Understatement: there's a lot of information on the internet. Here are a few sites that might help you solve problems with computers or u3a online services. These suggestions are organised according to the type of audience they address:
Directed to specific user communities:
- Senior Skills: This is a BT intended to help the 'digitally challenged' generations. Towards the end there is a list of fact sheets on basic computer skills. These are framed as help for the helper, but still present the necessary information. They may contain a covert BT bias.
- AbilityNet: This is a collection of fact sheets on general technical subjects from voice recognition to strong passwords. This is aimed at everyone.
- AbilityNet also have a helpline for free technical advice on IT problems: 0300 180 0028, Email: equiries@abilitynet.org.uk, Website: www.abilitynet.org.uk
- Digital Unite: Technology Guides: Digital Unite are a social enterprise, providing a network of champions to foster digital inclusion. They have compiled, and structured, a wide range of technology guides, covering many areas that we now encounter in everyday life. Such a large collection of information will have been collected over time, so it is possible that some of the examples may not refer to the most current technology. You may need to be a bit careful. The advice may still be valid, even if the examples or illustrations seem a bit dated, some of the basics just don't change. However, the advice itself may now be outdated, and maybe the curators of the website have not noticed, or do not have the resources to keep everything up to date.
- Third Age Trust: The Third Age Trust has a page on the use of Video Conferencing and Social Media. This was started during COVID, but still useful. They seem to be unaware of Google Meet, which compares well with Zoom for free meeting time: 60 vs 40 mins.
Information for Students and Learners:
- WC3Schools: A range of tutorials and reference guides offered by the World Wide Web Consortium, who are responsible for internet standards and guideline. That explains a lot.
- Mozilla Developer Network: (MDN) also offers guides and tutorials to Web Technologies. Mozilla develops open source applications like Firefox and Thunderbird.
Experienced Internet Users:
- Google: If you have a specific problem, like an error code or a potential spam phone number, why not ask the internet? You will have to be prepared to balance your trust and mistrust of the results. Some sites just want to sell you their software, even if it's apparently free. That doesn't mean that they won't divulge useful information in the process. At least a pinch of salt and some cynicism about their objectives is advisable. But they can't make you do anything that you consider unwise.