Every app on a smartphone is controlled with the same few movements, and a computer has its own matching set. Once these feel natural, you can learn any new app quickly, whether it is a work WhatsApp group, a sales app at a shop or a survey app an NGO gives you in the field. Employers notice when someone handles a phone or a computer calmly and confidently.
The basic movements on a phone
- Tap. Touch the screen once, lightly, to open an app or press a button.
- Long press. Hold your finger on something for about a second. This often shows extra options, such as delete or share.
- Swipe. Slide your finger across the screen to move between pages or scroll down a message.
- Pinch. Put two fingers on the screen and move them apart to zoom in on a photo or small text. Move them together to zoom out.
The buttons that get you home
Most Android phones have three controls at the bottom of the screen, or gestures that do the same jobs:
- Back takes you one step back.
- Home takes you to your main screen from anywhere.
- Recent apps shows the apps you have open, so you can switch between them or swipe them away.