Extending the Life of Your Computer

 

 

Computer specifications are constantly changing to meet the demands of new software, but many of us can make do with out the need for a new computer more than every few years. A new screen may be great if the old one is starting to hurt your eyes, but most of us can function quite happily with email, web browsing and word processing, which don’t need the latest chips or huge hard drives. Techsoup, the US-based technology advice centre for non profit organisations, has provided a very useful run down of how to extend the life of your PC. It’s a bit techie in places but offers a good way of get more from your existing investment, as well as being greener.

Extending the Life of Your Computer.

Should you ban Facebook in your office?

We all know how to waste time and we all know that the latest techie gadgets seem the consume the lives of some people that we know. But is it better to allow staff and volunteers to have access to Facebook, Twitter or other online tools? Or will they spend their time mucking about looking at pictures of cute kittens when they’re meant to be writing the next funding bid? An article on Socialnomics looks at this questions and says that it is better to offer access, and that it can make your work more effective.

Did You Know 4.0

Update 4 of the ever-popular Did You Know series of videos featuring rapid-fire facts about the world around us…

more about "Did You Know 4.0", posted with vodpod

Grassroots Grants

Looking for a pot to fund the IT needs of small groups? Have a look at Grassroots Grants, which funds small groups with grants of between £250 and £5,000, on a flexible basis that encourages people to work in manageable steps.

In terms of IT this could mean, for example, that a group buys a computer and then pays for training to learn how to get the best from it, such as investing in a laptop and training for a Treasurer in budgeting to manage the finances and support fundraising. Or it could pay for a training course for a neighbourhood group to set up and maintain its own website.

A full list of local Community Foundations that cover the south east is available on the Community Development Foundation’s website.

Do you know a Digital Hero?

There are still a few days left to nominate a Digital Hero, as part of a scheme run by TalkTalk and Citizens Online. The TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards rewards one individual from each UK region who is doing outstanding work using digital technology to bring about positive social change and improve the lives of people in their local communities.

IT Volunteers on the Isle of Wight

The Volunteer Centre on the Isle of Wight has been developing its work with IT volunteers. Since the start of 2009 five new volunteers have helped with ten new projects, with projects that include websites, databases and specialist software. Whilst many of the volunteers have been recruited from the Island one project has been successfully delivered by a website expert living in London.

Grant funding for media projects with young people

MIX MEDIABOX OPENS FOR APPLICATIONS Mediabox, the fund that offers 13-19 year olds the chance to create their own media projects and get their voices heard, opens its Mix Mediabox strand today. More details at http://tr.im/wOrB

Marketing and PR training for the third sector

Media Trust is running a PR workshop in Southampton and London which may be of interest to organisations in the south east. Planning Your PR Activities will help you develop a strategic approach to public relations, focus your activities on the right media to reach your target audience, make the most of your events and maximise coverage.

Both courses run 10am-4pm, cost £50 and are aimed at staff and volunteers from infrastructure support organisations.

• February 17 2010 – London
• March 17 2010 – Southampton

Full details available on the Media Trust website.

Facts and figures about digital inclusion

How many people have access to the internet? Are they mostly young people or mostly old people? What impact does the internet have on their lives? What about people who don’t WANT to use the internet?

Helen Milner, CEO of UK Online, has pulled together some basic facts and figures to help us understand who uses the internet, who has access to it and, more importantly, who doesn’t. She also suggests some of the ways that people may be disadvantaged by not having access. 

Public Sector moving too slowly on Green IT

Public sector organisations have agreed targets for reducing carbon emmissions related to their IT systems. The targets, set out last year by the then minister for transformational government, Tom Watson, call for all public sector organisations to cut 11.5% from carbon emissions by 2011 and for carbon neutrality by 2012. But a recent survey found 67 percent of respondents were ‘concerned’ or ‘extremely concerned’ about their organisations ability to meet the targets set out in the strategy. Read more on the eWeek website.

Don’t recycle your computer

A charity that recycles computers is using Twitter to remind people that it is better to re-use their computers before recycling them, as part of its support for Green Britain Day. Computer Aid International is urging companies to consider the re-use of their old PCs and laptops as part of their green initiatives.

Bursaries available from Capacitybuilders

Are you a third sector organisation with a turnover between £150,000 and £750,000? Do you provide services in any of the following areas to help meet the needs of communities affected by the recession?

• well being and health advice,
• information and guidance loss of income,
• training and skills

Could you work more closely with other organisations to increase your impact and extend your reach?

With a £1,000 bursary from Capacitybuilders’ Modernisation Fund Grants Programme, you could buy at least two days of professional advice to explore how you can become more resilient and work more closely with others, including through collaboration or merger.

Ten ways to protect yourself on Facebook

Facebook is used extensively in a variety of community activities, whether working with young people, older people or all ages in between. Although community workers may be Facebook users themselves many are concerned about privacy issues or worry about the impact of embarrassing photographs or videos or stories. The consequences may range from losing face to being bullied or traced by family or friends that you try to avoid.

Here are ten ways to protect yourself on Facebook, taken from an excellent article on AllFacebook, which describes itself as an Unofficial Facebook Resource.

Avoid embarrassing facebook moments

What does the future look like?

NCVO has published a series of short guides on a number of topics about what the future will look like for the third sector, including one about how we will use new technologies in five years’ time. It considers a number of drivers for change and how they will affect us, such as access to low cost high quality printing, new ways to engage with people and the ability to work flexibly. I thought it was very useful – it’s not a technical review but looks at the implications of how technology will change the work of the third sector.

Free Microsoft Training Resources

There are lots of free training resources available through the Microsoft site, as there are across the internet. Many can help staff and volunteers support themselves when using common tools, but which ones work best? Techsoup, based in the US, is running a free online training event/webinar (what an ugly word) at which Microsoft staff will guide you through what is available. It will take place at 7pm GMT on Wednesday 10 June – register at the Techsoup site.