Simply Seniors Computer Tutor

Thursday, March 3, 2011

FREE Internet! Yes, it’s possible!

I just received a phone call from someone that helps seniors. She told me that her clients were looking for a free internet service provider (ISP). I did a little research and I found a web site that give information on free isp’s according to your location.

One thing you will need to remember (ok maybe two) 1st, don’t expect to be moving on the internet at lightening speeds! 2nd, if your computer is a newer desktop purchased in the last couple of years, more than likely you do not have an internal telephone modem. It’s no big deal, but this is a ‘card’ that will need to be installed into the computer before you can use a dial up service. Additionally, you will have to have a phone line in the house as well, there are no free broad band ISPs at this time. IF you see information stating other wise can you please pass it along.

Here is the link, I hope you find this helpful!

http://www.all-free-isp.com/

This is what is available in the Melbourne, FL area – the web site’s most recent date was 2009:

These services work on all Windows based machines.

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor is the premier technical assistant for seniors! Not only do they offer classes at various locations throughout Brevard, they offer one on one in home services, repair, pick up and delivery, new computer set up and specialty projects such as photo recoloring, digital photo archiving and much more. Simply Seniors Computer Tutors are Florida and Brevard County background checked, arrive in identifiable uniform, with company ID, additionally, UNLIKE the 'average guy' posting on CL, our company is licensed, insured and certified to work on your computer. KNOW YOUR COMPUTER TECHNICIAN do not allow just anyone into your very personal data and information or your home! Simply Seniors Computer Tutor understands seniors have unique learning abilities and we have spent the last 10 years researching the BEST methods for computer training and senior citizens. Stop struggling to use your PC or stop your parents constant phone calls asking "how do I..." Call Simply Seniors Computer Tutor today at 321-431-3866

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Government Financed Cell Phones for Seniors!

I was watching what i like to call Junk Food TV this afternoon – imagine! I saw an ad for safelink, a government funded FREE cell phone for seniors. This reminded me that my own mother has this cell phone and I think that more seniors need to know about this service.

Here is the official web site:

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/home.aspx

These are quality cell phones just like the ones you can walk into Walmart (for example) and purchase right now.

This is great information – so i am going to post below the ABOUT US section from the safelink.com website:

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LIFELINE/SAFELINK FACT SHEET

There is no "Obama phone" or other newly created federal program to provide free cell phones. As you may know, this is a myth that is now circulating on the Web via email and blog sites. It has been thoroughly debunked by independent groups. (See for example: FactCheck.org at http://www.factcheck.org/2009/10/the-obama-phone/, which notes: "Low-income households have been eligible for discounted telephone service for more than a decade. But the program is funded by telecom companies, not by taxes, and the president has nothing to do with it."
The federal "Lifeline" program was created during the Reagan Administration. Lifeline is a federal program created by the Reagan era Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1984. The program was enhanced under Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was supported on a broadly bipartisan basis in Congress. The FCC’s Low Income Program of the Universal Service Fund, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), is designed to ensure that quality telecommunications services are available to low-income customers at just, reasonable, and affordable rates. Lifeline support reduces eligible low-income consumers' monthly charges for basic telephone service.
Thanks to SafeLink, Lifeline support is now available for wireless phones. Traditionally, the Lifeline program was only available as a discount on a consumer’s landline telephone bill. SafeLink Wireless was created by TracFone Wireless, Inc. when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved the company to offer Lifeline -- a public assistance program that ensures telephone service is available and affordable for low-income subscribers. SafeLink Wireless applies the Universal Service Fund subsidy to an allotment of free airtime minutes and TracFone provides the wireless handset at the company’s expense. Instead of receiving a subsidized monthly telephone bill for Lifeline service, SafeLink converts the total amount of discounted service into minutes each month for one year. The cell phone offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, three-way calling, call waiting, caller ID and access to 911.
SafeLink phones are not paid for by taxpayers or the federal government. TracFone Wireless pays for the phones and also the cost of promoting its SafeLink program to make sure that eligible consumers know about the program.
SafeLink Wireless is making the vision of universal access to telecommunications services for all Americans a reality. As of October 2009, SafeLink has over 2 million customers and is available in 33 states - Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Today, there are over 1,700 companies in the United States currently providing discounted telephone service. But, thanks to its extensive outreach promoting SafeLink, TracFone Wireless is one of the largest providers of Lifeline services in the United States, second only to AT&T.

Only certain Americans are eligible for SafeLink. Eligibility guidelines vary by state but in general individuals qualify if they participate in a public assistance program such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), National Free School Lunch, Federal Housing/Section 8 Assistance, or if they do not receive any of these public assistance programs, they may also qualify based on total household gross monthly income. Customers can learn more or apply by calling 1-800-SAFELINK or visiting www.SafeLink.com

Your exact benefits, including the number of free Minutes you will receive, depend on the state you live in.

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I hope that you find this information helpful! Remember, Simply Seniors Computer Tutors are here to help you or your senior loved ones.

Best Free Genealogy / Family Tree Software

I located this great information on http://www.techsupportalert.com My clients are always asking questions on the best software for this application and they often ask my opinion on Free software – so this will cover both :-)

Later I will download, install and verify this software for you.

Here is the bulk of the article:

Legacy Standard is my top pick for the best free Genealogical software. The program is fairly easy to use, flexible, and has plenty of capabilities. The free version supports family, pedigree, and index views. You can easily navigate to younger, or older generations simply by clicking on the individuals. Clicking on Events icon displays all of the events for an individual.

You can attach photos or any other type of document. I love the well structured source formats. The location field is unstructured but the Master Location List can help keep the locations consistent. Strong report generator supports eight general report types. Legacy can print narrative book style reports using generic sentence templates. Creates stunning graphical charts, ancestor, descendant, fan, hourglass, bow tie, and DNA charts. Imports from GEDCOM or PAF files. Exports to GEDCOM, PAF, or Clooz. The program provides Research Guidance with tips, Internet Search links, and a To Do List.

Legacy creates the best looking web pages and has the most features for web site creation of these programs. Supports photos and CSS.

Legacy places data files in the C:\Legacy\Data directory instead of the normal %UserProfile% directory unless the default directory is changed in the options. If the user has backup software they should take care that the backups include the nonstandard location.

Also many menu items when selected display a message that the feature is available only in the Deluxe Edition. Greying out the unavailable options would have been less obtrusive and nagging.

Gramps is a strong contender for the top slot. I liked that I could easily navigate or filter by people or name list, family, relationship, ancestry, events, places, sources, repositories, media, and notes.

I felt the place entry especially outstanding. Places have distinct fields for street, city, latitude, church parish, etc. Alternate locations can be entered for each place, e.g. one could enter West Virginia as an alternate for some Virginia locations prior to the Civil War. Sources, notes, multimedia, and internet links can be linked to each place. Also all events linked to the place are displayed and can be navigated to.

I loved the date support. Dates can be based on several different calendars, e.g. Gregorian, Islamic, etc. The date can have a quality of regular, estimated, or calculated. And finally the type can include before, after, range, span, etc. Events support roles, e.g. bride for a marriage event.

Gramps can create narrative style web sites. You can select a standard copy right or from any of the Creative Commons copyrights. Not only can living people be excluded, entirely or name only but also a date range to restrict recently deceased people can be selected, e.g. people who died within the last five years could be treated as if they were still living.

Sources can be attached to people, families, events, and multimedia. I would have preferred source templates based on Mills' or Lackey's books.

Gramps directly supports patronymic style names, e.g. ap Robert, verch Evan, etc. However, matronyms are not supported so for example ‘Īsá ibn Maryam would need to be entered as a patronymic.

The installation can be intimidating. There are several required programs which must be installed in a specific order. I recommend using the all in one installation or the portable version on the Portable Apps website.

Family Tree Legends is fairly easy to use, flexible, and has many capabilities. Clicking on Events icon displays all of the events for an individual. You can add alternate names, birth, marriage, death, and burial events along with the many other events of the individuals life.

You can attach photos or any other type of document. Strong report generator supports ancestor, pedigree, descendant, descendant summary, time line, family group sheet, kinship, and other reports. Creates ancestor and descendant charts in fan, standard, and vertical formats as well as hourglass and bow tie charts. Legends can print collections of reports with table of contents, an index, and other pages. Imports date from Family Tree Maker and GEDCOM files. The program supports a To Do List and a correspondence list.

I like having the ability to merge duplicate sources and repositories.

There is only one source format. No location list to help with consistency in place entry but you do have a replace function to help clean up variations on a place name.

RootsMagic Essentials has a variety of source templates based on Elizabeth Shown Mills Evidence. Rootsmagic supports narrative reports. I was able to open multiple databases or the same database multiple times and display them side by side.

Supports multiple parent relationships, e.g. adoptive. However, all parent relationships assume that the parents are married. Happily I was able to enter a gender neutral relationship for the parents of a child. However, one of the women was denoted the father and the other as the mother. I'd prefer to be able to list both as parent, both as mother, or the actual mother as mother and the other as parent.

Create a web site is disabled in the free version. Saving reports to other file formats is disabled in the free version--viewing and printing is allowed. There is no option to hide living people or events for living folks in reports.

RootsMagic displays a nagging splash screen at every start up requiring the user to chose between the free and the Full version. This is immediately followed with a RootsMagic News screen. Many menu choices are not functional in the free version but I do appreciate that they are highlighted in a reddish color.

If you're interested in a portable application then ScionPC should be at the top of your list.

I love the lack of gender constraints, e.g. I can add both of my grandchildren's same sex parents without resorting to tricks such as changing the gender of one of the parents. Both members of marriages are referred to as partner's. (There is a warning that the couple is the same sex.) I wish other genealogy programs would adopt this standard.

ScionPC has exceptional date format support, e.g. Circa, Before, After, Estimated, and Date Range modifiers as well as Georgian, Julian, Hebrew, French Revolutionary, Islamic, Persian, Indian National, Coptic, User Defined and Unknown calendars. I like the pop up calendar for use when entering dates.

The program creates a complete web site for upload. Supports CSS.

The program has no place list but it does provide a unique method for merging similar places.

No method of excluding living individuals or their events in either reports or website. Surnames default to all uppercase. Only one source citation is permitted per event.

Personal Ancestral File (PAF) is the software supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's a good basic genealogy program and easy to use.

The reports are in Born, Married, Died, Buried order but the other events are not sorted by date. No box style charts.

Only one source citation is permitted per event.

No bookmarks.

PAF can generate html files for upload to your website.

Myheritage Family Tree Builder has an nice hour glass view that can adjust from just one generation above and below the focus person to three generations. This eliminates the need for seperate person, pedigree, and descendant views. There is a handy list for navigation just to the left which can be expanded or retracted out of the way.

MyHeritage automatically checks for possible duplicates when entering people. This feature mitigates the absence of a merge duplicate people tool.

A button appears next to the place entry field when clicked will offer suggestions from similar places already appearing in your database.

Individual reports can be saved to HTML format. MyHeritage supports a direct upload to the MyHeritage web site but no other independent web site creation.

No place or individual reports.

There is no context sensitive help available but the PDF format manual is very helpful.

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This post is TO BE CONTINUED…

Windows Efficiency Manager - NOT SAFE!!!

I was contacted by a client this morning that told me that they had a new software “Windows Efficiency Manager” - well what a nice name, sounds useful doesn’t? This is a rogue anti-spyware program that is part of the Fake Microsoft Security Essentials infection.

Yesterday, I was contacted by a client that had suddenly been knocked off the internet. I had not seen the computer in some time so i checked to see if his AVG was up to date. I found it shut off and in it’s place was the icon for Microsoft Security Essentials, a real program that does work nicely, offered by Microsoft. However, after a little research I have found that this client actually was infected! Here is what I learned and how to resolve the problem yourself. Don’t worry this stuff can be intimidating, just contact Simply Seniors Computer Tutors for help 321-431-3866.

What this infection does:

Windows Efficiency Manager is a fake rogue anti-spyware program that is part of the Fake Microsoft Security Essentials infection. When this infection is installed on your computer it will display a fake Microsoft Security Essentials alert that states that it has detected an Unknown Win32/Trojan on your computer. This alert will state:

Microsoft Security Essentials Alert
Potential Threat Details
Microsoft Security Essentials detected potential threats that might compromise your private or damage your computer. Your access to these items may be suspended until you take an action. Click 'show details' to learn more.

It will then prompt you to scan your computer, which will start a fake scan of your computer that ultimately states that a particular file is infected with Trojan.Horse.Win32.PAV.64.a. It will then prompt you to install Windows Efficiency Manager to remove the virus. The text of this prompt is:

Threat prevention solution found
Security system analysis has revealed critical file system vulnerability caused by severe malware attacks.
Risk of system files infection:
The detected vulnerability may result in unauthorized access to private information and hard drive data with a serious possibility of irreversible data loss and unstable PC performance. To remove the malware please run a full system scan. Press 'OK' to install the software necessary to initiate system files check. To complete the installation process please reboot your computer.

When you press OK, the infection will download and install Windows Efficiency Manager and reboot your computer.

When your computer reboots you will be presented with the Windows Efficiency Manager screen before your normal Windows desktop is shown. It then prompts you to scan your computer, which will state that your computer is infected with numerous infections. In order to get to your normal Windows desktop, you will need to close the Windows Efficiency Manager program when it has finished its fake scan. As you can see this program is a scam as it is ransoming the proper operation of your computer until you purchase it. It goes without saying that you should not purchase this program for any reason.

While the program is running it will also display fake security alerts that are further used to scare you into thinking that your computer has a serious problem. Some of these alerts include:

System Security Warning
Attempt to modify register key entries is detected. Register entries analysis is recommended.

System component corrupted!
System reboot error has occurred due to lsass.exe system process failure.
This may be caused by severe malware infections.
Automatic restore of lsass.exe backup copy completed.
The correct system performance can not be resumed without eliminating the cause of lsass.exe corruption.

Warning!
Name: firefox.exe
Name: c:\program files\firefox\firefox.exe
Application that seems to be a key-logger is detected. System information security is at risk. It is recommended to enable the security mode and run total System scanning.

Just like the fake scan results, these alerts are also fake and are only being used to scare you into purchasing the program. Therefore, please ignore them.

As you can see, Windows Efficiency Manager was created to scare you into thinking your computer has a severe security problem so that you will then purchase this program. For no reason should you purchase Windows Efficiency Manager, and if you already have, you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charges stating that the program is a computer infection. Finally, to remove this infection, and any related malware, please use the removal guide below.

Threat Classification:

Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

Array

Tools Needed for this fix:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

This informwas brought to you by Grinler on Wed, 02 Mar 2011

Hope you find this helpful!

Thanks for reading – Simply Seniors Computer Tutors are on the web at www.ComputerTutorHelp.Us!!!

Don’t forget our Friday Classes at the Wickham park Senior Center, Melbourne, FL

registration is required: 321-431-3866

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor is the premier technical assistant for seniors!

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor will be offering a series of computer classes this March. All classes are $10 and this will include a printed book. Classes are offered at the Wickham park Senior Center in Melbourne. Class starts promptly at 10am until 11:30am. Each Friday you will learn a different topic. Pick and choose only the classes you need!

www.ComputerTutorHelp.Us

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Computer Tutor March Class Schedule

It’s March! No way! March 2011 is already here, are you ready to learn something new about your computer? Ready to get mom & dad off your back? Simply Seniors Computer Tutors offers in home computer services for senior citizens in Central Florida. Tutorial, Technical and Terrific! That’s how I’d describe Simply Seniors Computer Tutor!

www.ComputerTutorHelp.com

Simply Seniors Computer Tutors – we make computers simple for seniors! 321-431-3866

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Seniors Learn Differently

We at Simply Seniors Computer Tutor have spent the last ten years learning the BEST teaching methods for older computer users. Learn more about our services at www.ComputerTutorHelp.us

This article is about how seniors learn differently from younger students. The original content is located at http://www.associatedcontent.com. It is very useful to anyone that may offer a service like Simply Seniors Computer Tutor’s or for anyone that wishes to be helpful to an senior new to computers.

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor’s looks forward to seeing you soon!

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For several years, I taught basic computer use, from introduction to computers to office skills. I learned a lot doing it - that weapons scanners at the courthouse wipe diskettes clean, and that if you bond too much with rich kids their daddies lean on you to do personal tutoring.

But the most interesting thing I learned was that older people - those born before 1950, primarily - learn technology differently from those of us who have more or less grown up with computers. As an older population, they also have different physical issues; and as a completely different generation, they have very different learning styles.

It requires a different approach to teach our respected elders how to use the technology we take for granted. But if you're a teacher excited about technology, and creative about ways to get others excited about it, older people learn better than younger people.
You heard me right. I prefer my older students to my younger ones. They are smarter, more motivated, and genuinely excited about learning. But it can be a challenge.

Seniors Learning Computers: The Issues
Getting older students to the point where they can learn technology is the first hurdle. Physical, mental, and attitude issues all get in the way.

Physical issues include:
Vision - Not only do older students have poorer vision overall, it's poor in a different way from younger students. You may have to learn how to adjust screens for each individual student - and then teach them how to do it themselves.
Mobility - Most people think of mobility problems as wheelchairs and walkers. That's not a problem; in a comfortable chair, everyone's the same. What is a problem: arthritic hands.
Once you have those problems sorted out, you often find serious learning issues lurking behind them:

Lack of technological background: Your seniors grew up in an age where not every house had a television - and when they did have a television, there were likely one or two channels, four or five hours a day. It was a radically different world, and you have to understand where they're coming from before you can teach them. Students who learned how to operate older generation mainframe computers are often the hardest to teach, as they have to unlearn things they've known for forty years.

Difference in learning style: Our kids today learn in a group setting that often seems chaotic; our seniors learned much more individually and may value politeness over assertiveness. The most important difference: you have to learn to spot questions without the student asking them. Many seniors, especially women, simply won't ask questions, and get lost instead.

Senility and mental acuity problems: There's nothing you can do about this occasional problem except have patience with it. Older people don't learn as easily as younger people, and even when they do you may have to go back more often. This requires your patience.
Resistance to learning new things: A lot of older people just want to learn one thing on computers, or believe that "old dogs can't learn new tricks." You have to sell them on the fact that they will need to understand more than just one thing, and that they can, indeed, learn new things. This requires mostly respect and patience.

Methodologies in Teaching Computers to Seniors

If you're teaching older people in the US, always use Microsoft products. That's not because Microsoft is better - it's not - but rather because most of what they will get out of the box on a computer or run into at the library will be Microsoft. (Outside the US, visit a library to see what's most commonly used in your locality - Linux and Corel are more common as close as Canada.)

Once your classroom is set up and you have everyone comfortable - and you've familiarized yourself with your students' limitations - desensitize them to computers. The most common problem I run into is a fear of breaking the computer, or just a fear of the computer. Open an old computer box (unplugged, of course!), show them the insides, explain what the processor, memory, etc. do. Take out chips and components, and let the students handle them as you explain what they do. Especially show how the connections in the back work with individual cards. This will go a long way toward taking the mystery out of the computer.

Explain computer safety, and introduce peripherals like the mouse, etc. Encourage them to plug in and unplug their own peripherals so they can see how it works. Watch for any uncertainty, and only move on when everyone seems comfortable.

Then - play games. This enables seniors to work on the mouse, their own mobility and vision, and allows you to teach the very basic components of Windows. Even if you have a senior who's used the internet, etc., require the games. It tells you a variety of things. For example, I had one sweet lady who would move her mouse to the right position, then take her hand off it and click it from above. This did not work well! I had to put my hand over hers to guide her, and then she got it.

Other students may obviously at this point have mobility issues. Consider using trackballs for these students, and if the mobility issue is severe look at ergonomic options like special keyboards or even chord keyboards.

After this task is completed, teach basic windows tools, generic keyboard shortcuts (especially CTRL-Z, Undo) and other generic Windows things. Use slideshows and handouts to help them remember. Move from there into specific programs like word, excel, etc., and into specific tasks like downloading pictures from digital cameras.

One last tip for this section: at the end of every class every day, teach your students something useful you think their children and grandchildren don't know. It can be as simple as the CTRL-Z, or as complex as where to find a particularly useful website. This will keep your students eager to return to the next class, and allow them to impress their younger relatives.

Teaching Techniques For Seniors
Throughout your courses, you should encourage your students to direct their own learning. Older people often lack patience, whether they say so or not, and they want their time to be THEIR time. Keep classes small, and let them tell you what they want.

At the same time, teach slowly and patiently, emphasizing hands-on. My rule is to show them how once, and then guide them through doing it themselves thereafter. Because the slow, patient approach is a must, it's a good idea to match students with a pre-test to their skill level. With younger students, I often encourage quicker students to help the slower students next to them; this has less-predictable effects when you're working with an older population.

Most importantly, watch for those mobility and other ergonomic issues. Donut cushions may be necessary, or back support cushions. Learn everything you can about ergonomic keyboards, antiglare screens, improved contrast screens, and the Microsoft accessibility tools. Larger screens may be necessary for some students, at least when they take their skills home with them. As a last resort, talking programs for either input or output may be a necessity.

Chord keyboards are something a little different. These resemble game controllers, and have up to six keys. These keys, pressed alone or in combination, can duplicate the normal keyboard. They're harder to learn, but if you have a student with severe arthritis, this frees up one hand and requires much less movement of the arm in order to get the same results. A person who is sincere about teaching technology to older people would be wise to purchase one and learn how to use it.

As you can see, the problems presented when teaching technology to seniors can be mild to extreme. However, this sort of teaching is also lucrative. There are few computer schools or tutor programs that focus exclusively on seniors - and it is our older people who are most motivated to learn how to use computers. They didn't have the exposure younger people had, but want to use the technology to keep up with family and especially grandchildren.
With decent marketing, a talent for teaching, and patience, you can teach technology to seniors through churches, local adult ed programs, or as commercial classes. It's fun, rewarding, and not all that hard.