How To Use Tablets:
An Elementary Guide for Seniors and a Digital Novice
Guide on How To Use Tablets
A tablet is a device that can perform many of the same tasks as a computer and a smartphone, but in a larger and more comfortable form.
A tablet usually has a touchscreen, which is the screen that you can touch with your fingers or a stylus to control the device. A tablet also has a camera, a speaker, a microphone, and a battery.
You can also use a tablet to make and receive phone calls and text messages, if it has a SIM card slot.
How to turn on and off a tablet
- To turn on a tablet, you need to press and hold the power button, which is usually located on the side or the top of the device.
- You may also need to enter a password, a PIN, a pattern, or a fingerprint to unlock your device.
- To turn off a tablet, you need to press and hold the power button, and then select the option to power off, restart, or emergency mode.
- You should always turn off your Tablet properly, and not just remove the battery or the SIM card, to avoid losing your data or damaging your device.
How to use the internet on a Tablet
- To use the internet on a tablet, you need to have a connection, either through a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, or a mobile hotspot.
- You also need to have a browser, which is a program that lets you access websites and web pages.
- Some of the most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
- To open a browser, you need to tap on its icon, which is usually located on the home screen or the app drawer.
- To visit a website, you need to type its address, also known as a URL, in the address bar, and tap Go.
- For example, to visit Google, you need to type www.google.com in the address bar.
- You can also use a search engine, such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo, to find websites and information on the internet.
- To use a search engine, you need to type a word or a phrase in the search box, and tap Go.
- For example, to find information about dogs, you need to type dogs in the search box.
- You can also use the back and forward buttons, the refresh button, the home button, and the tabs to navigate the internet.
How to use email on a tablet
- Email is a way of sending and receiving messages and files over the internet.
- To use email on a tablet, you need to have an email app, which is a program that lets you access your email account.
- Some of the most popular email apps are Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and iCloud.
- To open an email app, you need to tap on its icon, which is usually located on the home screen or the app drawer.
- You may also need to enter your email address and password to sign in.
- To send an email, you need to tap on the compose button, which is usually located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- You then need to enter the email address of the person you want to send the email to in the To field, and optionally, the email addresses of other people you want to copy or blind copy in the Cc or Bcc fields.
- You also need to enter a subject, which is a brief summary of what the email is about, in the Subject field.
- You can then type your message in the main body of the email.
- You can also attach files, such as photos, documents, or videos, by tapping on the attach button, which is usually located at the top of the screen.
- You can then select the files you want to attach from your device or your cloud storage.
- To send the email, you need to tap on the send button, which is usually located at the top of the screen.
- To receive an email, you need to check your inbox, which is the folder that contains all the emails you have received.
- You can also check other folders, such as spam, trash, or drafts, by tapping on their names on the left side of the screen.
- To open an email, you need to tap on its subject or sender.
- You can then read the message, view the attachments, or reply, forward, or delete the email by tapping on the corresponding buttons.
How to use tablet for making and receiving phone calls
To make a phone call on a tablet
- To make a phone call on a tablet, you need to have a SIM card, a phone app, and a headset, which is a device that lets you hear and speak without holding the tablet to your ear.
- Some of the most popular phone apps are Phone, Contacts, and Dialer.
- To open a phone app, you need to tap on its icon, which is usually located on the home screen or the app drawer.
- To dial a number, you need to tap on the keypad, which is the area that shows the numbers and symbols.
- You then need to enter the number you want to call, and tap on the green phone icon to start the call.
- To end the call, you need to tap on the red phone icon.
- To access your contacts, you need to tap on the contacts icon, which is usually located at the top or the bottom of the screen.
- You then need to scroll through the list of contacts, or use the search bar to find a specific contact.
- You can then tap on the contact you want to call, and tap on the green phone icon to start the call.
- To end the call, you need to tap on the red phone icon.
To receive a phone call on a tablet,
- To receive a phone call on a tablet, you need to have a SIM card, a phone app, a ringtone, and a headset.
- You also need to have your device turned on and not in silent mode.
- When someone calls you, you will see a notification on the screen that shows the caller’s name or number, and the options to answer or decline the call.
- To answer the call, you need to swipe right on the green phone icon, or tap on the green phone icon, depending on your device model.
- To decline the call, you need to swipe left on the red phone icon, or tap on the red phone icon, depending on your device model.
- You can also mute the ringtone by pressing the volume button, or send a quick reply by tapping on the message icon.
How to use tablet for sending and receiving text messages
To send a text message on a tablet
- To send a text message on a tablet, you need to have a SIM card, a phone app, and a messaging app, which is a program that lets you type and send messages and emojis.
- Some of the most popular messaging apps are Messages, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
- To open a messaging app, you need to tap on its icon, which is usually located on the home screen or the app drawer.
- To start a new conversation, you need to tap on the compose button, which is usually located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- You then need to enter the phone number or the name of the person you want to message, and tap on the next button.
- You can then type your message in the text box, which is the area that shows the keyboard and the symbols.
- You can also tap on the emoji icon, which is usually located next to the text box, to access and send emojis.
- To send the message, you need to tap on the send button, which is usually located next to the text box.
- To continue an existing conversation, you need to tap on the conversation you want to open, which is usually located on the main screen of the messaging app.
- You can then type and send your message in the same way as before.
To receive a text message on a tablet
- To receive a text message on a tablet, you need to have a SIM card, a phone app, a messaging app, and a notification sound, which is a sound that plays when someone messages you.
- You also need to have your device turned on and not in silent mode.
- When someone messages you, you will see a notification on the screen that shows the sender’s name or number, and a preview of the message.
- To open the message, you need to swipe down on the notification, or tap on the notification, depending on your device model.
- You can then read the message, and reply by typing and sending your message in the same way as before.
- You can also dismiss the notification by swiping left or right on it, or tapping on the clear button.
I hope this guide helps you understand the elementary knowledge of how to use computers, smartphones, and tablets. 😊
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