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Being an efficient computer user will help you save a lot of time. There are many tips to become an efficient user. This article will summarize some of the most important tips to enable you to become one.

{Tip 1: Learn the computer jargons}
Computers are full of jargons. The first step to being an efficient computer user is to understand what those jargons mean. In fact, many computer shortcuts are explained in computer lingo and jargons.

Of course, you are not expected to learn all the details. Some examples of the basic jargon are Ctrl, Alt, Shift, tabbed browsing, right-click and mouse gestures. The key is that you must take the initiative to learn about the various computer jargons.

{Tip 2: Train your typing skill}
Typing is one of the two main computer input beside mouse. Therefore, it is necessary to be familiar with the keyboard. An average typing speed can reach between 50 to 70 words per minute (WPM). You should assess your skill by measuring your typing speed.

If your typing speed falls below the average, do make effort to practice hard. Instead of using two-fingered typing, you should learn to touch type. Touch-typing can allow you to type fast without relying on your sight. Although it would be difficult to learn, you could rely on typing games to motivate yourself while having fun at the same time.

{Tip 3: Find out the shortcut keys}
Software has many shortcut keys for advanced users. The tip to these shortcut keys is to find them. This is where the knowledge of computer jargons comes in. Shortcut keys often cater to advanced users and jargons are used in explaining how to use them.

In most cases, the shortcut keys involve difficult combinations like Ctrl+Alt or Ctrl+Shift. They could test your typing skills and touch-typing will come in handy here. While the shortcut keys stretch the limit of basic computer user, you would find that knowing them would make you more efficient in navigating the software.

{Tip 4: Organize your computer}
Desktop, folders and files are symbolic representation of the real world in computer. Like the real thing, they need organization too. Group commonly used icons together in desktop. The trick is to place the most used group in the center of the desktop.

Using the same concept, group your folders and files together too. You can create shortcut to them at your desktop so that they are easily accessible. Another tip is the naming of files. Often, you will lose track of your files and a standardized naming convention will enable you to locate them quickly.

{Tip 5: Bookmark, Tabbed browsing, and mouse gesture}
Surfing the Internet has become one of common activity with the computer. To be efficient, you must learn some of the tricks within the web browser. One of the ways is to bookmark frequently visited websites. Other functionalities of browsers have also become common like tabbed browsing and mouse gesture.

Tabbed browsing reduces clutter on your desktop instead of opening several windows. Some web browsers even allow you to save the browsing session. Mouse gesture is a combination of mouse movement and clicks to control the software. This allows you quick access to control the web browser without switching between keyboard and mouse.

A computer user does not become efficient overnight. You have to work hard to learn the computer jargons and find out about the shortcut keys in most of the software. One of the major steps is to increase your typing speed by touch-typing. To be efficient, the computer must be organized and commonly used icons, folders and files have to be grouped together. Lastly, you must master the tricks of web browsers with bookmark of frequently visited websites, tabbed browsing and mouse gestures.

Learn more about this author, Danny Kwok.
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