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Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre |
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Whose computer are you using? |
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Don't have one of your own? Not to worry! |
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For free computer access, check out the Community Access Program site nearest you |
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You are here: Living > Computer Basics Let's Talk Computers Computers are being used more and more in our work and personal lives. Using computers can make your life more organized, and can help you keep in touch with friends, family, and people you work with. But, some people describe themselves as being "Computer Illiterate", meaning they don't know the first thing about using computers, and would rather go back to the days of using paper and pencil. Computers are here to stay, and getting comfortable using them opens doors to people, information, and fun! Confused about computers? Afraid to even turn one on? You are not alone! Read on to find definitions, tips, and resources to help get you started |
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Helpful Computer Tools |
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Email - "Electronic Mail" is used to exchange messages over the internet. It is faster and more convenient than regular post (or "snail mail"). Many people rely on email to communicate in both their professional and personal lives. You can set up a FREE email account through many different email servers. Some options include: |
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Games - Computers are not just for work, they can be fun too. There are many free websites that allow you to play different games. Try Coffee Break Arcade to practice your computer skills, and to have some fun! |
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Instant Messaging (IM) - This is similar to email, but when you communicate with someone using IM, they get the message right away. Many people now "chat" with friends and relatives around the world for free using this technology. In addition, you now may be able to talk and "see" people using webcams and microphones. It's like they are right beside you, even if they are thousands of miles away. Here are some free popular IM providers to get you started:
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Online Communities - There are now websites that are social networks which can connect you with the people around you. Seeing pictures or videos, finding high school friends or just meeting new people are some of the things that you can do with these websites. If you want to talk to people online or find people with your interests, this is one resource that can help you. A couple of the most used online communities include: |
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Search Engines - The World Wide Web (www) has an incredible number of websites on every topic you can imagine. Search engines are used to organize all of this information, and allows you to search through all the sites by typing in your topic. There are a number of different search engines available for your use, some of the popular ones are: | |||||
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Free Computers |
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| There are many low-income people and families who do not have a computer at home. To assist those in need in the Lower Mainland with this issue, there are a couple of places that can provide free computers (possibly at the cost of your time). | ||||||
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Computers can help many aspects of your life, and they can be really fun too! Enjoy your surfing! |
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