Let Relatives Fix your Computer Remotely

Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa, Canada

As you sip your double double at Tim Horton's, you see José dragging himself in carrying a very gloomy face.

"Hey José!! Over here!" you cry out to him.

"Oh hey Karl. Nice to see you."

"Why are you so glum?" you ask.

"My computer is on the fritz. I need to take it in to have it looked after, which means this will cost me lots of money," José replied deflated.

"Why not get your good for nothing software engineer son to look at it?"


"Because John doesn't live here in Ottawa. I have to explain my computer problem over the phone to him and he never understands me. So then I get frustrated, then he gets frustrated, then we both yell at each other, and then we hang up. And my poor computer would still be broken.

I figured it would be easier to skip all that and just get my computer fixed by some local professional."

"José, are you still able to connect to the internet?"

"Yeah, why?"

"There are programs out there that can allow John to connect to your computer via your internet connection. Therefore, you avoid any miscommunication because he can see for himself what problems you are having with your computer AND he can try and fix it. "

........

Here are a list programs that allow people that you trust (like your son/daughter) to remotely access your computer and help you fix it.


Logmein - Free

GotoMyPc

Getting Used to the Mouse

Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa

The first big hurdle to overcome while learning to use the computer is the mouse. Mouse navigation takes time so do not despair. With practice, the pointer on your screen will move where you want it to go and in no time you will see that clicking and even double clicking won't be so strenuous.

If there is a physical limitation that is preventing you from using the mouse, try using mousekeys. You can use your keyboard instead of your mouse to move the pointer. Another alternative is to use a joystick.

Here are some websites to practice your mouse navigation:

2jourMouse

Mousercise

Turning Off Frozen Computers

Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa Canada

You are in a bad mood because your computer is in a bad mood.

It started innocently. You were reading E-mail and listening to your favorite tunes when.. BOOM... your computer refused to listen to you. You frantically moved the mouse up, down, sideways, diagonally, and... NOTHING. With great Herculean force, you pounded the keys; A, CTRL, TAB, and a couple of ENTERs. Perhaps random combination of keys was all that was needed to appease your computer. BUT NO!!!!! Ice cold silence was returned.

You knew you had to restart the computer. You pressed the power button but..... the computer would not turn off. Reduced to tears you shouted at the heavens, "WHY MEEEEE?!?!"

.......................................

In newer computers pressing the power button may not turn off the computer. You will need to hold down the power button for 5 seconds before it shuts off.

Bluetooth? On Cell Phones?

Computer Coaching for Seniors Toronto Canada

965 AD Jelling, Denmark

Haraald Bluetooth, the king of Denmark and the new King of Norway, sat next to the Jelling Runestone that honoured his mother and father. With a deep sigh he wondered, "Will people remember me after I am gone?"

Present Day, Ottawa Tim Hortons

"Bluetooth??? What's that?" You ask Charlie after he describes all the features of his new cell phone.

"Oh Karl, its the latest thing in phones," Charlie replied.

"OK Charlie, I still don't know what it does."

"Karl, I can't explain it to you. It is too complicated for you to understand."

"Sooo Charlie," you pause looking at him straight in the eyes, "you don't know either."

"Darn you Karl, you found my weakness!!!!!!!"

Bluetooth gives your cell phone the ability to transmit wirelessly to hands-free headphones or even to your hearing aid (if you have the proper accessory).

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/bluetooth-hearing-aids.html

If your computer is able to transmit and receive Bluetooth signals, then you can also transfer pictures, video and other data stored on your cellphone to your computer. However, Bluetooth has a short range, so your phone and your computer have to be close in distance to transfer data between them.