The recording of the Webinar that was presented can be found here: https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/launch/nativeplayback.jnlp?sid=2010063&psid=2013-06-27.1953.M.D25F718E69422AD22538EC464FC20F.vcr

This is a part transcript of the Video that can be viewed here

I originally developed the above video independent of presenting it as a webinar. When I was asked to present it as a webinar I thought I would be able to show the video as part of the webinar but I discovered because of the limited speed of my upload to the internet it is not possible to do that. What I have had to do is convert the video to still slides and separate sound files.

Although you will get a reasonable impression of what the technology I am going to show you is about, the video will give you a much, much better appreciation of it, as would using the this technology on your own computer.

I therefore suggest you watch the video after this webinar session. I will now put a link to it in the chat window.

A transcript of the Video is also available on this web page:

http://geoff.greig.net.au/docuwiki/doku.php?id=seniors_technology_introduction

A recording is always made of these webinars. All the recording can be found here:

https://ala.asn.au/broadband-for-seniors/recorded-elluminate-session/

This session is an introduction to technology for senior people that have no or very little or no knowledge about modern technology.

In all the time of human existence this must be the point at which technology has had the greatest influence on the way we live. Unfortunately, for some older people, it is difficult to keep up with that technology.

The aim of this session is to give you a brief overview of some of the computing technology that is currently available so that you can decide if you wish to learn more about it.

A want to emphasize that this session is only going to SHOW you the technology, NOT show you how to use it. We do not have the time to show you how to use it.

But at the end of this session we will show you how you can learn, about some, it not all, of this technology.

1. - Using a Digital Camera or Mobile Phone
2. - Sending and receiving electronic mail (email), to/from a personal computer, mobile phone or tablet computer, including a photo and or video
3. - Talking and seeing other people live at very inexpensive rates using a personal Computer or tablet computer
4. - Watching videos or TV on a computer
5. - See an overhead view of any part of the earth as well as street views
6. - See a live, as it happens, view of London and New York and selected other places around the world
7. - Recording a TV show on to a computer
8. - Speak to a computer to get it to do functions for you and have it write what you say.
9. - Recording sound and moving pictures and then manipulating them
10. - A list of other items showing the benefits of modern technology.

Small little Electronic Devices, that can fit in your pocket or purse, such as mobile phones and digital cameras have made an enormous difference to our lives. A photo can now be taken on a digital camera, or mobile phone, and the image can be seen, immediately. Within seconds, that image can be transferred to somebody else on the other side of the planet.

That same image can be used in multitudes of ways by additional Computer Technology.

Electronic mail, better known as email, with the appropriate devices, is used to send and receive messages to anywhere in the world at very little cost. It costs no more to send an email to the person sitting beside you, as it does to a personal on the other side of a world.

In addition to messages, via what is called “attachments” anything else that is able to be stored in a computing device can also be sent or received at those same small costs. Attachments can be: photos, drawings, videos, audio recording or complex designs.

It can only take a few seconds to send a small email to the other side of the world. Typically it takes far less time for a computing device to send an e-mail than it takes to compose (write) the email.

E mails allow people to keep in touch at very little cost and share information via photos and videos, very easily.

Just like it costs no more to send an e-mail to the person beside you as it does to a person on the other side of the world, it costs no more to talk in a live conversation together with the ability to see the other person, whether they be beside you, or on the other side of the world. This is basically known as video calls. Its basically like making a video phone call.

What makes it inexpensive, is it that it bypasses the telephone network and uses Computer Networks.

Because computer networks usage is charged based on the amount of “ data” that is used rather than on time and distance, as is the case with the phone network, this makes video phone calls comparatively very inexpensive.

It is possible, without any additional expense, to conference video call to multiple people, anywhere around the world.

Families in diverse locations around the world can get together via conference video calls at very little cost.

Whilst within these video conference calls it is possible to share, photos, videos or whatever else is on each person's screen.

On only one part of the Internet 72 hours of video are added every minute. Often, the hardest thing to do is to decide what to watch.

If you had the time, you could spend the rest of your life watching videos, most of which are completely free to watch.

Other than watching videos for entertainment you can also watch videos to learn how to do something or even to complete a university course.

With the appropriate equipment it is also possible to watch television on a computer.

Watching television via computer gives a number of advantages, such as pausing, rewinding and fast forwarding lives TV shows.

The previous images you saw, were images that we've taken in the past. Via what are called “ web cams”, it is possible to see images of other parts of the world, that are only a few seconds old or as they are happening. In some situations is also possible to hear sound.

The date and time at the location are often shown as well.

In addition to being able to watch television on a computer is also possible to record TV programmes. With sufficient computer accessories, is is possible to record multiple programs at the same time as well as watching an additional program.

Recording with a computer can also allow the advertisements to be automatically skipped when playing back the recordings

Via an electronic programme guide is very easy to program what is to be recorded, and at what times.

As TV recordings are just another form of computer information they can be incorporated with other computer information extremely easily.

Computers and computing devices have the ability to record both sound and moving pictures. With what is called “ video editing” is possible to edit your own movies.

This entire video was produced and edited on a computer together with a mobile phone and a digital camera.

Sound and video can be cut up, moved around, duplicated and put together in any order you wish. Much of that same functionality the Hollywood film editors have are at your disposal with a Home Computer or even on a mobile phone.

So you may become a famous film producer!!

We are only just scratched the surface of what technology can do for you.

It is impossible to list everything that technology could do for you, but here are just a few others:

1. - Research your ancestors
2. - Write a book about your history
3. - Research a holiday
4. - Make reservations anywhere in the world
5. - Keep in contact with relatives and friends
6. - With the appropriate permissions know exactly where anyone is and allow others to know where you are
7. - Know where exactly any of your Electronic Devices are
8. - Make small precise three dimensional objects
9. - Access thousands of books
10. - Play games
11. - Play and learn to play a musical instrument
12. - Draw three dimensional objects
13. - Record an electronic diary and a record what you do
14. - Electronically record everywhere you go
15. - Listen to radio stations anywhere in the world
16. - Track aircraft and ships
17. - When you are traveling find places of interest nearby
18. - Record a simple memo
19. - Obtain and listen to music
20. - Get directions to any place
21. - Have access to news and weather no matter where you are
22. - Access maps of the anywhere in the world
23. - See driving and road conditions at any time of any – place
24. - be reminded of whenever special events are occurring
25. - Save money
26. - Compare prices of commodities around the world
27. - Learn how to use technology

How to learn how to use technology.

This will depend on what you already know and what sort of or learner you are.

If you know nothing about computers and are not a self learner, it is most likely best to do a introduction course where you should learn the basics of operating a computer and how to use the Internet and send and receive Emails. The broadband for seniors training program is very good for this.

If you wish to use devices other than computers, such as tablet computers, mobile phones, digital cameras and the like you could do an introduction course on these. Again the people that teach broadband for seniors could point you in the right direction.

If you have a little bit of knowledge or are a self learner the Internet and Google search are the way to go.

Often the most difficult part is simply coming to grips with the terminology. Fortunately Google Search helps here as well. Enter the word “define” before what you are searching for or enter “ how does” such and such “ work”. Or just write your question as is if you were asking a person. You may be a surprised with the results you get.

If you're not very good at reading or writing you can always click on “Utube” (a large repository of computer videos) and you may get videos that can explain some things for you.

A good way of learning technology is simply to talk to people and not be shy about asking questions. Most people are more than willing to impart knowledge to others. It is difficult to get answers, unless you ask questions

The presentation of this material (an hour ad a half) was recorded an can be viewed here:

https://ala.asn.au/broadband-for-seniors/recorded-elluminate-session/

The 20 Minute Utube video that the presentation was based on can be watched here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVzPl6aTWFM&feature=youtu.be

The transcript of the video can be seen here:

http://geoff.greig.net.au/docuwiki/doku.php?id=seniors_technology_introduction

My training material on Digital Cameras:

http://geoff.greig.net.au/docuwiki/doku.php?id=digital_camera_workshop

My training material on Mobile Phones:

http://geoff.greig.net.au/docuwiki/doku.php?id=mobile_phone_workshop

Lots of other training material can seen here:

http://bfsv.wikispaces.com/