Big Screen Live

I have found a software named Big Screen Live which has a lot of nice features for seniors. Like they say in their web site:

"Big Screen Live is software designed to make it easy for seniors to get online and connect with their families. Once BigScreenLive has been installed, seniors have one place on their computer to send and receive email, keep track of names and addresses, share photos with their family, read news, shop securely, look at websites, and play games. The system protects seniors from unsolicited email, viruses, and pop-up advertisements. Seniors can get started by registering with us to create an email account, download the BigScreenLive software, and then simply sign in."

You are welcome to try BigScreenLive out free for 30 days with no obligation to purchase.

Visit their Website.

Computers for Seniors?

Why not? I have been a computer teacher for almost ten years and I could tell you that 95% of my students have been between the 20-35 year old mark. But something happened this last semester at my Web Page Design class. Here's my story.

There was this enthusiastic and eager learner...an 85 year old senior. To my surprise when I enter the class room the first day of class, I identified him immediately and asked him a few questions. Mr. Smith do you have any computer skills? He answered, yes I do!. Do you know how to use Internet, e-mails and sort of? Sure, he answered again. With that said, I was sure that he would be a great student. For my surprise Mr. Smith didn't do well in the course. He was lost most of the time and although he tried to follow me, at the end I knew he was lost.

What I admired the most from Mr. Smith was his eagerness to learn. Also, he was a very happy person so he spiced up our class with his personality. At the end of the semester I called his name and gave him his certificate and I said: "Mr. Smith, I know that you have tried to learn how to design your web page and that may be you haven't learned all that it was required. But let me tell you this: I feel so proud of your effort that you do deserve this certificate because of your perseverance. I hope that in the future I can help people like you learn new computer skills."

Seniors deserve the same opportunity of younger people and learn to use computer technology to enhance their daily lives. Here's my contribution to help seniors who may want to learn, enhance or acquire computer and Internet skills. In my blog I will be sharing small lessons and practical ideas on how to use computers to your advantage. Oh! I will give you some quizzes too and interactive exercises. I want to make sure that you're learning. I'll do it in a friendly way. Please, bring your questions and comments.

Let start this amazing journey with the same enthusiasm and eagerness as Mr. Smith did!

Oh! by the way, My name is Orlando and I'm 41 year old. Not a senior yet, but like Dick Tracy, I'm on my way!!!!!

Introduction to PCs - Part 1

Welcome to the exciting world of personal computers!

In the short span of two and a half decades, the personal computer has revolutionized the way our society works, learns, and entertains itself. Today more and more seniors are learning to use personal computers.

Yes, you're entering into a field that has continually generated more and more jobs, even as the economy has stalled to a stand-still. PC technology has made it easy for ordinary people to perform useful works, at home, school, or the workplace.

Today, I would like to introduce you to a brief history of computers with a special focus on the PC. Don't panic! I'll try to do it in a friendly manner.

Beginnings
We have evidence of calculating devices dating back thousands of years.

• Babylonian merchants were keeping records on clay tablets by 3,500 B.C.
• Ancient Romans used counting tables and grooved tablets to keep track of their business accounts.
• Chinese developed an abacus (image above). The abacus is still widely used there, as well as in Japan and Russia.
  

Invention of the first mechanical calculating machine in 1642 is attributed to the French mathematician Blaise Pascal. A German mathematician, Gottfried von Liebniz, soon improved on Pascal's mechanical calculator by making a machine that could add, subtract, multiply, divide and extract square roots.

In 1830s, Charles Babbage, an English Mathematician developed detailed design plans for an analytical machine. Babbage had some success with early prototypes of his machine, but was unable to complete a working version of his machine.

Task: Make a comment on this small lesson. Ufffff!!!! that was hard, isn' it?
To be continue..!