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I just recently had that horrible thing you hope never happens to you (in the world of computers that is) happen to me. The hard drive on my lap top broke. What is the hard drive? I have gotten this question from some friends, so I thought I would clarify; it is the place where ALL your information is stored.
I, fortunately, do backups regularly and a hard drive image monthly, so I was not too panicked. The computer was still under warranty so they immediately sent out a new hard drive. Well, the warranty only covers, of course, the hardware, so everything on it was "not their problem." Nothing from this company in way of support for the less than 2 years worth of material I had acquired onto this storage unit. Let me tell you that I...

Apple Mail has built-in junk mail filters to help you sort your emails.
When you receive an email that is spam, click the Junk button in the upper right corner to label it. When you receive an email that is marked as Junk, that is NOT spam, click the Not Junk button.  By repeating these two actions on your messages, Mail will get smarter and learn which messages are Junk and which aren’t.
You can also go up to the Messages menu and choose “Bounce.” This will send the message back to the...

When I first started teaching people to use the computer was back in high school.  When the school gave computers to the teachers, I had a teacher that was afraid to touch the keybard.  He was afraid that if he touched a key on the...

To:  Verizon Foundationhttp://foundation.verizon.com/grant/application.shtml  
 
RE:  CAREER READINESS CERTICATION PROGRAM (CRCP)
 
Dear Verizon Foundation,
 
SmartSolutions, Inc. is pleased to present this proposal for your review. We look forward to partnering with you to provide a computer literacy, basic literacy, and career readiness program for our learners who need to improve their basic literacy skills. We have identified over 200 at risk adults who are not employed and have trouble finding a job because of their low computer skills and basic literacy skills. The primary objectives of the Career Readiness Certification...

GetyourITstart is dedicated to providing custom, high quality computer training to individuals and businesses.
My background includes over eight years in the field of information technology as both a supervisor and an employee. I know firsthand what skills employers are looking for in IT job applicants, and I incorporate them into your training.
While developing software applications I often came into contact with customers with little or no technical experience. It was my job to help them understand the process and ensure their applications matched their expectations. This kind of experience is very useful when you are helping individuals and business get the technical training they desire.
Experience has shown me that when processing information certain tasks are frequently repeated. These tasks are fundamental and once mastered they can be applied to almost everything you are...

Basic molecular and cellular biology and...

Last week one of my dear friends had her hard drive crash. She lost everything – emails, photos, business documents, financial records.... And I’m sure you know someone who tells the same story.  Hopefully, not you!
Do you back up your important files regularly? And if you do, can you restore those files if something goes wrong?
There are two major types of backups: archives, and emergency restoration.
Archiving refers to saving your essential files so that you have them forever. If you want to keep data for the long term, you need to make copies. The very best method is to burn a DVD. You can also store the files on a hard drive.
One benefit of archiving is that you can also remove the files from your computer to make extra space. For items like movies, one file can be 5GB, eating up your hard drive!
However, no one really knows how long DVDs will last. Some estimates are 20 years or more, but some say that a CD is only good for 10 years or so.
More importantly, the question is whether or not you still have the software to open old...

The Challenge —
Provide persons with disabilities, employees and members of the public, access to information that is comparable to the access available to all users.
The Key Considerations —
Develop applications and information services to address all users who may be faced with one or a combination of these physiological conditions.
A person who is BLIND - Uses sound to understand the position and movement of screen based elements and uses the keyboard for input. May use a Braille printer. Because the position of the interface cursor is determined by sound, text based information is mainly presented with Screen Reader technology. It is initiated when the information loads, by where it loads, and when it is brought into focus with cursor input.
A person who is visually impaired (low vision) or has damaged vision. Can use the mouse but mainly uses the keyboard for navigation and input or response. Uses visual enlargement of the screen, increasing the overall zoom magnification. This user may  also rely on Screen Readers for large amounts of textual information. Experiment with Windows “Magnifier” tool found in Windows Ease of Access Center to gain an understanding of this experience.
A person with mobility impairment. For this user, the use of devices that require control by the human hand may be impossible. Their one mobility solution is a head or tongue controlled wand or joystick. Attempt to write a short memo using only the eraser end of a pencil clenched between your teeth on a normal keyboard
A person who is deaf. This user can only receive information in text that is displayed. However is not challenged in navigating an application with keyboard or mouse. The receipt of visual information requires the appropriate captions or captioning streams. To place your self in this scenario, watch an instructional video with the sound off.
Individuals who are color blind, will have difficulty with both red and green as well as color backgrounds with low contrast to foreground text or foreground elements. To experience what you intend to develop, imagine it on a gray scale television set.
10% of all human males are color blind.
SUMMARY
Ask, what are the specific issues for each user? Know the tools that users will work with to overcome challenges to ordinary access.
Each consideration deals with verbal or captioned feedback , even color blindness to some extent. The greater challenges are addressed (mainly) with screen reader technology.
RULES OF THUMBS
Provide textual label(s) or screen reader equivalent for things that a seeing person would have to describe to a blind person.Control the reading order so that all design elements follow in logical order.
Describe all motion and animation elements just as you would images.
Ensure that access by mouse has the equivalent access by keyboard.
Understand the concept of PROGRESSIVE DISCLOSURE.Always provide captions in whatever method the application allows.
Provide controls over audio, especially background audio.When selecting colors, first consider color blindness and do not neglect low vision. Make contrast the first consideration in choosing foreground and background elements.
508 Basics
1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications. (from The US Government Website on the Section 508 Law  http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12#Software)
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content).
(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.
(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.
(f) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.
(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.
(h) Markup...

PC Maintenance 101
Your computer, like your home, requires a certain amount of periodic care and security: cleaning & organizing, locking the doors & windows, and so forth.  Your computer actually has two “homes,” one being the “physical home,” the case, and the other being a “virtual home,” the hard drive where information is stored.  This article will describe how to care for both… and why.
 The Case1.)        Clean2.)        Check connections
Clean – The case should be cleaned inside by vacuuming and using canned air to blow where the vacuum can’t reach.
Why?  The components inside the PC can get very hot; when dust accumulates inside, and on the fan blades, the fans may not be able to keep things cool enough.  This can lead to the premature failure of devices or automatic system shutdowns/restarts for no apparent reason.  The cleaning frequency will depend on how quickly your system accumulates dust & dirt, and the only way to know, is to start a cleaning routine.  Once a month is a good starting point; if it seems very dirty every time with this schedule, make it twice a month.  If there is little dust when checked monthly, increase the span gradually – you may be able to go as long as once a year.
**Caution** While cleaning, be sure to protect your system from static electricity damage by using a ground strap (preferred) or by touching a metal part of the case while you’re working (not as effective as the strap).
Check Connections – After you’ve finished cleaning, make sure all connections inside the case going to the motherboard and devices are firmly seated.  Note: there will most likely be several connectors coming from the power supply that are not connected to anything – this is normal, they are there for upgrades, so don’t panic and think something wrong.  Once you’ve closed the case back up, check all the connections on the back to make sure they are firmly in place as well.
Why?  While cleaning, you may have accidentally jarred something loose.  Also, connections sometimes work loose just from normal vibration.  It’s best to check now rather than opening it up again if you find something isn’t working.
PeripheralsYou may wish to include cleaning some peripherals in your routine.
Monitor – DO NOT open the case of the monitor, clean the outside by vacuuming and/or dusting and, if necessary, an aerosol spray for electronics.  Spray the cleaner on a cloth, not directly on the monitor.
Keyboard – Vacuum, turn it upside-down and shake it, and then vacuum again.
Standard Mouse – (The kind with the ball) Remove the ball and clean it with rubbing alcohol.  Use a cotton swab (Q-Tip) with rubbing alcohol to clean the rollers and guides inside the mouse that the ball rotates against.  Let everything dry (about a minute), and then reassemble it.The Hard Disk Drive (aka HDD, Hard Drive)1.)        Backup2.)        Update3.)        Clean & Organize4.)        Check for Problems5.)        Prevention & Protection
Backup – at least once a week, back up all your important data (files, pictures, browser favorites, everything that is important to you).
Why?  Eventually disaster will strike, either your HDD will fail, the Operating System (OS) will become corrupted or infected and not boot up, or the files themselves can become corrupted or even deleted accidentally.  It...

My thrill comes from teaching MAC users to get the most out of their computers. Many people don't realize that their computer is more than just a word processing and email machine. I work closely with my users by putting them in the drivers seat and showing them all the amazing stuff they can do on their computer. From simple school presentations to creating professional websites. I show them how to create movies in iMovie, and how to add effects that make their creations stand out....