Tag: personal computing

Read this and discover the ‘snowflake’ method of writing

· Read this to discover the Snowflake writing method.
· Is the BBC’s First Click service to encourage more people to go online for you?
· Could you profit from writing and publishing an e-book?

Hi,

As you are reading this email, you are unlikely to be a complete novice in the use of the internet, and your computer. You may, however, have a member of the family who is, or perhaps you could use a refresher on a number of basic online skills to encourage you to use the internet more… the BBC is currently running an ad campaign to promote its First Click service.

Today, I am also bringing you a fascinating writing methodology by a renowned fiction writer…and a home business opportunity.

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Read this to discover the Snowflake writing method
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If you are looking for some forthright advice on writing fictional novels, then top US writer, Randy Ingermanson’s the person who can help. He says,’ Writing a novel is easy. Writing a good novel is hard. That’s just life. If it were easy, we’d all be writing best-selling, prize-winning fiction.

‘Frankly, there are a thousand different people out there who can tell you how to write a novel. There are a thousand different methods. The best one for you is the one that works for you.’

At his website, Randy invites you to share what works for him. He has had six novels published, and has won about a dozen awards for his writing. He teaches the craft of writing fiction all the time at writing conferences.’ One of my most popular lectures,’ he says, ‘is this one: How to write a novel using what I call the “Snowflake Method.”‘

You can check-out Randy ‘s ” Snowflake method” article, and many others on writing, at
advanced fiction.com>

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Is the BBC’s First Click of service to you, your family, or friends?

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This week, the BBC, in partnership with Race Online 2012, UK online centres, and the Post Office, launched an on-air marketing campaign in support of First Click -“a major new media literacy campaign aimed at encouraging more people to get online.”

The BBC reports that the purpose of the campaign is to engage with those who are not yet online and direct them to a dedicated freephone helpline to find a beginner’s computer course in their local area.

There is said to be an estimated 9.2 million people in the UK who have never used the internet.

For further information, and a great deal more go to:

BBC First Click>

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Could you profit by writing and publishing an e-book?
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“How to write and publish your own OUTRAGEOUSLY Profitable eBook in as little as 7days- even if you can’t write, can’t type and failed school English class!”

If you want the financial independence and passive income stream from selling a popular ebook, the satisfaction and prestige that comes from being an author, and if you want to do it while you’re still young enough to enjoy it….then this might be the most important letter you’ll ever read. Click below now.

Profitable eBook in 7 days>
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Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at the 60life.com>

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at

[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Are seniors well served by modern technology?

The challenge of technolgy for 60lifers today is well highlighted in the latest issue of the BBC >Click programme. The main conclusions to be drawn are that the technolgy industry is not doing enough to adapt devices to enable older people to use them adequately, and that they were frustrated by the sheer complexity of modern technology. If you would like to watch the >Click programme segment you can through the link below.

We see that even technology savvy Sir Stirling Moss, now 80 years of age,finds himself challenged by computing hardware and software, and finds it difficult to find his way around his mac laptop – me too! We are are not alone-it was reported that currently 8% of the world’s population is aged over 60 years. By 2050, this percentage is expected to double to 16% of the world population.

A lot of work seems to be needed to address the wants of this large and ever growing market for current technolgy products.

While older people may be visited by reduced physical ability and mental faculty, and the devices they are faced with using to remain actively involved in modern society need to be adapted to their use accordingly, the current ‘gap’ in ability to stay ‘connected’ can be reduced significantly by skills education and awareness. After all, older people have not been brought up with the applications of electronic technology which are second nature to the younger generations. This whole issue will be revisited here in future posts.

Checkout the >Click report here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/default.stm

Top Suspense writer horrified by pace of technological change

Speaking recently at the Telegraph Ways With Words festival in Dartington,Devon, Baroness James (i.e. P.D.James), one of the UK’s best selling crime writers, admitted that she is “frightened by the ‘horrifying’ pace of technological change brought about by the internet.” She raises a huge matter of concern to all those who have been unable to keep up with the rapid developments in personal computing computer and internet access.

Approaching 90 years of age, Baroness James looks by no means to be ready to hang-up her pen any time soon, but she is concerned that her generation, including herself ,are unable to do very little on the computer, except perhaps check for emails. She makes the valid point that many people who are not able to use the internet are being excluded by a society which insists that many personal transactions be conducted online, for example, booking a train ticket. This, she feels is beyond many, certainly the over 75s.

Well even at my age it is an issue for me. I have a powerful personal computer, and one of the latest mobile phones on the market. I do not profess to know a great deal of what it can do for me. The phone alone, I am told can deliver thousands of “apps”, or applications, to me providing such information as travel directions, where to eat out ,current share prices, weather forecasts, and much,much more. Clearly,I don’t need all this information, and certainly not all at once! I don’t lie awake at night worrying about what I am missing. However, I do need some basic functions out of my computing and electronic communication. All of us need to be able to recognize what it is we need out of the technological advances being made. We need to be able to be selective ,and perhaps concerned only with what helps each of us achieve at least a certain level of net benefit in our everyday lives: order groceries online, or book a ticket, write and receive emails, and so on. In this way we don’t become caught-up in the latest or ‘must have’ thing.

My great aunt was terrified of the telephone, and would avoid using it whenever she could. Unfortunately, like the telephone ,there are certain things that must become part of our lives, if we are to function at a reasonable level in society. The challenge for all of us is how best to deal with the rapid pace of  technological change threatening to frighten and engulf us. I hope that information posted here from time to time will help you if you need it to live to your potential. Until next then…

If you would like to check-out the full report of Baroness James’ speech ( which covered other interesting issues as well as personal computing) go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/ways-with-words/7884086/PD-James-frightened-by-pace-of-technological-change.html