APCUG 2019 Spring Virtual Technology Conference (VTC32)
Thanks to our presenters for giving us a lot of information to add to our tech knowledge. We appreciate the time they took to put their presentations together and the 50 minutes they spent with us on a busy Saturday giving the presentation.
Also, thanks to the VTC committee who make the VTCs run smoothly:
John Kennedy, David Williams, Francis Chao, Jere Minich and Bill James — without them the VTCs would happen.
As requested, the Roundtable was to be devoted to websites but got side tracked into a general group discussion.
After the videos are uploaded we encourage you to use one or more for a presentation to your group. Enjoy the RT video — you will get website tips and general information about groups.
Windows 7 Sunset -Thanks, Greg! Enjoyed and appreciated the session. Greg did a good job in presenting alternative programs to install in our Windows 7 computers. He stated why we should not continue to use Windows 7 if we input sensitive information after January 2020.
A Beginners Guide to WordPress – Thank you, Mark. EXCELLENT presentation! Great links provided.
Are Your Bits Flipped? – Great slides, thanks Joe. Basic information is always welcome. Very good. Glad I tuned in.
Google Photos: 7 favorite features – Google Photos with Jim and Chris is always very informative even though I have an I-Phone and they were working with an Android phone. They made it easy to follow how Google Photos works. I found that the Snapseed app was a good free program to download what they suggested. Always love their presentations.
Youth and Technology – Thanks, Bill, for all the time you put into this informative presentation.
Roundtable – This was a GREAT round table, Learned much from all three tracks, and here too. Thanks. Enjoyed the meeting and the expert dialogue. Thanks for holding this. Even if I only remember a few of the ideas, it was well worth it. Many thanks for this wonderful VTC and Roundtable. Thank You – I enjoyed listening and all the great ideas.
Leah Clark, Editor, Los Angeles Computer Society – Leah’s Spring VTC Article will be published in the June issue of User Friendly.
On the Saturday morning of the Spring 2019 VTC Conference, I made extra coffee, settled down, and prepared to get some learning.
The Geeks on Tour, aka Chris and Jim Guld, gave a very informative and entertaining presentation on Google Photos. They are full-time RV’ers who give presentations wherever they are. They made me feel nostalgic for all the RV trips my late husband and I took together. I didn’t know that Google Photos can do so much more than just arrange and store photos, especially its editing capability. Chris and Jim discussed seven functions that can be accomplished with Google Photos.
The next presentation I watched had a whimsical title, “Are Your Bits Flipped?” A single bit flipped in a long string of code will cause an error. A single minor misconception about how an app works can cause major problems. Joe Kissell, author and publisher, pointed out how flawed “Mental Models” or conventional wisdom can cause us to waste time or jeopardize our security. It’s easier to solve problems if we have some idea how stuff works.
Jim Glass from the Glendora Computer and Technology Club talked about Apps. He gave us many internet sources for learning about installing and managing Apps for computers and mobile devices, where to find them, reading reviews, and how to stay safe. Backup before downloading Apps and read the app’s privacy statement.
After the presentations, Judy Taylour from APCUG led a roundtable discussion on our groups’ websites. A lot of good ideas were brought out to help make our websites of value to the members and as a way to attract visitors. They should be attractive, and the information must be easy to locate and kept updated. The discussion gradually morphed away from websites, with ideas on a lot of subjects discussed. There is always a lot to learn – sharing ideas is a great way to do it.
May 4, 2019
TRACK 1
1:00 PM ET
A Beginners Guide to WordPress
Mark Zinzow, Member, Champaign-Urbana Computer Users Group
Long-distance member, Rochester Computer Society
Mark’s presentation will cover:
- Content Management Systems
- Why choose WordPress, or not?
- Free or cheap web hosting and domain registration, software expenses
- WordPress jargon
- How to create a WordPress site
- WordPress plugins
- WordPress help, tutorials, documentation, etc.
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Beginners Guide to WordPress – Mark Zinzow – 5-4-19 VTC
2:00 PM ET
Are Your Bits Flipped?
Joe Kissell, Author and Publisher, Take Control Books
Just as a single “flipped bit” in computer code can bring an otherwise reliable app crashing to a halt, a single misconception in your understanding of personal computing technology can cause all manner of problems—including lost data, wasted time, and frustration as you live and work in today’s increasingly digital world. In this presentation based on his book Are Your Bits Flipped?, author and publisher Joe Kissell untangles common confusions surrounding the high-tech products and services we all rely on every day. Find out why conventional wisdom is often wrong, why you might be worried about all the wrong things, and how improved knowledge of topics like privacy, web browsing, email, and encryption can make you smarter and more efficient.
Are Your Bits Flipped – Joe Kissell – 5-4-19 VTC
3:00 PM ET
Windows 7 Security Sunset
Greg Skalka, President, Under the Computer Hood User Group
Windows 7 extended support and consumer security updates will end on January 20, 2020; no more updates or fixes, including security fixes. Greg will discuss options for those who are still fans of Windows 7.
Windows 7 Security Sunset – Greg Skalka – 5-4-19 VTC
TRACK 2
1:00 PM ET
Google Photos: 7 favorite features
Chris and Jim Guld, Geeks on Tour
Join Chris and Jim as they take us through their 7 favorite Google Photo features: Editing, All your photos in one place and searchable from any device, Shared Library – automatically save partner’s photos of you, Shared Albums, Make Movies, Google Lens for reding business cards, and how to Navigate to a Photo’s Location.
Google Photos-7 Features – Chris-Jim Guld – 5-4-19 VTC
2:00 PM ET
Youth and Technology
Bill Crowe, 1st Vice President, Sarasota Technology Users Group
What will the world look like in 20 years? It seems that all the youth are so engrossed with their technology that they do not even know how to really socialize or communicate face to face. That is not all together true. They will most likely not have hunched backs and be couch potatoes at the age of 25 from hunching over their smart phones and playing computer games. That said what will happen to our culture.
We will learn about how our youth are using technology, how it can have both a positive and negative affect on them and what we as adults can do to encourage the positives and discourage the negatives. Bill has done substantial research on the subject and will be presenting his conclusions.
Our Youth And The Use Of Todays Technology – Bill Crowe, 5-4-19 VTC
3:00 PM ET
What’s an App?
Jim Glass, President, Glendora’s Computer and Technology Club
What’s an App? Where do I get them? Are they secure? What can I do with them?
Jim’s presentation will cover all of the above and more during our exploration of Apps AKA applications, programs …..
Whats an App – Jim Glass – 5-4-19 VTC
TRACK 3 – Website Roundtable