Speakers Bureau
If your group is a member of APCUG and you are looking for new speakers with fresh ideas, the Speakers Bureau features over 100 online interactive presentations in 20+ categories. Choose your presentation, complete the form, and the presenter will get in touch to confirm it.
Click HERE for the form page.
If you have any questions, please contact jtaylour (at) apcug.org
Below is an overview of what many of the speakers present. We thank them for volunteering to give presentations to APCUG-member groups via the Speakers Bureau.
After your presentation has been confirmed, please contact the presenter for their up-to-date bio.
- Ray Baxter – Technology Always Seems to be Changing the Way We Listen to Music at Home and in the Car
- Ron Brown – See his every-growing presentation list at: Tech for Senior – APCUG Presentations
- Francis Chao – See his ever-growing presentation list at: aztcs.apcug.org/fc.pdf
- Bill James – Chromebooks for Geeks, Everything Google, Home Automation – An Introduction, Microsoft’s Edge, Windows File Explorer Secrets, My Favorite Android Apps, Synchronizing Your PC, a Guide to…, Windows 11. Choose 3 for your meeting: Another level of security for your Windows PC (Admin vs Standard User), Configure Storage Sense and the Free Up Space Tool – Windows 11/10, Create a Restore Point Windows 11/10. Security/Privacy for Windows 11/10
- Sharan Kalwani – All about Linux
- John Kennedy – AnyDesk; Easily Migrate from Windows to Linux, Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) and Alternatives to Free Software, Introduction to Linux, Linux is Like Cars (Why are there so many?), Linux Software Store, Securing your Communications, Events, Files, and On-line Activities with Proton, Selecting the Best Version of Linux for You to Use, Using Zoom
- Joe Kissell – Your Digital Legacy, Online Privacy, Take Control of Your Passwords
- Sue Mueller – All About Genealogy
- Jerry Rogan – All About Apple–Apple Watch, Apple Health App & Smart Watch, Introduction to Pages, Number, and Keynote; iOS 17, iPhone and iPad, Apple – Your Choice, let me know what you would like, Introduction to Home Automation
- Mark Schulman – Backups in a Busy World, Being an IT Hero, Computers to the Moon, Email Privacy, Encryption Software, Internet Privacy, Preserving Digital Photos, Virtualization
- Judy Taylour – Accessibility – Help! I can’t hear, can’t see, can’t touch; Creating a Safe Environment on Facebook; Cybercriminals are out to get us-Senior Scams; Declutter Your Digital Life; Digital Asset Estate Planning: Even After You’ve Died Your Identity Isn’t Safe; Ergonomics: You, Your Computer, Tablet, and Smartphone; Netiquette Email Tips & Tricks, Protect Yourself from ID Theft; Social Media for Seniors; Tech Skills for an Easier & Safer Computing Experience; The Cloud is Here, Don’t be Left Behind; Troubleshooting Your Computer; Utility Apps; What is a Password Manager; What’s cooking? Home Automation in your Kitchen
Ideas for Revitalizing Your Computer Club…. - Rob Truman – See his ever-growing presentation list at: Guest Speaker – Geezer Tech AZ (geezertekaz.com)
- GeeksOnTour – Check out their website for a presentation
- Bob Gostischa (Avast Evangelist) – Security (new every year), Artificial Intelligence (AI), All About Avast, Avast Secure Browser, CCleaner
- Hewie Poplock – The Browser – Your Most Important App, Chromebooks for Seniors, Cut the Cord, Getting Better Search Results with Google, Learning Resources for Seniors PC & Laptop Ports Explained: What are all those connections?, What You Need to Know about SD Cards, How to Use and Add Streaming Services to your Smart TV
Our friend, Gene Barlow, is no longer giving presentations.
Presentations by presenter name. Click on the date for the latest SB description list.
September 2023
Internet
Linux / Open Source
Operating Systems
Password Managers
Preventive Maintenance
Printers / Printing
Security
Social Media
Software
User Groups
Utilities
Virtual Machines
Presentation subjects and descriptions are below.
My Favorite Android Apps. Smartphones – The Swiss Army knives of Mobile Devices — capable of doing many tasks. Selecting the right apps makes your phone a multi-functional device. Bill talks about: Productivity, Communication, Remote Control, Entertainment, Games, and Social Media. His presentation features a live demo of how he uses his smartphone.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Apple Health App & Smart Watch. Learn how the Apple Health application can be one of the best apps you didn’t know you had on your iPhone. Your complete medical information is securely stored in one place. When teamed with a Smart Watch, it can be a life-saving combination!
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
Apple Watch. Most Activity Health Monitoring capabilities are discussed. The health focus is on essential features for seniors, such as Blood Oxygen Monitoring, EKG/ECG Testing, Fall Monitoring, etc.
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
Introduction to Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. This presentation will demonstrate how these Apple apps can Open, Modify and Save files in Apple format or Microsoft Office documents, PDF format, etc.
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
iOS 17 doesn’t seem to have any sweeping changes, as we have seen in some past updates; however, the new features and enhancements make it a desirable upgrade. In fact, there are over 300 enhancements. Apple seems to focus on communication apps like Messages, FaceTime, Voicemail, and Phone. Jerry discusses some of those changes and changes to other apps that are equally appealing and intuitive to use.
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
iPhone and iPad. Introduction of both to show similarities and how the two can work together and share data, photos, etc. We will also look at the Settings to remove any fear you may have about working with them.
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
iPhone Security – Apple does a tremendous job of keeping us as safe as possible, but many settings on the iPhone are left up to us, as users, to set up. This presentation covers many of those settings with step-by-step instructions. Don’t be a victim; be proactive; it’s easier than you think.
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
Your Choice. I can offer a presentation on iPhone or iPad, covering just about any subject you’d like. Just ask!
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
TBD
Backups in a Busy World. Given enough time, every hard drive eventually fails, and most often, this means that all your photos, documents, and video — everything! — is lost. And recent evidence suggests that even under the best circumstances, hard drives don’t last as long as previously thought. Backups are the only defense against serious data loss, yet most people don’t bother. So instead, discover essential strategies to ensure your data is safe with the least amount of trouble.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
How and Why to Back Up Your Devices. This presentation is an overview of backing up your hard drive and Smartphone.
Don’t lose any or all of your important data: documents, photos, music, or videos.
- Your computer could be hit by a virus.
- Ransomware could hold your files hostage.
- You should be prepared for a natural disaster
- Hard drives sometimes fail.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
The Cloud is Here – Don’t Get Left Behind. Are you using the Cloud? Many people still answer, no. We seem to need buzz words to define anything related to computers and this is one that seems to mystify people. You’ll be surprised when you find out how much we are all using the Cloud and how much more is out there that we can take advantage of. We no longer have just one computer, we have a smart phone, a tablet and probably a second computer. How can we keep our data files in sync on all of them? We want to be able to share files with family, friends and associates, but emailing them is not very efficient. Is there a better way?
How can we use cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and others to make things easier?
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Preserving Digital Photos. Digital photos ought to last forever. Digital photos don’t fade with time and can protect against natural disasters like fire and floods. That’s the theory, anyway. And yet, if you’re one of the millions of people with a digital camera, the chances of your great-grandchildren ever seeing your digital photos are very slim. Find out why the odds are stacked against you and
what you can do to increase the chances that your family historian 200 years from now will be able to enjoy the photos you’re taking now.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
Email Privacy. Most people don’t realize how insecure email is. Learn about the dangers and how to exchange information with close friends, colleagues, and relatives in a truly secure manner.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
Netiquette and E-mail Tips & Tricks. Do you communicate effectively when you send an e-mail? Do you know which closing gets more positive responses? Do people take offense because you SHOUT? Email etiquette and netiquette skills are becoming more crucial as our world grows more virtual. This presentation includes tips and tricks to help you become a better communicator via e-mail.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Ergonomics: You, Your Computer, Tablet and Smartphone. Sit straight! Shoulders rounded! Arms relaxed! Feet on floor! Wrists/hands floating! Cumulative trauma! Repetitive stress syndrome!
We have all been using technology for many years; are we still practicing good ergonomics? Or, are we stressing our bodies every day without realizing it by extending our wrists, slouching, sitting without foot support and bending our head to look at poorly placed monitors?
Along the way we started using tablets and smartphones which have a different set of ergonomic issues. This presentation will take us down memory lane on computer ergonomics and give us ideas on the proper use of our tablets and smartphones.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) and Alternatives to Free Software. Where money doesn’t have to speak and you still want quality software, learn about many alternative programs that you can get for free to do your computing tasks. Many of these programs are cross-platformed (meaning they have versions for Windows, Macs, and Linux) so it’s easy to share files with just about anyone.
John Kennedy, East Central Ohio Technology Users Club
Chromebooks 4 Seniors. A Chromebook is a perfect solution for those who don’t want or need a powerful computer and who can do everything they want and even more, without worrying about viruses or malware, having to learn how to maintain their system, and having the system crash. Many of us don’t want to know what’s happening under the ‘hood;’ Chromebooks cut out the confusion. There are some settings, but nothing really needs to be changed for the machine to work perfectly out of the box. Keeping your PC, phone, tablet, and software all updated to the latest version can be a full-time job. Chromebooks are much more secure with updates on an almost-weekly basis so security flaws or loopholes are dealt with almost instantaneously. An icon prompts the user to restart – it’s fast, easy, and secure.
Hewie Poplock, Central Florida Computer Society / Sarasota Technology Users Group
Chromebooks, an Alternative. A Chromebook does what many people want a computer to do, better and faster than any other laptop, regardless of price. It is the most secure portal to the Web that has ever been built because of super-fast updates and sandboxing. A Chromebook can pair with your Android phone and be used for messaging and video calling. It is perfect for anyone who wants to grab a laptop, sign in, and spend an afternoon watching Netflix or shopping online. You can also use it as a terminal to connect to your Windows PC or Mac. Chromebooks are Fun! Learn more from this informative presentation.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Chromebooks for Geeks. A Chromebook does the things that many people want a computer to do, better and faster than any other laptop, regardless of price. It is the most secure portal to the web that has ever been built because of super-fast updates and sandboxing. A Chromebook can pair with your Android phone and be used for messaging and video calling. It is perfect for anyone who wants to grab a laptop, sign in, and spend an afternoon watching Netflix or shopping online. You can also use it as a terminal to connect to your Windows PC or Mac. Chromebooks are Fun! Learn more from this informative presentation.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Genealogy presentations by Sue Mueller, Genealogy SIG organizer, Computer Users of Erie, PA; teacher, monthly genealogy classes for the Erie County public library (now via Zoom)
Assuring Accuracy in Genealogy Research. documenting, sourcing work; backing up your data; sharing your research; should you use software?
Beginning Genealogy. Designed for the beginning genealogy researcher, this session will focus on free online resources for research. Topics include: How to begin and avoid mistakes; library resources across the country; free genealogy online websites and resources; plus a word about DNA and social media.
Census Records—More than you think. Explore federal and state census records; where to find and what you will find on the census; family and neighbor clues; linking census clues to other sources; other census schedules; census substitutes.
Death Records for Genealogy. Locating and using death indices, certificates, obituaries, cemeteries and beyond, with an emphasis on free online resources. Locating death records from official records to funeral homes and cemeteries.
DNA for Genealogy. What you can and cannot learn and why? Choosing your test: explore differences among testing companies. The importance of adding a tree to your results. Extending your results with GEDmatch.
Enhancing Your Genealogical Story with Social History. What is social history? Benefits of incorporating social history into your genealogy. What to look for, where to find social history resources.
Facebook for Genealogy. Connect with family. Establish a family group. Understand group privacy settings. Connect with a broad-range of genealogy-related groups. Connect with others to learn your family history story.
Family Tree Maker 2017 (genealogical software). Participants should have the software or be planning to purchase it, as the class will focus on using this genealogy software. Ideally, participants will bring a laptop with FTM 2017 installed. Creating a new tree; Uploading/downloading trees to/from ancestry; Entering data; Adding media files; Troubleshooting/fixing mistakes.
Finding Female Ancestors. Special challenges; how and where to search; using indirect proof; women and the law; military; immigration and naturalization
Finding and Using Historical Newspapers. Understanding digitized collections; free newspaper sources online; how to search; more than obituaries.
Finding, Dating, Identifying, Sharing Old Family Photos. Online resources for finding family photos. Use photo clues, such as hairstyles and fashions, as well as photo formats to date photos and identify those in the photos. Learn how to share your finds easily with family and friends.
Finding/Using Alternatives to Vital Records. Can’t find birth, marriage, and death records? What happens when your research predates vital records? Or when vital records are not readily available? Where to find and how to use newspapers, yearbooks, city directories, census clues, and church, tax, and military records, as well as court records.
Genealogy Focus 1880-1920. What’s new 1880 census? What happened to1890 census and what to substitute? Getting the most out of the 1900/1910 censuses. Historical events that impact your research: Spanish-American War, WWI, Flu epidemic, with special attention to researching your WWI veteran ancestors.
Genealogical Searches with Better Results. Understand how site searches and digitized collections work; it’s not only where you search, but how; expand family search and ancestry searches—both have more than you’re finding; library resources; searching books and newspapers; tips on how to improve your online search techniques.
Genealogy Sites. Ancestry and Familysearch – Getting the most out of two of the major genealogy websites: ancestry.com and familysearch.org. For ancestry: Learn how non-subscribers can benefit from using the ancestry index, free state resources, and windows of free access to limited collections. Learn more about getting the most out of your ancestry DNA test. Ancestry subscribers will learn how to take full advantage of all ancestry offers and what they’ve been missing. For family search: Learn how to go beyond a simple records search, how to search specific collections, and how to use the family search catalog. Understand the difference between an ancestry family tree and family search’s wiki trees. This class will also include some information about merging data into your computer-based genealogy program and syncing your Family Tree Maker or Roots Magic trees with ancestry. Participants will benefit by bringing their own laptops/tablets, but a laptop is not required to participate.
Genealogy Websites You’ve Been Missing. Enhance your genealogy research with this potpourri of free genealogy sites that you’ll wonder how you’ve missed. Genealogy Potpourri, out-of-the-box genealogy resources: useful websites that may not be on your radar: From finding county and family history books going beyond Cyndi’s list to using obituaries to find live people, learn about free sites that will enhance your genealogy research.
How to Get Started with Family History. Designed for true beginners ready to explore their family history, this session will focus on how to get started. Focus on your own family, gather records and pictures, and interview family. Software? Online tree? Names, place names, facts, stories. Plus a word about DNA and social media.
Immigration Records for Genealogy. Who came when; finding your immigrant ancestor’s origin; searching passenger lists; destinations—why and where; naturalization records.
Impact of History and Geography on Genealogy. Immigration and migration–what made your ancestors come/go? Changing state and county boundaries: Did your ancestors really move? Disease, epidemics, and your ancestors. The military and your ancestors.
Lineage Societies. What is a lineage society? Why join? Proof documents: what’s acceptable and what’s not. Useful websites for finding proof.
Military Records for Genealogy. Why, what, and where to find; Service records; Pension and land grant records; Extended strategies; Destroyed records.
Solving Genealogy Puzzles with Land Records. Where to find deeds and maps; What you’ll find; migration and neighbors; heirs and inferential data
The Frugal Genealogist. How to do genealogical research without breaking the bank! This class focuses on free resources that can be found on the internet by exploring county, city, and university libraries, free sites you may not know, using social media and connecting with relatives you’ve had trouble finding. Bring your own laptop if you want to try visiting some of these new genealogy sites
Wills, Probate, Estate, and Orphan Court/Guardianship Records. What they are; where to find them; what you can learn. Many of these valuable records are not indexed, but they are findable and browsable (just not searchable).
Accessibility – Help! Can’t see, can’t hear, can’t touch. Accessible and assistive technology has been designed for the needs of many different users. This presentation will explore software, hardware, peripherals, and accessible and assistive technology to help make the computer, phone, or tablet easier to use.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Being an IT Hero. Whether we want to or not, most of us computer geeks wind up being front-line computer support for parents, siblings, and close friends. Learn what you can do right now to keep the people you love — and even yourself — safe from computer disasters.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
Computer Buying Guide. Getting ready to invest in a new computer? Totally confused about all of the terminology and specifications. Rob will provide some basics when it comes to picking your next machine. If you are looking for a pre-purchase buying guide, then this presentation is for you.
Rob Truman, Computer Booters of Sun Lakes
Computers to the Moon. Did the spacecraft have computers? What were their goals? How did we accomplish the goals and land on the moon? Mark will answer these questions and more during his presentation.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
Cut the Cord. There are many reasons to cut the cord. Most do so to save money. Others do it to have better choices and just to be able to fire their cable company. There are many choices of products and equipment, as well as services that are now available to let us change the way we have done things in the past. Hewie will talk about over the air and over the Internet services, including the many ways to fulfill your wants and needs as to TV viewing. He will include information about Broadband and even Internet home phones.
This presentation will help you understand many of the newest possibilities for TV viewing and what to look for to satisfy you and your family. Be prepared to have a lot of the confusion make some sense and to determine if it may be the move for you soon. TV, as we know it will disappear in the next few years and you will understand what is happening and what choices are available now and what to look for down the road.
Hewie Poplock, Central Florida Computer Society / Sarasota Technology Users Group
Cutting the Cord – Watching TV (Legally) Without Cable. Discover your options when it comes to living without a cable bill each month. Learn how to use your Internet connection for all your viewing needs, including cable, local, premium, music, and sports channels.
Rob Truman, Computer Booters of Sun Lakes
Digital Asset Estate Planning: Your ID Isn’t Safe, Even After You’ve Died. Each year the identities of nearly 2.5 million deceased Americans are used to fraudulently open credit card accounts, apply for loans and get cellphone or other services, according to fraud prevention firm ID Analytics. (Source: AARP)
The complexity of our digital lives has resulted in many different types of accounts, logins and passwords. The year after somebody dies is one of the most at-risk times for identity theft. Because death certificates are public records and obituaries are posted in newspapers, it is easy for criminals to search through the recently deceased’s records and create fake identities. This presentation covers many ways your identity can be stolen and ways to prevent it being stolen after you are no longer here. You will also learn how to make it easier for your Digital Asset Executor to close your accounts.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Encryption Software. Losing a laptop or flash drive might mean you’re out of money, but it doesn’t have to mean that your private data leaks into the world. Learn how to use encryption software to protect your private data on a PC, laptop, external hard drive, or USB flash drive.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
Learning Resources For Seniors. No matter our age, there is still a lot to learn. Hewie’s presentation covers many websites where we can add to our knowledge – not always about technology. Lifelong learning is the process of keeping your mind and body engaged—at any age—by actively pursuing knowledge and experience. The pursuit of knowledge through lifelong learning—whether it’s learning how to dance, speak a foreign language, write a newsletter, improve your golf swing, or repair your car—has wonderful benefits for adults 50-plus.
Hewie Poplock, Central Florida Computer Society / Sarasota Technology User Group***Theft of Keyless Entry Cars. Hybrids and electric cars already have keyless entry, and the next vehicle you buy is likely to have the feature. Learn how modern crooks use inexpensive tech to steal keyless entry cars and learn how to prevent such thefts.
Hewie Poplock, Sarasota Technology Users Group & Central Florida Computer Society
Technology Always Seems to be Changing the Way We Listen to Music at Home and in the Car. We’ve all experienced the changes technology has provided over the last several decades in almost every facet of our lives. I think how we listen to our favorite tunes at home and in our cars has probably seen the most changes. I’ll review how we’ve listened to the music we choose in our homes, starting with the 78-rpm record and all the devices in between, bringing us up to date with today’s various streaming options. Then the focus will move to how we consume music on the road, starting with when it was so “cool” to have a push-button AM radio in the car. I’ll also focus on utilizing your existing Compact Disc collection now that new cars no longer have a CD player and streaming from an online service, using Bluetooth, flash drives, smartphones, and more.
This is a presentation Ray is constantly updating, so there is always something new to present.
Ray Baxter, APCUG President & Treasurer; President, Payson Computer Meet-Up Club
Troubleshooting Your Computer 101. Before you make that $99 tech support call, there are many easy things you can do to troubleshoot problems that you encounter with your computer. Can’t start your computer? Does your hard drive make grinding noises? Is it taking forever to start? Does it randomly turn off and restart? Has your printer stopped working? This presentation covers problems and solutions that just might help if and when….
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Your Digital Legacy. How do you want to be remembered? A will takes care of your physical possessions, but what about your digital life—photos, email, files, and the like? Learn the steps you need to take now to make sure your digital assets will be handled in the future the way you want them to be.
Joe Kissell, Take Control Books
Mesh Routers. The purpose of a computer router is to connect multiple devices together and facilitate communication by directing traffic on your network. Mesh routers are used to cover your entire house with consistent wireless signals.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Modems, Routers, and Wi-Fi. In the early days of networking, the term modem was used to describe a device that transformed speech into analog signals (and vice versa) to be transmitted over telephone lines. This presentation will discuss Modems, Routers, and Wi-Fi and how to set up your devices for the best performance since we all want fast, reliable, and secure Internet. First, Bill will give us information on the latest modems, router hardware developments, and best practices for setup and deployment. Next, he will discuss Wi-Fi as the best option and how it fits into Home Automation, demystifying terms like WPA, Wi-Fi 6, 802.11, Ethernet, and DOCIS 3.1. Finally, he will also cover the pros and cons of using a professional tech service to solve technical difficulties.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Home Automation – An Introduction. This presentation shows how Home Automation technology allows us to control our connected devices and appliances from a central hub using our Smartphone or Tablet. The presentation will explain how we can set up a system using widely available home automation devices. Are you worried about home automation devices listening in on your conversations? Wonder if your devices can be hacked and don’t know how to keep them from being hacked? Bill will answer these questions and more in this presentation, maybe making it a little bit easier to take the first step to automate your home and get a better price for it when you sell.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Home Automation Security. Bill’s presentation covers home networks and automation, hackers, privacy, Smart TVs and security, security, and your router and home automation devices.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Is there a Smart Home in your future? What do you want to accomplish? Do you have a plan? Do you have a budget? How secure is your home? Which system is best for you? All this and more will be covered in this presentation.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Introduction to Home Automation. In this presentation, you can learn how simple it is to use home automation for your safety and security for a minimal investment of under $200. We may also look a step or two further if time allows.
Jerry Rogan, Sunland Springs Village Technology Group
What’s Cookin! Home Automation for your Kitchen. Turn your kitchen into one that works for you and makes it fun to do everyday kitchen tasks.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Avast’s Secure Browser. Bob’s presentations beings with an explanation as to why you should be using this new free browser. He will then show a video on how to install this new Secure Browser and cover the:
- Settings
- Features
- Extensions
- Privacy and Security features
- Banking Mode
and anything else you may want to ask about how to use this new Secure Browser. The presentation ends with a hands-on Q&A with answers demonstrated on the browser.
Bob Gostischa, Avast Evangelist
Cool, Fun, & Helpful Google Stuff. Doodles, tours, what does Google know about us, map guides, and more.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Everything Google. This presentation will explore the vast world of Google both hardware and software. Google is unique in that it strives to have the most comprehensive and diverse suite of apps and hardware that work together. They also appear to want to be the most platform-independent for their group of products that work across a wide variety of operating systems. The core of Google Apps is the Chrome browser and is the foundation of their platform. Foremost, all its software development is web-based; they produce no software that resides on your computer. Each app is designed to work seamlessly with each other. We are all familiar with Google Chrome as a browser, but it is also the basis for Google’s Chromebook Operating System. Each product or app builds upon the other to make a cohesive system. We will look at Google hardware and some of the more popular apps as some of the more obscure and how they interact with each other to make a comprehensive ecosystem.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma
Getting Better Google Search Results. The presentation will show various ways to get better results quicker. You will learn many tips & tricks to help in your Google search. There will also be numerous ways demonstrated to get information quickly without having to go to websites but get the answer in your search results.
Hewie Poplock, Central Florida Computer Society / Sarasota Technology Users Group
Gmail – Beginner to Pro. Get the most out of your Gmail account. When it comes to Email, Gmail is considered by many to be the standard and a must-have when it comes to electronic communications. This presentation will address the features and benefits, including how to: organize your messages, create, and apply labels and filters, set your preferences, including customizing the look of Gmail, and using Gmail offline. Plus, learn how to use the Gmail sidebar to access your Google Calendar, Keep, Tasks, and Contacts.
Rob Truman, Computer Booters of Sun Lakes
Gmail – Start to Finish. Gmail has a built-in spam filtering system and provides 15GB of free storage. Learn about the variety of time-saving features, letting you automate some emailing tasks, integrate your calendar and contacts, and customize your dashboard to suit your own needs.
Rob Truman, Computer Booters of Sun Lakes
Google from 30,000 Feet. Learn about Google products. This presentation will be an overview of some of the more popular Google products (Gmail, Search, Google Drive, and Google Docs) and will also include A discussion on Google tracking and how to minimize your exposure when you are online.
Rob Truman, Computer Booters of Sun Lakes
Internet Privacy. Do you think your Internet activities are safe from prying eyes just because you turned on your browser’s Privacy Mode? Think again. Learn what’s safe and what’s not, and how you can cover your tracks and keep your Internet activities safe and private, especially when using public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
Microsoft’s Edge. The new Microsoft Edge is a Chromium-based browser that brings a lot of new features to the table. Bill explores many of these features; the more you learn about Edge gives you the ability to decide if this is the browser for you. You will also learn how to earn $$ by using Bing.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
There is More to Google than ‘Google It.’ This presentation explores Google’s apps and hardware. Google strives to have the most comprehensive and diverse suite of free apps and hardware that work together and would like to be your go-to ecosystem. All its apps are web-based and are designed to work seamlessly with each other. The core Google app is the Chrome browser and is the foundation of their platform. We also take a trip to Google in Venice and YouTube in Playa Vista – both in southern California.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Touring the Web. The World Wide Web, or just “the Web” is immense. A quick search tells usthere are about 4.2 billion indexed pages. And among all those, there are bound to be some that are interesting or informative or educational or entertaining as well as some that are just plain weird. IJB Burke looks for all those. While making his morning coffee, when he is eating lunch, and whenever he finds a spare moment. JB saves them to create this program that He calls “Touring the Web.” It consists of web pages, videos, images, and other tidbits that will, hopefully, keep you entertained for an hour or so. JB’s presentation changes every couple of months.
JB Burke, Prescott Computer Society
Easily Migrate from Windows to Linux. Much of the software is the same.
John Kennedy, East Central Ohio Technology Users Club
Introduction to Linux. A free operating system that looks, acts, and meets most people’s everyday computing needs. See what all the talk is about going to Linux and how well it works on both new and older computers AND remains free to all.
John Kennedy, East Central Ohio Technology Users Club
Linux is Like Cars (Why are there so many?). One of the many “concerns” about Linux is that there are so many different versions / distributions (or distros as Linux users call them) that a new user doesn’t know which one to use. An equal questions is, Why are there so many cars? Because everybody doesn’t like the same car and that also pertains to the Linux desktop. John will take you through the ‘Linux showroom” so you can see for yourself what Linux is all about.
John Kennedy, East Central Ohio Technology Users Club
Linux Software Store. John will share information about the wide choices of free software available to the Linux user. He will have examples of software that relates to all the common computer tasks we do on a day to day basis. Attendees will see that running a Linux operating system doesn’t hinder them doing anything. A lot of the software John uses is also available for Windows and even Mac’s.
John Kennedy, East Central Ohio Technology Users Club
Open-Source Hardware. For many years we have heard about open source software, but you may be pleased to hear that there is a growing open-source hardware movement afoot. While not as massively visible as Linux and friends, it deserves to be known and shared with all. Lots of choices now are available: in single board computers, embedded systems, and full-blown microprocessors.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Linux Shell Roundup. There are a huge variety of shells available in the Linux/Open Source world. Shells have been around since the earliest UNIX kernel and several UNIX-inspired creations since then. We will briefly shine a little light on bash, tcsh, zsh, and fish. While it is hard to do a comprehensive coverage in one session, we will try to answer the question – which Linux shell is the best, how many types of shells are there, etc.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Linux Driven Emergence of IoT. IoT has infiltrated homes all around the country in the form of smart thermostats, smart speakers, and more. There are also several innovative IoT applications doing more than just making people’s lives easier or helping them play their favorite songs. In this session, the thrust is intended to serve as an introduction to IoT, and help open up this new field of applications to a wider audience. Of course, Linux is the driving factor behind the bulk of IoT devices.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Ubiquitous Linux in Your Daily Life. In this talk, we will learn all about how Linux has now become a fundamental part of our everyday global life. Maybe a few years ago – if you queried the average Joe on the street (assuming they were not a geek) about Linux, you may have gotten the following response: “Yeah, like you know, isn’t it some sort of operating system. I heard of it, but don’t know it personally myself – I hear it is very difficult to use.” Now you will be astonished to know just how often you use Linux in your daily life. This talk is aimed at sharing with the audience, numerous practical examples for each hour of the day, how Linux is perhaps a regular part of your life, maybe in the background, maybe in the foreground and yet you do not realize it. No prior knowledge of computing or Linux is assumed or necessary. The talk is fast-paced and full of details.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Introduction to TCP/IP, The basic internet runs on TCP/IP, but do you really know how it works underneath the covers? This little tutorial will run thru the basics of routing and explain how packets/datagrams and segments actually move around. Useful info for doing practical first principles troubleshooting. After all the basics of TCP/IP were robustly developed on various Unix (and later Linux) platforms.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Learning Linux Online. In this talk, we will do a panoramic sweep of the vast set of online Linux learning resources. After doing several months of cherry-picked SIG Linux topics, it is time to see what other resources are out there available to folks who are keen to explore this on their own. Some are free and some are worth the price, of course, we will point out the overrated ones as well.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Linux File systems. This talk will be in two parts, the first will be a quick introduction to a typical Linux file structure setup/organization. The second part will touch on the various file system architectures that one can choose (not for the faint-hearted), ranging from simple to advanced Linux based applications (ranging from the home hobbyist to tech-heavy plus several real-world application scenarios).
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Revolution OS (Movie). ‘Revolution OS’ tells the inside story of the hackers who rebelled against the proprietary software model and Microsoft to create the GNU/Linux and the Open Source movement. These movements arguably represent the greatest threat to proprietary software business models. Shot in cinemascope on 35mm film in Silicon Valley, ‘Revolution OS’ tracks down the key movers and shakers behind Linux, and finds out how and why Linux became such a potent threat. The movie runs 85 minutes long.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Linux Runs the Cloud. Linux has become the de facto major OS of all major cloud providers. In this edition, we will explore how Linux is playing this role.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Open Source Video Editing choices. There are now a large number of various Linux based video editing tools. This talk will briefly give you a sweeping panorama of each tool, its origins, capabilities, as well as pros and cons.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Linux Distros. A full review of various Linux distros. Linux is one of the most successful and popular open-source projects out there. Linux supporters passionately will convince you to give it a try and encourage you to embrace the Linux way. The number #1 hurdle for all new Linux users is the numerous “flavors” that this operating system has. These “flavors” are commonly known as distros (distribution). So, how to choose one? You can choose the most popular at the moment, or take heed of what your friend says, but your friends’ recommendation might work for him/her, but not for you! So one needs to choose the right distro for your needs. We will explore several distros so that you will not have to spend too much time web searching. We hope that after this talk, you can choose a narrow set of the best distros for your long-term needs.
Sharan Kalwani, SEMCO
Using the Bitwarden Password Management System. Are you using a password manager? Do you try to remember them? Keep them in a notebook? On your hard drive? John talks about why you should use a password manager and what Bitwarden can do for you. He says that the two main reasons he uses a Password Manager are “speed” and “convenience,” and proves that with his app demonstration.
John Kennedy, ECOTUC
Take Control of Your Passwords, Password overload has driven many of us to take dangerous shortcuts. If you think ZombieCat12 is a secure password, that you can safely reuse a password, or that no one would try to steal your password, think again! Learn how to overcome password frustration while keeping your data safe.
Joe Kissell, Take Control Books
What is a Password Manager? How does it work? Why should I have one? Why am I so resistant to using one? How safe are they in the Cloud? Will a PM sync between my devices? Free vs. yearly fee. Can I use it as a source for my digital asset manager to close my accounts?
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
**Configure Storage Sense to Free Up Disk Space Windows 10/11 (3 mini-presentations–see Security). Keep your Windows 10/11 PC clean and running at top performance.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
**Create a Restore Point Windows 10/11 (3 mini-presentations–see Security). How to Create a restore point made easy.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Windows 11 and 10 look quite different, but much of what we like to use is still the same. Bill’s presentation takes us through What’s New, What’s Changed, and What is no longer included. Then, he will start you on your journey deciding if Windows 11 is for you or if you will stay with Windows 10 for a while longer. Of course, you have until 2025 to make up your mind but learning something new keeps us sharp
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Windows File Explorer Secrets Windows 11. File Explorer is an indispensable app that has been designed to provide a simple user interface (UI) for you to navigate, access, and help organize the files, folders, and apps stored on your computer’s hard drive, external drives, and anywhere in your network. Ever thought you knew exactly where an item was, only to spend hours searching your home for it? Folders and files on your hard drive can cause the same chaos. File Explorer can help by putting you in charge of how you work with your documents. Just like a filing cabinet, you determine your filing method. Unlike a filing cabinet, however, you can change how files are displayed, grouped, and shared.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Declutter Your Digital Life. You spend a lot of money on your equipment – take care of it and it will last longer. Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to declutter all things digital? How about doing some digital device spring cleaning or, your computer runs slow, it takes you too long to find a document, e-mail…. This presentation will show how you can declutter your digital life and be more organized to work faster and smarter.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
TBD
2023 Security Presentation
Cybersecurity from A to Z – 2023
Cybersecurity ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and systems. This means protecting against unauthorized access or modification of data, ensuring that systems are available for use when needed, and maintaining the privacy of information.
Sit back, and let Bob provide you with the information needed so you can use best practices to stay secure.
The 24 slides and videos will give you all the information you need to become a Cybersecurity guru.
I know A to Z should be 26 slides, except nothing is interesting or important for the letters x and y. By the time we finish this journey, that is probably a good thing.
Bob Gostischa, Enthusiastic IT Specialist
**Another level of security for your Windows PC (one of the choose 3 series for meetings). Admin versus Standard User to sign on to your Wiindows 10/11 PC.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
All About Avast
This will be a mainly hands-on presentation and demonstration so if your members have questions on this topic, make sure they have them ready for the presentation.
We’ll be covering a custom install of the free version of Avast. Bob will explain about some of its features and take a look at the many settings available in Avast.
- Answers to any questions will be demonstrated right on the product.
- Bring your own laptop and follow along.
- Take notes to make it easy to do the task yourself once we’ve finished the presentation
Bob Gostischa, Avast Evangelist
Creating a Safe Environment on Facebook. This presentation covers the advantages and disadvantages of being on Facebook. Learn what you need to do to be more secure when using the app. Don’t put your privacy at risk; choose carefully when you sign up and customize your settings. What to do about friend requests and how to avoid scams, fake news, ads that drive you crazy, and more.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Cybercriminals are out to get us-Senior Scams. ID theft, phishing, vishing, spoofing, fraud, all of these, and more, are targeting seniors. From the FBI: “Approximately 28% of the total fraud losses in 2020 were sustained by victims over the age of 60, resulting in approximately $1 billion in losses to seniors. This represents an increase of approximately $300 million in losses reported in 2020 versus what was reported by victims over 60 in 2019.”
During this presentation, we will look at many of the scams that face seniors and what we can do to prevent that from happening.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
ID Theft: Protect Yourself, Yourself. Some town, 225,000 residents, USA:
Four arrested in suspected ID theft ring
Six ID theft suspects arrested at a local Walgreens
Bank ID Theft notice to consumers
Woman suspected of using identity theft to steal tens of thousands of dollars
Four out-of-towners accused of mailbox vandalism, identity theft
Identity thieves reassembled shredded documents
Former Physical Therapist convicted of Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious crime. It happens when someone uses information about you without your permission. Judy’s presentation covers how your ID can be stolen, how to help prevent that from happening, and what to do if you become a victim of ID theft.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Online Privacy. Using almost any electronic device potentially puts some of your personal information at risk. Discover what you should and should not worry about, and how to take reasonable, common-sense steps to protect your privacy online.
Joe Kissell, Take Control Books
Securing your Communications, Events, Files, and On-line Activities with Proton. You do everything possible to prepare for the unexpected and keep your family safe. But extending this protection online is difficult unless you’re particularly tech-savvy — until now. The Proton Family plan lets you protect your loved ones by giving them access to all Proton services and premium features. Up to six family members share 3 TB of storage space, and everyone gets their own encrypted email address, calendar, secure storage for their files, and VPN to browse securely.
John Kennedy, East-Central Ohio Computer Users Group
**Security/Privacy Windows 11/10 (3 mini-presentations–see Operating System). Microsoft Defender protects against all types of malware, but it also manages numerous other security features. Make sure your settings are what you want.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
AnyDesk. A “picture is worth a thousand words” as we are told. The same goes for being able to “see” people’s computer problems. This program allows you to see someone else’s computer screen, and even talk to them about their problems. And when they are having trouble trying to do what you tell them; you can take over their keyboard with yours and take over their mouse with your mouse. I have solved a computer problem with AnyDesk in about 10 minutes that I was not able to do after 25 minutes over the phone.
John Kennedy, East Central Ohio Technology Users
APCUG and Your $50. Your user group has rejoined APCUG for another year but is it using all of the benefits that are offered to member groups? This presentation will show you about those benefits; you might find some you aren’t using and your members will find worthwhile.
Judy Taylour, Chair, APCUG Board of Advisors
How to Publicize Your User Group. Are you looking for new members? This presentation will give you an overview of many ways you can publicize your user group / computer club.
Judy Taylour, Chair, APCUG Board of Advisors
Ideas for Revitalizing Your User Group. APCUG member groups were surveyed in 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016 – asking about the top challenges for their group; 50-60 groups usually responded. Over the years, the topics have mostly been the same: lack of volunteers, maintaining and increasing membership, officer burn-out, presentation ideas, finding presenters, attendance at meetings….
This presentation answers some of those questions for your group
Judy Taylour, Chair, APCUG Board of Advisors
Presentations, General Meetings, Board Meetings, and Conferences with Zoom. Learn to use the program APCUG uses for Virtual Technology Conferences, SLO Bytes in California uses for their board meetings, and the Potomac Area Computer and Technology Society uses to stream meetings to members who are unable to attend. John’s group also does this.
John Kennedy, East Central Ohio Technology Users Club
Tips for Getting Presentations for Your Group. We are all scrambling to find presentations for our user groups and many of us are tired of seeing the same presenters and those presenters are probably tired of being the only person giving presentations to your group. Are you thinking out-of-the-box to come up with new programs? You just might get some new ideas from this presentation.
Judy Taylour, Chair, APCUG Board of Advisors
Use CCleaner for more than cleaning your hard drive
We know that CCleaner removes unused files from our computer and traces of our online activities. But have you explored the other tools that CCleaner offers? This presentation us an overview of the many options you have when using CCleaner.
Bob Gostischa, Avast Evangelist
Utility Apps
What is a utility? An app that performs a specific task and adds functionality to your computer or helps your computer perform better. System monitoring, backing up, system maintenance, password management, virus protection, and more — we all have our favorites. Judy shares some of favorite apps in this presentation. Please plan to share one or two of your favorites during the Q&A part of the meeting. Hopefully, we will all learn about at least one new utility we want to try.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Virtualization. Want to be able to try Linux without committing to giving up Windows? Want to run Windows on your Mac? Like being able to go back to Windows 7 or XP whenever you want but still have Windows 10 most of the time? What to test out the next version of Windows? Want to be able to try things that might be dangerous without fear of messing up your computer? Then you’re a candidate for virtualization. Free virtualization software enables you to create a computer within your computer — a simulated world in which you run different operating systems, try new software, and experiment without worrying about affecting your computer.
Mark Schulman, Central Florida Computer Society
Facebook – Creating a Safe Environment. Learn what you need to do to be more secure when using Facebook.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club
Social Media for Seniors. What is social media? Do you want to find old friends, make new friends, keep up with what your children and grandchildren are doing? What to share and not to share. How often should I post and more will be covered in this presentation. Plus, social media, doctors say, are also healthy—it keeps seniors mentally and socially vital.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club