Author: Mr John
Hi Net Neighbors!
Today’s Quick Tip covers a little bit of safety. When you leave your computer or device alone, make sure to lock it. Even an easy password is harder to crack than no password at all.
If you are on a Windows computer it is as easy as holding down the Windows key and the L key.
On phones and tablets, just turning the screen off is usually enough to lock it. If you’re not sure though, check your device settings.
Until next time, have fun, find adventure, and stay safe.
Hi Net Neighbors!
Mr. John here with another episode. Today we will look at the mouse, how to use it and some of different kinds out there.
Hi Net Neighbors!
I’ve posted another video to YouTube. This time I’m focusing on navigating in Microsoft Office. Take a look.
Hi Net Neighbors!
Today I’m back with another Quick Tip, this time surrounding video chat and your battery. With more and more of us going virtual for our meetings and gatherings it’s more important than ever to understand how these activities can impact your battery life. The great news is that there isn’t much required to get the most bang for your buck.
First things first, the easiest way to not burn through your battery is to plug your device in. That’s it. Now I know it’s not always an option, maybe you’re in the wrong place or there are no safe plugs. Just don’t forget this option though, it can save a lot of headaches.
Next, it’s time to dive into your device’s general settings. Nothing extravagant, just the items you might have access to with a swipe up or down. In those quick settings there is often a slider for your screen brightness. Just turning the brightness down a little can save a lot of power. Also, the greatest thing about the brightness trick is that it doesn’t change what others see of you.
Another great way to save power is by changing the network you’re on. Did you know that Wi-Fi uses a lot less power than mobile data? Think about it, Wi-Fi usually extends just past the edge of a building whereas mobile data can talk to a tower blocks or miles away. It’s the difference between talking and shouting. So if you’re going to be doing a lot of talking use Wi-Fi. Not only is it energy efficient, it’s cheaper!
That’s it for this Quick Tip. It’s a little longer than the last but it’s good information. Give what I’ve said a try and see if you notice any change. I’ll see you next time.
Until then, have fun, find adventure, and stay safe.
Hi Net Neighbors!
Today I have some great news, I’ve launched the Net Neighborhood’s official YouTube Channel! Now you can see videos along with the written text you’ll find here. Feel free to comment and I hope to do more in the near future.
Hi Net Neighbor!
Welcome to the first of what I hope are many Quick Tips. Quick Tips are quick little tidbits of information. They’re easily digestible and, hopefully, help a little too. This Quick Tip is on Zoom, or more precisely a portion of Zoom that can trip people up; permissions.
If you don’t use Zoom often you might find yourself getting unnerved when your phone or tablet tells you Zoom wants permission to use your camera and audio. It’s a reasonable thing to be worried about, for so long we have been told to not let apps or programs, or really anything, have access to our devices. So many crime shows warn against this very thing. And while I do not want you to throw caution to the wind, for today’s Corner Tip I would like to promote a little more trust.
Zoom is not asking for these things because it is being nosy. They aren’t trying to open a gate into your device to steal your information. No, instead they are asking your permission to use your stuff to do the thing you want to do. When Zoom wants permission to use your camera, it is so your friends and loved ones can see you. And when it asks to use your audio it’s so you can hear and be heard. If you want to use Zoom you’ll have to say yes.
Don’t worry about leaving a hole for someone to crawl in, Zoom asks every time. In this way they are good Net Neighbors and it is up to us to treat them as such. Besides, you can always turn off your camera or mute your audio after the fact.
That’s all for now, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.
Until then, have fun, find adventure, and be safe.
Hi Net Neighbors!
I’ve been around the block a while now and with every new year that passes I see more and more people being given new tech for the holidays. Oh the number of people I’ve encountered who held a new tablet or computer, their eyes wide and weary, and say, “My kid gave this to me for Christmas and I don’t know what to do with it.” If this is you, then I want you to remember a few things.
1) It’s okay that you don’t know everything about it. After all, you don’t know Esperanto and no one gives you gruff about that.
2) You are NEVER too old to learn something new. In fact, learning new things is good for you and your brain.
3) There is no timetable for learning. No one learns the same way or at the same speed. If you are having problems learning something don’t beat yourself up, you just haven’t found your way.
4) Reach out to others. Ask them to SHOW you not just do it. If you are working with someone younger, remind them about point 3. You might even need to remind them it took twice as long for them to be potty trained as their sibling, and that is a far more vital skill than knowing how to download an app.
5) While books can be a great way to learn, by their very nature they are always going to be behind the march of technology. Don’t be afraid to look at YouTube videos or sites like this.
6) No one, not even me, knows everything about technology and the Net Neighborhood and that’s okay. To this day I’ll look for the answers to my questions.
7) Nothing is supposed to “just work”. Cars act up, lights turn off, ovens have to be set five degrees hotter because the gauge is a little off. Why then do you think your phone or tablet is different?.
8) And finally, if you’re getting frustrated then set it down. No one learns when they’re frustrated. Set it down, do something else, and come back when you’re clear headed.
That’s all for now Net Neighbors. Remember to breathe, to have fun, and I’ll see you around the Net Neighborhood.
Hello,
My name is John Carter, but you can call me Mr. John. I would like to formally welcome you to the Net Neighborhood. From your silence I am guessing no one has ever done that before. Oh sure, one site may say hi and another may have a little bubble pop up welcoming you but has anyone taken the time to sit down and welcome you to the Net Neighborhood?
Probably not.
That is downright inhospitable if you ask me.
The Net Neighborhood is huge. It’s so huge that if you were to download the whole thing it would take you over a billion years at current speeds. Now I’m betting that sounds a little scary and that’s okay. Big things ARE scary, you’ve know that since you were a kid. But when we learn about those big things, when we start to understand them, they stop being scary and instead become a friend. That is my hope for the Net Neighborhood.
Together we are going to talk about technology, art, science, movies, and anything and everything else. We are going to learn and understand and in doing so, hopefully, we’ll learn about each other.
If that sounds a little hokey, maybe it is. 2020 has been a hard year for all of us, some more than others, and in the face of such pain it can be easy to look at something like this and think it’s foolish. I’m sure Mister Rogers seemed a little hokey at the time too, but his show and his Neighborhood is remembered to this day as a source of good for the world. Now I will not claim to be the next Fred Rogers, or LeVar Burton, or Bill Nye but I aspire to make a difference in the world, no matter how small.
So, for the first time, but not the last, let me say, “Hi Net Neighbor!”
