility in the computer laboratory.

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Measures that are intended to protect

computer users

• Having all wires insulated to avoid electric shock

• Having the room well ventilated and installing air conditioners.
• Having enough space in the lab for movement.
• Avoid over-crowding.
• Using comfortable and standard furniture to avoid poor posture.
• Using LCD monitors other than CRT monitors or
• Providing antiglare screens and adjustable screens to avoid eye strain
brought by over bright light from the monitor screen.
• Cables should be laid away from users’ paths to avoid users falling while
passing through.

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