Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a great program and can be used for many things. First you must buy Excel or you can also download openoffice. First we will discuss functions between cells. For those of you who have never worked with Excel before cells are blocks that you put information in. And functions are how cells relate ex.(click on C3 click the = sign and type A1+B2)(above). After that you can play around with cells A1 and B2. Now we will talk graphs & charts. Data in cells can be put into graphs and charts by pressing the graph/chart button (left). You must select the data to be made into a chart/graph (above left).
After you select the data you will be given a selection of charts/graphs. Here is an example of a bar graph (left). If you have any questions or suggestions for future articles please post in comments.

Skype

Skype is a program used for communication and some of the ways will blow your mind. There are three versions of Skype (Windows, Mac, Linux), and each version is different. I'm sorry for this inconvenience, but the only version I can talk about is Linux (this is because my laptop is Eee PC which runs on Xandros Linux). First you need to download Skype for Linux, Windows, or Mac. Next you create an account, on the first time you startup Skype where it says "Skype Name" underneath it click "Don't have a Skype Name yet?" and fill out the form (above). Now we will talk about modes. Skype modes are different ways of letting people know who you are on Skype. The first mode is "online", so this is pretty straight forward it means you are on Skype. Next is "Skype Me". This one isn't so direct, when you change to "Skype Me" you get an alert box saying that "When you change to 'Skype Me' you will let everyone that is on Skype will know that you are online". This mode's purpose is to let you meet new people online. Now is "Away & Not Available". It is an automatic setting based on time. "Do Not Disturb" is when you are online but do not wish to be called. "Invisible" is great if you are a business owner. Invisible is a mode that does not your contacts to see that you are online and you can still call your contacts. "Offline" is just as straight forward as "Online". It simply means that you are not online. Now is video conferencing. To video call your contact click the green telephone. Then you can talk all you want for FREE. To show video buy a webcam click here to search webcams. Chatting is a way of talking to a person through a chat room. To begin a chat click the blue chat bubble (upper right). To call ordinary phones you must pay a fee. You can either use Skype Credit or pay monthly. This is all I can say about Skype. If you have questions or ideas for an entree post it in the comments.

Scratch

Scratch is a programing language for everyone. Sprites are characters that you write script to make them do all kinds of actions. You write scripts by hooking tiles together (right). Boundaries of Scratch are virtually endless. Download Scratch here. When you are done with a project and you want other people to see it what do you do? Step 1) You get a Scratch account. Step 2) In Scratch press share and fill out the form (above). In the Scratch website you have a page with your favorite projects and the projects you've made. Scratch is perfect for students in elementary school and middle school. Also for beginners in computer programming. Ask any questions and give suggestions for new entries in the comments. That's what you need to know about Scratch.