Use of Computer in Developing Writing Skills

By Dr.Mamun A. Barbhuiya

Main components of a computer Computer has spread so much today that even a student of 4th / 5th grade standard has heard of this development of the current century. There are two systems of computers (i)	PC—the Personal Computer; and (ii)	Mac—the Apple Macinthosh. Again there are two designs of computers: (i)	Desktop and (ii) Laptop (notebook)

Input Devices An input device lets you communicate with a computer. You can use input devices to enter information and issue commands. A keyboard, mouse, scanner, and digital camera are examples of input devices. Some Common Computer Input Devices Keyboard Commands tell the computer to do something, like save the file These special keys are called command or function keys Pointing Devices Mouse - most common pointing device Scanner A scanner allows you to scan documents, pictures, or graphics and view them on the computer. You can also use software to edit the items you scan. Output Devices An output device displays information on a screen, creates printed copies or generates sound. A monitor, printer, and speakers are examples of output devices. Some Common Output Devices: Monitors and Displays Printers Storage Devices A computer stores information in the following manner 1. The computer stores information as a string of zeros (0) and ones (1) 2. Information size measurements (a)Kilobyte (KB) (b)Megabyte (MB) (c)Gigabyte (GB)
 * Used to type data into the computer
 * Most common input device today
 * Has special keys for giving the computer commands
 * Pointing devices move some object on the screen and can do some action
 * Common pointing devices
 * Used to put printed pictures and text into a computer
 * Converts an image into dots that the computer can understand
 * Shows the processed information on a screen
 * A monitor uses a Picture Tube like a television with the image displayed on the front of the tube, which is called the screen
 * Printers produce a hard copy
 * The information is printed on paper and can be used when the device is off
 * It is also called a printout
 * Dot-matrix printers (impact printer)
 * The standard string length is eight 0's or 1's in a row
 * This standard length is called a byte
 * A byte equals one character
 * A character is a letter, number, or symbol - it is about any thing that can be typed on a keyboard
 * There are 256 standard characters used by almost all computers
 * One kilobyte equals about 1024 bytes
 * 1KB is about 140 words, about a half page of typed double-spaced text (words only)
 * One megabyte equals about 1000 KB
 * One megabyte equals about 1,000,000 bytes
 * One megabyte equals about 500 pages of text, or one large book
 * One gigabyte equals about 1000 MB
 * One gigabyte equals about 1,000,000 KB
 * One gigabyte equals about 1,000,000,000 bytes
 * One gigabyte equals over 1,000 books of text

Some Common Storage Devices Hard Drive The hard drive is the primary device that a computer uses to store information. The hard drive stores programs, data files, saves files, and organizes files. The hard drive is located inside the computer case. The hard drive, magnetically stores data on stacks of rotating disks called platters. Floppy Drive The floppy drive stores and retrieves information on a floppy disk. CD -ROM Drive CD-ROM is a device that reads information stored on a compact disc. CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc Read Only Memory. One CD is equal to the space in over 40 floppy disc. Removable Hard Disk A pen drive is a removable disk that holds a large amount of information on the basis of its capacity. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the computer’s brain. The CPU is a complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. Some other terms such as central processor, microprocessor, or just processor are used for CPU. Two typical components of a CPU are: (i) the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations, and (ii) the control unit, which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary. Today, all CPUs are microprocessors and do all of the functions of a computer The speed of the processors is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (1GHz = 1000 MHz).
 * stores data and instructions waiting to be used
 * follows changeable instructions
 * does input, processing, and output

Memory There are two forms of memory: Read Only Memory (ROM) and  Random Access Memory (RAM). ROM (Read Only Memory) is the computer’s permanent, long-term memory. It doesn’t disappear when the computer is shut off. It can not be erased or changed in anyway. RAM (Random Access Memory) is a working area where the operating system (e.g. Windows), programmes and data in current use are kept, ready to be accessed by the processor. It is the best known form of computer memory. However, RAM, unlike ROM, is emptied when the computer is switched off. Memory measurement has been described in storage devices.

What is multimedia? Multimedia can be defined ‘as the computer-delivered combination of a large range of communications elements—text, sound, graphics, pictures, photographs, animation and moving video’ (Brett:1996). Multimedia devices CD-ROM and CD-ROM drive: CD-ROM is the short form of Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory. A CD-ROM can store everything, from shareware programmes to dictionaries and encyclopedias. CD-ROMs are considered the most economical devices of storing and sharing information. For example,a CD-ROM (700MB) can replace 300,000 pages of text which represents a lot of savings in distributing materials and data. CD-ROM drive is used to play CD-ROMs and it can also play audio CDs. CD-ROM drives are available in a variety of different speeds. Higher-speed CD-ROM drives help to transfer data more quickly, which is crucial when playing sound or video. DVD-ROM: DVD is short form for “digital video disk”. A DVD-ROM or just DVD can hold up to 17 GB of data, about 25 times an ordinary CD-ROM. A DVD-ROM can store large amount of multimedia software and complete movies in different languages. It can also play music CDs and CD-ROMs but DVDs are read-only devices. Other multimedia devices are video card, soundcard, speakers, headphones and microphones.

The Internet is an international network of computers, which makes it possible to share information between the various computers in various ways. The Internet is often abbreviated to the Net. People sometime think that Internet is same as WWW and /Email but it is a misconception and not the proper observation. It is a confederation of thousand of computers from various sectors of society. Internet is the world’s largest computer network, the network of networks, scattered all over the world. As Naughton comments: “ The Internet is one of the most remarkable things human beings have ever made. In terms of its impact on society, it ranks with print, the railways, the telegraph, the automobile, electric power and television”, (cited by Crystal, 2001:vii) The Internet helps in three obvious ways: (i)	To get information. (ii)	To provide information. (iii)	To compile information.

The World Wide Web (www), the most important Internet service, began as an experimental project in 1989 at CERN at Switzerland and was perfected in 1993. It consists of thousands of documents—all are linked by ‘hypertext’—documents that have links embedded into other documents. One does not have to follow a hierarchical path for finding out resource or resources. Thus one can: (i)	jump from one link (source) to another; (ii)	go directly to a resource if URL is known(its address); and (iii)	even jump from specific part of a document. For all Net users, the World Wide Web is the medium of choice because ‘it is visually attractive, easy-to-use and easy-to-understand’ (Dudeney,2000:3).

The WWW can be used for providing linguistic exercises, for accessing reading materials, for stimulating communicative exercises and for amedium of students publishing. The web also provides search engines and most common search engines are Alta-Vista, Excite, Lycos, Infoseek, yahoo, Rediff and Google.

Word processor is a common kind of software and Microsoft word is a word processing application designed to help you create professional-looking documents such as newsletters, reports, brochures and letters. Most computers are now sold with some version of word processing already installed and such programmes are widely used in the composition process. Before using any type of word-processing software, there are certain terminology that one needs to become familiar with in order to create documents. In Microsoft Word, some terminologies are used to articulate certain features of the software progamme, its function/navigation methods, and common word-processing terms. Arrow keys, close, save, save as, border, click, double click and many more. Regarding writing skills editing is all important. By editing – deleting, moving, or adding characters, changing font styles, inserting bulleted items, and altering the color of text, can modify a document. English writing is one of the most important forms of communication today, it is necessary to maintain it correct and professional. The students have to develop communicative skills especially writing skills effectively for those who wish to begin professional life and also for higher studies. As Riemer (2002) says, “Communication skills are essential for an engineer who aspires to carry out his/her professional practice in the global arena. Engineering communication skills basically constitute several core elements such as the fluency in the English language and the fundamentals of visual communication.” MS Word offers some handy tools under its Tools menu which can be used for developing / improving writing skills.For example: To use the Thesaurus, click on a word in your document and select the Language function option under Tools in the menu bar. A window will appear with alternative words (if Word has any to offer). Locate the word you want to use, highlight it, and then click Replace. So while using computer you need not go for a dictionary to find out the meaning or appropriate words. You can frequently correct spellings with computer-based spelling checkers. That can also help you in improving vocabulary powers as you have to come across many related words in the screen.
 * Spelling and Grammar is one of the standard tools. A window appears after you click on this option showing the word or sentence in question on the top, and a list of possible suggestions at the bottom. If the suggestion is something you like, click Change. If not, click Ignore.
 * You can use Thesaurus. If you do not know anything about a word in the text, then  this feature can help you in finding out  the right word/ words to use.
 * Dictionaries are also made available for the student to use ‘interactively’. You can type in a word and computer responds with its meaning. Dictionary is used in language learning as a resource and you can use this resource for developing language skills especially writing skills.
 * You can also learn synonyms and antonyms while using a computer. “ Supplying synonyms and antonyms can be dealt with very neatly by requiring learners to match items from lists of words”, says Ahmed et al (1985:108).

In words processor, you can save your document by giving a file name and you can open the same file, can revise the earlier text and edit the text in various ways. While editing the text, you have the opportunity to proofread, to add further explanation, to develop ideas, and to restructure the text. Also you can understand the weaknesses and the provision to overcome the difficulties and to apply knowledge of language. Thus a computer gives enough flexibility to utilizing the resources in learning and developing writing skills.

Electronic mail (E-mail) is being used to send and receive messages. You can send e-mail practically to any one with an email address, anywhere in the world. What is E-mail? In its simplest form, e-mail is an electronic message sent from one computer to another. Now a days, one can or receive personal and business-related messages with attachments like pictures or other documents. In this type of communication, one can communicate quickly and easily with millions of people around the world anytime24 hours a day 7 days a week. Email is the most used tool in the Internet; ‘it’s easy to use, it’s cheap, fast and reliable’ (Dudeney:2000: 10). Learners especially distant learners can use E-mail and share files and thus they can collaborate together among themselves and their facilitators. As Belisle (1996) says: “ Networking electronically can help learners create, analyze, and produce information and ideas more easily and effectively”. You can also communicate, send messages to native speakers and in the way of exchanging messages you can increase their social awareness and confidence. You will be familiar with a communication tool which is vital for your survival in the 21st century. In short, Email helps you to: i.	Communicate with other distant learners; ii. Communicate with tutors/ facilitators in your discipline; iii. Post a question to a bulletin board or mailing list; iv. Develop a collaborative project with another distant learners; v.	Connect with keypals As Brenda (2002) says: Because of its dynamic, interactive and ephemeral, it is like conversation: we can receive instant feedback to our message, and many messages can be exchanged in rapid-fire fashion, even in asynchronous email, if the parties both happened to be logged on.

Most of the email messages are simple text documents which can be sent over the Net. But it is difficult to remember the Email addresses and it is suggested that whenever you receive an email save the address by clicking the ‘address’ option/ button in the screen. It is also suggested to ignore the conventional norms of written language while sending email messages. Barbhuiya (2008) conducted a survey among the technical students (Polytechnic) and found that 93% students think that Email helps people to learn from each other and an equal number of students expressed positive attitude that communication by Email is a good way to improve their English. You can frequently communicate with other distant learners and with your facilitator by making dialogues what it calls ‘dialoguing’ through email. There are different kinds of dialoguing, for example, student to teacher, teacher to student and student to students. In distance education, there is no face-to-face interaction with the tutor/facilitator. But any distant learner can communicate with the facilitator or with other distant learners through email from any where any time independently. This will give you the opportunity of using language of your choice which can help you in exposing your writing skills. You can communicate with a native speaker, can send instant messages and in exchanging the dialogues, you can improve your language skills. Besides, you can your assignments, can get the feedback through email, that too within a short time. Mark Warschauersummarizes the main reasons for using e-mail: “First, e-mail provides students with an excellent opportunity for real, natural communication…Second, e-mail empowers students for independent learning…Finally, the use of e-mail enriches our experiences as teachers…[and allows us to share ] new ideas, resources, and materials”,(1995:2). Regular and avid users usually enjoy writing in email. Even some users prefer writing and sending email as a way to express themselves. They take delight in words, sentence structure, message formatting, and the opportunity to craft exactly how they wish to express their thoughts and moods.