Individual Assignment 1

Windows Settings

Go to your computer’s Settings (Windows).

1. List 5 options that are available under Windows Settings.

a) System
b) Network & Internet
c) Personalization
d) Apps
e) Update & Security

2. Which top 3 options will be the most useful for you as a user? Explain how you would use each feature.

a) System: The “System” settings are often essential for customization and maintaining a computer. There
are several settings under the system setting. For the display settings, they are used to adjust screen
resolution, orientation, and multiple display configurations to optimize the visual experience on the
monitor. For notifications & actions, they are used to customize how and when Windows notifies a user,
which is particularly useful to avoid distractions during work or gaming. Another key setting under
system settings is power & sleep. Power plans are configured in this mode through their balance of
power and efficiency, together with laptop’s screen timeout and sleep timeout settings to save battery.
b) Network & Internet: These settings are crucial for managing the computer’s internet connection and
network-related tasks. WiFi and Ethernet settings are one of those in the network & internet tab. In this
mode, it assists one in making connections to different wireless networks, fixing connection problems
and handling profiles of home or public networks. Another key setting is proxy setting. If needed, this
setting helps to configure proxy servers for secure web access or to bypass network restrictions. Data
usage settings are also found under this group. These settings help to monitor and limit data usage,
especially if one has limited data plans, to avoid overage charges.
c) Another key option I find useful is Update & Security. This setting is crucial in keeping one’s computer
up-to-date and secure. One of the options available is windows update. This setting ensures that
automatic updates are enabled to receive the latest security patches, bug fixes, and feature
improvements. The second option available under update & security is Windows Security. It is used to
regularly run virus and threat scans, manage firewall settings, and review security recommendations to
safeguard computers. The last option available in this setting is backup. It is used to set up a backup plan
to protect important files by creating regular backups either on an external drive or using cloud services.
This ensures data recovery in case of system failures or accidental file deletion.

Snipping Tool

On the desktop, click in the Search Bar and search for ‘Snipping Tool’. Open the tool and click on ‘New’.

3. Take a screenshot of a portion of your desktop (copy and paste it into the document).
 4. Name two features available in the snipping tool?
a) Capture modes
b) Annotation tools
5. Explain what each feature does.

Several capture modes are available in the Snipping Tool which provide different options for how to
select a portion of computer screen for saving. These allow for flexibility in capturing screenshots with
varying needs. The “free-form Snip” mode enables a user to snip irregular shapes which are suitable when one
wants to acquire only some non-rectangular parts of an image. The “Rectangular Snip” works well for a clean
frame of neat rectangular and square area images. In addition, “Window Snip” simplifies the capturing
operations with respect to application-specific screen shots whereas “Full-screen Snip” is used quickly in
order to take screen snaps of the entire display. Users can then choose the appropriate capture mode in order
to produce a screenshot that is specific to the message and relevancy of the context as well.

Annotation tools, such as the pen and highlighter, are essential for adding context, emphasis, and
clarity to screenshots captured using the Snipping Tool. The pen tool allows users to draw freehand lines and
shapes, making it ideal for adding handwritten notes, arrows, or sketches to highlight specific details. On the
other hand, the highlighter tool lets one to emphasize or color-code text, objects, or regions, making it easier
to draw attention to important information. These annotation tools are particularly valuable for creating
informative and illustrative images, whether it is for explaining concepts, providing visual instructions, or
simply making one’s screenshots more engaging and comprehensible.

6. How can you use a screenshot when explaining something in an assignment or a presentation?

Screenshots are powerful visual aids for enhancing the clarity and understanding of explanations in
assignments or presentations. They provide tangible, real-world examples that can illustrate software
interfaces, data trends, or specific content. By incorporating screenshots, one can show step-by-step processes,
demonstrate complex concepts, or offer evidence to support one’s claims. This visual element not only
engages the audience but also makes one’s explanations more accessible and memorable, ensuring that one’s
assignment or presentation effectively conveys the information one intended to share.

Windows Applications
Click on the Windows button in the lower left-hand corner of your screen

7. List 10 applications found on your computer

a. Microsoft Word
b. Google Chrome
c. Adobe Photoshop
d. Spotify
e. Microsoft Excel
f. Mozilla Firefox
g. VLC Media Player
h. Adobe Acrobat Reader
i. Zoom
j. FileZilla

8. From your list of 10 applications, choose 3 and explain the purpose of each application.

a) Microsoft Word: Microsoft Word is a word processing application that is widely used for creating,
editing, and formatting documents. It is essential for tasks like writing reports, essays, letters, and
various types of written content. Word offers a range of formatting and document organization features,
making it a versatile tool for anyone who needs to work with text.
b) Google Chrome: Google Chrome is a web browser known for its speed and efficiency. It is used to
access and navigate websites on the internet. Chrome also supports various extensions and offers a user-
friendly interface, making it a popular choice for web browsing, online research, and web-based
applications.
c) Adobe Photoshop: Adobe Photoshop is a professional image editing and graphic design software. It is
used for tasks like photo retouching, image manipulation, creating digital art, and designing graphics for
web, print, and multimedia. Photoshop is favored by photographers, designers, and digital artists for its
powerful editing capabilities and extensive creative tools.

File Explorer (Your File Management System)

Open File Explorer. Click the ‘View’ tab.

9. What document view options are listed in the Layout category of the view tab?

a) Print Layout
b) Full Screen Reading
c) Web Layout
d) Outline
e) Draft

10. When would you want to use one viewing option over another?

The choice of document view in Microsoft Word depends on the task at hand. “Print Layout” is
typically used for most document editing and formatting tasks, as it closely resembles how the document will
appear when printed. “Full Screen Reading” is useful for reviewing and reading documents in a distraction-
free manner. “Web Layout” is suitable for web-based content, while “Outline” is handy for structuring and
organizing content hierarchically. “Draft” offers a simplified view for quick editing without the distractions of
page layout. The selection depends on the specific needs of the user and the stage of document creation or
review.
 11. In the Search bar in File Explorer, type in the word ‘windows’. What happens?

When one types the word ‘windows’ into the search bar in File Explorer on a Windows operating
system, the search function will start to display and filter files, folders, and documents that have ‘windows’ in
their title, content, or metadata. It will show search results that match the search term, helping one to quickly
locate relevant files or folders with ‘windows’ in their name or contents.

12. On the left-hand side of file explorer, there is a list of folders. Right-click on one. List three options that
appear.

Upon right-clicking on a folder in the left-hand side of File Explorer, three options appear. These include:

a) Open: This option opens the selected folder, allowing one to access its contents.
b) Expand: If the folder is collapsed, this option expands it to display its subfolders.
c) Pin to quick access: This option pins the selected folder to the Quick Access section of File Explorer
for easy and quick access to frequently used folders.

13. Create a new folder in file explorer and title it with your first name. Open that folder and create a
subfolder with your last name as the title. Using the Snipping Tool, take a screenshot of your new folder
structure. Insert the screenshot for this question.

Save your Word document as SCC1031_Week1_ InsertYourFirstandLastname_Computer.docx and submit

the Word document for grading.