SeniorNet on Information Technology
SeniorNet Federation executive officer Grant Sidaway believes the older you get, the more important using a computer becomes. He shares his knowledge and experience as a regular contributor to the SuperSeniors Website
Introducing Grant Sidaway
In 1992, Grant Sidaway helped start the first SeniorNet Learning Centre in New Zealand.
Now there are more than 80 throughout the country, and around 250,000 people have attended a course at one of them.
Grant is now the federation’s executive officer so we’re thrilled that he has agreed to be a regular contributor to the technology pages on the SuperSeniors website.
Grant makes a point of keeping up with developments in the world of technology and working out their relevance and use to seniors in New Zealand.
He is passionate about the role that technology can play in making life easier for you and the fun you can have while you’re doing it.
“I believe the older you get, the more important computers become. And learning about technology together makes it all a bit less confusing.”
In his columns he’ll be covering a range of issues that will help you understand technology, and give you ideas and the confidence about how you can use it.
Things like upgrading the software on your computer (do you really need to latest version?) email etiquette, doing your shopping online, low-cost ways to satisfy your inner creative genius, to the all important question on what happens to your digital property when you die – should you put something in your will?
Grant knows a lot about technology but he’s also aware that it can be a tad confusing for people who are new to exploring all that there is to offer so he’ll be writing for seniors at all stages of their technological journey.
And, as always, we welcome feedback and discussion about issues on these pages.
For information about SeniorNet and how to take part in a SeniorNet course, visit its website.
More to Google than you think
The word ‘google’ has gained such common usage that in 2006 it was added to the Oxford English Sictionary meaning to ‘search something on the web’.
But did you know that it orginally came about because the Google founders didn’t know how to spell ‘googal’ which means ten to the power of 100?
In his first column for the SuperSeniors website Grant gives us some insights into Google.