| Gran Surfs the Net
by Eleanor Davis
I did actually learn to use a very early computer, mainly as a word processor. I found it very useful. But when it came to more complicated matters such as `the Web' or `surfing the Net' I was lost and quite happy to remain so. But what do you do when a friend gives you a computer? You learn to use it, that's what! Nothing on my old Amstrad `Word Express' programme had prepared me for `Windows'. Any ideas I may have had about just using it for my writing were quickly dispelled by my generous friend who was giving up her flat and returning to America. "Now we'll be able to keep in touch by e-mail," she enthused. "What's e-mail?" I enquired dubiously. Patiently, my friend explained that messages sent by electronic mail could be hurled vast distances around the world in seconds and at a fraction of the cost of a stamp. Keeping in touch would be cheap, easy and incredibly fast. Having sons living in distant parts of the world and knowing their reluctance to put pen to paper, I was hooked. I demanded to know how to go about getting on this e-mail thing. "No problem," she assured me airily, "I've already got you set-up on both e-mail and the Internet." Thoroughly alarmed at the speed in which I was being bundled into the world of computer technology, I decided that I needed some help. Before she left, my friend gave me a few basic lessons, the computer was installed and I went `on-line'. (That's what they call it when you're connected to the Internet!) I discovered that sending and receiving messages was not too complicated, despite those early occasions when my messages disappeared into the great unknown, or only half their contents arrived. These little drawbacks were far outweighed by the joy of sending letters to Arizona, Belize and a couple of addresses in the U.K. - the whole lot in less than one minute and at the cost of only a few pence. And when I got three e-mails over one weekend from a son who had written only three times in as many years, I was hooked. However, there still remained vast stretches of computer territory as yet unexplored by me. Tentatively, I began to experiment, gaining confidence when I discovered that the computer would flash Are you sure you want to delete this? onto the screen, reassuring me that I wasn't likely to lose everything at a touch of the wrong button. I soon found I was spending more and more time at the computer and thoroughly enjoying myself, despite frequent and frantic wails of `What did I do?' when faced with something totally different from what I expected to see on the screen. It amazed me how quickly the time passed when I was exploring the capabilities of my new 'toy'. But if it was to be more than just a plaything, I was going to need some training. I found that there are many people anxious to train beginners on computers. `Basic Computing for the Terrified' run by the Local Education Authority, was a title I found particularly appealing. I didn't apply as it was only run at evening classes some distance away. I also discovered that the larger public libraries had computer courses for beginners, but these were also too expensive for my pocket. You can rent their computers by the half-hour, but there seemed little point in paying for the use of one when I have my own at home. However, if you just want to try things out before buying, you may find your public library's facilities helpful. Then I saw an advert for a free computer course. I'm still working my way through that one; there is just so much to
learn. The advantage of books is that they're there all the time, whenever
you want to use the computer. It's also very helpful if you have a
computer knowledgeable friend you can call when you're really stuck.
If you have any artistic talents, there are some programs which enables
you to draw pictures and print them, or even make your own greetings
cards. Alas, if like me, matchstick men are your limit, it's much the same
on the computer, although to be fair, I haven't spent much time working at
it.
Then there are games. My computer has just three games on it, two of
which I have no idea how to play. But I do like to spend a little time
playing `Solitaire' which is just a video version of `Patience'. This has
been of great assistance to my `mouse' control and, let me tell you, I
needed it. That perishing `mouse' drove me mad at first. It ran away with
me completely, mostly right off the screen. But I mastered it - no mouse
is going to get the better of me! Once you have the basic computer, you
can buy a whole range of games for it if you so desire.
The concept I found most terrifying of all was the `Internet' also
known as `The Web'. Yet once you've learned how to use it, the `Net' is
the most incredible source of information on every subject. It leaves the
Encyclopaedia Britannica way behind as it's being added to and updated
daily. (Actually the Encyclopaedia Britannica is online - Ed.) Tap in the
name of any subject in which you're interested and the information is
there constantly leading you on to peripheral subjects. No danger of
mental stagnation once you've access to the WorldWide Web!
Before you even start it's a good idea to find out how the whole thing
works. Again, I found the 3-D Visual Approach book, The WorldWide Web
Simplified a tremendous help in understanding the whole concept, very
useful for technological idiots like myself. The Virgin Guide to the
Internet is not only helpful in finding out what is on offer, but at £4.99
is also exceedingly good value. Most computer manuals are fairly pricey.
(You may find The Rough Guide to the Internet easy to understand and a
good buy at £6.00 - Ed.)
On the subject of cost, I'll pass on a tip from a friend about keeping
the telephone bill within limits when browsing the Internet. Decide how
long you want to be connected, then use a kitchen timer or similar; set it
to that amount of time and when the alarm goes off, your time is up. This
is a good idea because, as I said earlier, time flies when you're at the
computer, which is fine until you're online and the minutes are ticking
away. Like most things, too much can be costly.
Cyber cafes, which are springing up in all the big cities, can be a
good starting point. Generally speaking, you pay a monthly membership fee
and then a certain amount per half-hour. The prices vary from place to
place. During your first half-hour the assistant will help you to get
started, but if, like me, you have a `head like a sieve' you may forget
everything by the time you get home, unless you write it all down as you
go along. If you don't have your own computer yet, or you're still trying
to decide whether it's worth going on-line, cyber cafes are a good way to
get an idea of things before you start, with the added bonus of coffee
readily available to keep you going.
I find the things I can do on my computer absolutely mind-boggling:
T.V. adverts; I can shop and check my bank account; I can log on to a
`people finder' programme to help me track down long-lost friends. I am an
avid reader; I'm almost afraid of the sheer temptation of looking up the
book programmes to see what's on offer. Did you realise there are websites
that show continually updated images from cameras all over the world,
focussed on all kinds of beautiful and interesting places like mountains,
historic buildings etc? It makes being an `armchair traveller' so simple
and when you're tired of looking at one place you can just click-on to
another. I do not have any desire to watch live debates in Parliament, but
I if I wanted to, I could.
The spiritual side of life is also well-catered for as many religious
organisations have their own web sites, (including The Plain Truth) so
whether you're a committed Christian, like myself, or still searching,
you'll surely find something to make you think. That's what's so fantastic
about the Internet. There really is `something for everyone'.
Have I convinced you? Look around. Do you see an unlimited vista or
have the walls of your life slowly started closing in? It's never too late
to climb out, start stimulating your mind and expand your horizons. There
will never be a better time to enlarge your thinking than right now.
Investing in a computer could be the start of a whole new life. Go on,
throw away society's label with all its fears and limitations. You may not
be able to surf the ocean waves, but you're never too old to `surf the
Net'.
Some sites to look at:
http://www.hairnet.org/ http://www.silversurfers.net/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/
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