Embracing 21st Century Technology

Do the words ‘computer’ and ‘Internet’ make you quiver and quake or do they represent trusted friends, making life easier in many ways?

Nowadays it’s possible to do so much via a computer and the Internet, tasks that previously involved travelling by public transport, driving, parking, walking, expenditure of much time and energy and sometimes even repeated journeys because of forgotten vital documents. It’s possible to check out travel routes & ticket prices, order the weekly shop to be delivered to your door, join Internet ‘communities’ sharing discussions with like minded people such as the www.widowedworld.co.uk Forum and www.sagazone.co.uk and to participate in on-line short courses such as those offered by The University of the Third Age (U3A) http://onlinecourses.u3a.org.uk/. Via the Internet you can also search for best shopping or services deals, arrange holidays, research just about any subject imaginable, browse through catalogues, buy your road fund licence, keep track of banking and personal finances, dabble in stocks and shares, keep in regular contact with family and friends in far flung places, send photographs, make greetings cards, get recipes, ask advice, print off copies of documents, find answers to competitions, contact your local authority, find out about local amenities or activities and millions of other things.

Local colleges offer training courses for all ages and levels of ability and providing you have access to a computer and the Internet. It’s even possible to obtain a European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) in easy stages and largely from the comfort of your own home, backed up by on-line tuition. Your local library, Age Concern office or local college should be able to give you information and there are many providers on the Internet.

Choosing, purchasing and installing equipment calls for a bit of research and if buying for the first time it’s probably best to do so from a reputable local dealer who will provide a reliable back up service. You may choose to have the equipment installed in your home or prefer a ‘laptop’ that is portable. You will also have choices regarding what sort of Internet connection you’d prefer such as dial-up, wireless and/or Broad Band.

Other ways of accessing the Internet are via local libraries, your town hall or so-called Internet Cafes where you can ‘get connected’ electronically and socially, or otherwise perhaps by using hardware belonging to a friend or member of your family.

Like anything else, there is a learning curve but you can do as much or as little as you like with a computer - just use it for e-mails and letter writing or experiment with any particular function that appeals. Most of us use only a fraction of a computer’s capability but its there to serve our needs and relies totally on our interaction and input to drive it. When you’ve mastered all that, there are other exciting pieces of equipment such as a web cam (camera) that enables you to actually see who you’re communicating with on the Internet or a digital camera that enables you to download photos onto your computer and then be creative with them such as creating collages. One such free downloadable photographic package is www.picasa@google.com and a further free software package is www.myphotobook.co.uk, both of which enable you to put together collections of special photographs which can then be printed according to your specification and price preferences, in full colour book form. These make wonderful gifts for family and friends or a keepsake of special moments with your late partner and use up hours of free time.

Telephone systems are more familiar to us but the technology is constantly evolving, providing us with many new facilities. Handsets have a variety of functions to suit the individual from call blocking, visual display of callers names and numbers, storage of regularly used numbers, speed dialling, loudspeaker and conferencing facilities and we can use our telephones to make payments for services such as gas, electricity, credit cards etc.

Mobile telephones have also become a part of everyday life and whilst many are all singing and dancing that, for example, connect to the Internet, and/or take and store photographs but it’s still possible to buy a fairly simple one that will enable you to make calls whenever and just about wherever you need to, or to send text messages. For some deals you’re required to sign a contract and pay for calls at the end of a fixed period as with a land line telephone but with others you can ‘pay as you go’ topping up credit using a plastic card at many tills or cash points. Texting is pretty straightforward when you know how and as with an e-mail message, can be sent or responded to when convenient. Ask a young person to show you how - slowly!

Then of course there are telephones such as the Skype system that operate via the Internet, once again using a contract or top up facility to stay in credit. For these you can use a handset or a headset and microphone to suit your needs or any physical limitations.

Then there’s MP3 Players, I-Pods and a host of other goodies but I’m not into those - yet!

Young people take all this technology in their stride so for basic information they are possibility the best people to ask, but always use a reputable source, such as a specialist high street shop offering after sales support, for full technical information and demonstration before purchasing a product.

Happy surfing!