Technology

Senior Planet Offers Free Live Daily Workshops Explaining Digital Issues

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As part of its effort to address some of the many needs for digital help residents reported in a recent survey, the Computer Committee will post digital tips in this column for residents.

Computer Committee member Sheila Darnborough recommends an organization called “Senior Planet” that offers free digital help sessions to seniors. The above photo shows their Zoom program on Streaming Wed. Feb. 10. Caroline Persell attended that session and found there were good opportunities for attendees to ask questions. For a list of “Senior Planet’s” current online offerings, click here.

They also have a free hotline for technological questions. Just call the National Senior Planet Hotline at 920-666-1959. It is open from 9am – 5pm EDT, Monday – Friday.

They also have on-line tutorials. For one on how to join a Zoom meeting, click here.

Art Brady's Annotated Guide to Using Zoom

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Art has made some notes on a page from a Zoom meeting to help you learn where different functions are and how to use them on a computer. Most of the same functions are available on a tablet, and many even on a phone, but they are in different places. Look around for them.

One secret to doing digital stuff is to be sure you look around the entire screen: top, corners, sides, bottom. Some things appear only when you scroll over them, whether with a mouse or a finger. Don’t be afraid to play around a bit (at least before a meeting starts). Hope this helps.

Computer Committee Survey Results and Plans

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The KoH residents Computer Committee distributed a survey to residents on January 18 and has received and tallied responses from 140 residents.

Of those responding, all but two had one or more digital devices, whether computers, tablets, or smartphones. They reported many diverse needs for assistance, and the Committee is working on how to help.

Their first planned event is a Workshop on using MS Word for writing and editing on Friday, February 19, 2-3 pm on Zoom. Watch this website and Spotlight for details on this and future resources.

Avoiding Email Hacks

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How can you identify an email that has been hacked? If an email from someone you know (or especially someone you don’t know) sounds the least bit fishy or strange, don’t click on anything in it or do anything it suggests you do, such as buy a gift card for them Instead, call the person who sent it and ask if they sent it.

What should you do if you get an email scam? Don’t do anything it tells you to do. Don’t give any information, buy anything, or click on anything. If you know the person, call them and say you think their email might have been hacked. They may have no other way of knowing they have been “infected”.

What can you do to protect your email from being hacked? If you get hacked, the hacker can use your address book to send emails (in your name) to the people in the address book. To protect yourself and your friends, change your password regularly and make it something hard for someone to guess. Consider the email provider you use and their reputation for repelling hacks.