Just finished trying to help someone update their profile on VampireFreaks.com (half successfully, half not – I figured out how to add a background image rather than a solid colour and to add an embedded music player as well. But I couldn't figure out how to place the music player where the person wanted it on […]
So I was giving my standard “these days, buying online or doing your online banking is as safe, if not safer, than doing it via a real world transaction” line during a public Internet session the other day when some old guy puts up his hand and goes “What about that Silent Banker virus they […]
So I'm on the road doing computer & Internet training and I thought I'd pass along a couple humourous moments from the past couple weeks…– tonight, a woman wants to know an Internet radio station she can listen to while doing housework. I say that Accuradio is one of my favourites and after loading it […]
It's a short list but it cuts to the core with a list of the essential things that are part of successful online usability. 1. Make Them Log-In By Account NumberThis is a huge one for libraries. How many libraries have databases and other electronic resources but require patrons to memorize a lengthy barcode or […]
In homage to RefGrunt, here's a sample of some of the topics I addressed and questions I helped people with during my two “Ask The Computer Guru” drop-in sessions and two “Everything You Want To Know about the Internet” presentations today…– how to restore the e-mail address book from a crashed computer to a new […]
Download Squad ranks them as follows: 1. Acrobat Reader2. iTunes3. RealPlayer4. Internet Explorer 5. Microsoft OutlookYet how many libraries rely on two or three of these programs, both for their PAC's and for their staff computers?
I was asked to teach a four week “Intro To Computers” course for the month of November at the Weyburn Public Library, one of two city branches in our region, while they are temporarily short-staffed. Last week was my final class so I thought I'd put up the outlines and some thoughts in case that's […]
“Google has officially launched the missing piece in Google’s online office suite: Presently, a presentation product that competes directly with Microsoft PowerPoint.” (via TechCrunch)In related office suite news, IBM has announced that they're going to release their Lotus Symphony software for free to compete directly with MS-Office. Symphony is based on open source software from […]
I had an appointment with a specialist last week and during the course of it, he asked me about a procedure I'd had over ten years ago. Being so long ago, I couldn't remember some of the important details such as what the exact sequence of events leading to me having this procedure was or […]
