Posted: July 3rd, 2011
By Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. and Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D.
Have you found this article by surfing the Internet for topics of interest? Or responded to a Google Alert about a subject that concerns you – brainpower, aging parents, growing children, nourishing relationships, family conflicts, Sandwiched Boomers? If so, congratulations, you’re boosting the performance of your brain!
According to a recent study, a team of UCLA scientists found that middle aged and older adults who search the Internet, using the web on a regular basis, activate brain centers necessary for complex reasoning and decision-making. Exercising the brain in this way – making decisions about what to click on to continue the search – engages brain circuit connections and improves mental functioning.
During an assigned Internet search, study participants with considerable online experience sparked two times as much brain activity on MRI scans as those with little prior web experience. The MRI indicated more brain activity was engaged during the Internet search than during a book-reading task. When the less web-savvy volunteers completed online searches at home, their MRI scans two weeks later indicated brain activation patterns similar to the more experienced volunteers. So, take heart – enjoy the Internet and let your brain light up!
Have you been thinking about additional ways to maintain your mental vitality? Use your creativity as you plan new ways to challenge your brain cells. Here are 7 tips to follow as you exercise your brain to keep it active and dynamic:
1. Exercise your brain with mental aerobics just as you do your body. The Seattle Longitudinal Study found that 66% of older Americans doing brain exercise activities had significant cognitive improvement. Learning new skills increases the number of neural connections in the brain and keeps them firing.
2. Explore new areas and interests. Have you wanted to learn to play the piano? Take Spanish or study computer graphics? Check out your neighborhood center, school district or extension courses at a college or university near you. Traveling to new places? Surf the web for information about educational travel in America and throughout the world.
3. Play word or number games and do crossword or jigsaw puzzles to keep your mind sharp. Researchers believe that these kinds of mental challenges and ‘disorienting dilemmas’ build new neural pathways that help buffer the brain against age-related losses. Injecting novelty into your everyday tasks can have a similar affect. For example, use your non-dominant hand for brushing your teeth, rearrange the furniture in your rooms or carry out activities blindfolded. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: June 12th, 2011
For those of us who have been on the internet for many years, the increasing complexity of the web has gone mostly unbeknownst to us. For people new to the web though, it’s now an even more overwhelming experience than it was previously.
Perhaps you’ve heard of how frogs will die when put in boiling water, but if you put them in cold water and slowly raise the temperature until the boiling point, they’ll survive. This is akin to the experiences of veteran web users in comparison to the newer ones. We’ve adapted to the changing environment in a way that is difficult or impossible for newer ones to.
Seniorama is like that pot of cold water slowing being raised to boiling, introducing seniors to the internet in a way that is far easier to digest. The first thing that you’ll notice about Seniorama is the visual design, which is streamlined and easy to navigate. It’s perfect for those with failing eyesight as well, with large fonts and colorful graphics.
Seniorama functions similar to a full-fledged operating system, complete with an internet browser, e-mail service, voice and video chat capability, and games that can be enjoyed by users of all ages. E-mail service is complete with an optional text-to-speech feature, which allows e-mails to be read to the user out loud.
24-hour customer service via e-mail is another important feature, giving seniors the confidence that no matter what they come across or attempt to perform, they’ll have the backup of knowledgeable staff at their disposal.
The internet could not be made any easier to navigate, and seniors of all skill levels should have no trouble getting out there and enjoying it with their family and friends.
Judy
Softarama team
Posted: June 4th, 2011
Our world has become intricately connected like never before. All of us actively participating online can feel a part of a greater community, truly a global community. The internet gives us the power to change perceptions, shape lives, share dreams, bank, shop, play games, stay informed, and stay connected with our loved ones. In many ways the internet is now a virtual microcosm of the real world.
With more and more of our attention shifted to the online realm, it has become increasingly problematic for those not actively engaged online to keep up and feel connected, even to their own families. This is especially true of seniors and some of the boomer population.
When they were adults, computers were just gaining in relevance, and aside from the novelty factor, there really wasn’t much incentive to pick one up yet. They were also relatively expensive, meaning most people could not afford one, nor would want one given its limited capabilities at the time. As the internet era dawned, computers rose in relevance, though the general perception still existed among the older generation that computers were a newfangled gimmick.
Even as the internet has now become all but vital for communication, many seniors are still hesitant to hop onboard the bandwagon. In many cases, they’ve waited so long that they feel it’s too late for them to get involved. Many also believe computers are simply too difficult to learn.
Yet a funny thing happens when seniors take those first tentative steps online; they realize that contrary to their expectations, computers are in fact not exceptionally difficult to master. Yes, learning new concepts and ideas can be more difficult as we grow older, but it just takes the proper mindset and a helpful teacher or program to guide them through some of the steps necessary to get comfortable with computers and navigate one’s way online. They also quickly realize what all the fuss is about, and that being online can be incredibly enjoyable.
It really can’t be stressed enough how positive it is for seniors to stay connected online, especially seniors who are single or widowed and not easily able to get around the community. They can feel very lonely and isolated, and the internet is an invaluable tool for eliminating that isolation and feeling that they’re still a part of the community at large; whether it be through participating in discussion forums about some of their favorite topics, hunting down old friends on social networking sites, or just reading through the blogs of other people going through their own journeys through life.
Computers are also a great tool for keeping the mind sharp and active. Unlike some other activities such as watching T.V, the mind is actively engaged while online, and this keeps those synapses firing, and the connections of the brain strong and healthy.
It is never too late to start learning the computer and becoming an active online participant. There’s a lot to learn, but it doesn’t have to be learned all at once. With an open mind and a desire to learn, any senior will succeed in learning how those newfangled computers work, and will surely learn to love them and all they offer like the rest of us.
Judy
Softarama team
Posted: May 22nd, 2011
We know that keeping our software and peripherals updated with the latest drivers is important for them to run properly. We also know how important it is for us to continually purge all the excess junk files and data that accumulate on our system, so it performs at maximum capacity. But how many of us actually consider the hardware itself, the computer tower which houses all of the intricate parts that fuel our ability to play games, surf the web, burn movies to DVD, and much more?
Our towers are often tucked away in shadowy corners of our computer desks where we rarely give them a second thought once set up. While not much can go wrong assuming no accident, one big issue does develop over time, and it’s prevalent no matter where we store our computers, and that is the build-up of dust both inside and outside of the system. This buildup can cause components to overheat, and can lead to slowdowns or outright failure of certain parts.
While it’s easy enough to wipe off the dust on the outside of the computer, particularly the dust covering the vents, you’ll also need to clean out the inside periodically. Firstly, shut down your computer and unplug all of the devices connected to it. You can now safely open the case, which is most often done via the side of the case, or at the back. Remove any screws holding the sides in place, and slide the side out.
Now take a can of compressed air and give your computer a good blasting. Target any dust you see, and pay particular attention to the CPU itself, and well as the internal fans. Alternatively, you can use a non-abrasive material like a cloth to gently clean off the inside of your PC.
Afterwards lock it up tight, get it all hooked back up and turned on, and you’ll have a better performing PC, and one that is safe from the threat of overheating; at least until the next dust storm blows through the house.
Judy
Softarama team
Posted: May 3rd, 2011
We connect to the internet through wi-fi connections at a higher rate than ever, yet despite many of us knowing the security risks of using these networks, we still aren’t taking all the precautions necessary to protect ourselves.
When it comes to using your own wi-fi network at home, you want to make sure of two things: that your data can not be intercepted by others, and that your network can not be accessed by others. The first step to take on both counts is to make sure your network is WPA2 compliant. WPA2 is the latest wi-fi security technology, and completely restricts access to your network, while also encrypting all data transmitted across it. It does require the use of compatible devices though, so only wi-fi certified products that are capable of being added to your setup should be used.
When accessing wi-fi hotspots, you’ll want to restrict your web use to the simplest of tasks, such as basic web viewing. Any function that requires you to access an account should be heavily considered before proceeding. If it’s a simple forum account, or even a free e-mail service, you may not need to be overly protective, but certainly anything related to banking or accessing other sensitive information should be avoided.
By taking these steps you’ll greatly increase your security and minimize your risks while using wi-fi networks both at home and abroad.
Dave
Softarama team
Posted: April 25th, 2011
The Cloud. We’ve been hearing a lot about it lately, but what exactly is it and what does it mean for you? Chances are you’re not sure, especially if your first introduction to the cloud is through those terrible Cloud vs. Claude commercials by Microsoft, which tell us more about how moronic and downright creepy Claude is, than actually telling us anything useful about cloud services.
Well in truth, cloud services can mean many different things, and even though the popularity of the term is just reaching its peak now, cloud services in one form or another have been around since the dawn of the internet. As an example, e-mail services such as Hotmail are considered a cloud service.
Essentially, any service that is performed directly online, on another company’s servers, is considered a cloud service. For individuals, this often means storage of files or data, or running programs through a remote server. These features can be useful for several reasons. In the case of storing files online, it provides you both with an easy way to share those files with friends, and also a backup copy of your files, in the event you lose the originals and don’t have another copy.
In the case of running different programs, you have the benefit of being able to access the program from any device, as opposed to software, which would need to be installed on each device. This is taking on much greater importance in our world of internet connected mobile devices. In addition, it allows you to run programs that would also be difficult for your computer or device to run on its own.
A great example of this type of service is the gaming service Onlive, which lets gamers play any game they want, directly on the Onlive servers, with no installation required. With many games pushing the power of most PC’s to their limits, and taking up scads of hard drive space, this service has been generating an appropriate amount of buzz.
For businesses, this type of service takes on even greater importance. Businesses are often required to maintain large databases and networks, and these often require constant upkeep and scrutiny from a team of IT specialists. The headache of maintaining these massive servers and repositories of bits and bytes cannot be cured with a simple Tylenol. It can however be cured by letting someone else deal with that headache (hopefully they also have Tylenol on the cloud).
Of course, cloud computing does present some of its own issues. One such issue is that should the service experience an outage, or even worse, should the service go completely under, it would leave those users in quite a bind. This has been one of the main reasons cited by gamers about Onlive; the fact that they don’t actually own anything, and it could all be taken away from them at any moment is a large detriment in their eyes.
Security on the cloud is another major issue. If you’re going to be putting personal files, or other important information on the cloud, especially in the case of large companies, you run the risk of that information being breached.
Despite these misgivings, the cloud is the wave of the future, and offers possibilities for just about every web user. So don’t hesitate to look into it and find those cloud services which could be of use to you. That is, unless you want to leave everything in the hands of that rascal Claude!
Dave
Softarama team
Posted: April 1st, 2011
In a recent annual report by Forrester Research detailing the online and offline media consumption habits of Americans, it was revealed that the internet has now caught up to television in terms of viewing time. Despite TV watching actually increasing 5% over the past 5 years, the internet has pulled even thanks to a gargantuan 121% increase over that same time span.
This rise in spent on the internet is not just relegated to the younger generation either. While it’s true that younger users actually use the internet more often than they watch TV, adults and young boomers are also using the internet just as much as they are watching TV.
There are several factors driving this explosive growth in internet usage. The first is probably the fact that broadband connections are now in 30% more homes than they were 5 years ago, which certainly lends to a more speedy, and thus enjoyable, online experience. Computer technology has also gotten much cheaper and more powerful, allowing us to do many things online at once, and run many programs with nary a hitch in performance.
As far as internet activities go, there are several notable areas eating up more of our time. Unsurprisingly, social networking has seen a large increase, with more than twice as many people engaging in it than they did just 3 years ago. The wheels of commerce are also turning faster than ever before online, as 23% more people shop online now as opposed to 3 years ago.
The power and reach of the internet is still just revealing itself, and it will be fun to see where things head in the years to come. This trend will surely continue, as more and more people spend time online and connect to friends and family, and the world at large, through their computer screens and mobile devices.
Dave,
Softarama team.
Posted: March 30th, 2011
Hello friends,
Let’s talk today about one of Impassable’s big features, which is its password generation and management capability. Why is this feature so important? Well as we know the internet is not a safe place, and there’s always the risk of your personal information being stolen. Hackers usually accomplish this through the use of programs which try to guess your password, and the easier your password is, the easier and quicker the program can figure it out.
Unfortunately, because of the fact that we have to remember our passwords manually, we tend to commit two grave errors; our passwords are exceedingly simple, and we often use the same passwords for multiple accounts/websites. A quick look at the top 20 most used passwords of all time shows such obvious and simple passwords as 123456, qwerty, password, and the names of people. These passwords are just ripe for the picking.
Now it’s not easy creating and remembering complex passwords, I of all people understand this. I tend to use the same passwords at many different sites, and they’re relatively simple. But those are for accounts that I’m not overly concerned about having breached. In the case of accounts you can’t risk someone gaining access to, you really need to take the time to come up with a password that is easy for you to remember, but difficult to break.
The easiest way to do this is to use a combination of upper and lower case letters, as well as numbers, inserting them at random within your password. While length is important, mixing your password up with numbers, symbols, upper and lower case, etc. is more important.
I think you’ll agree that protecting your identity, both online and off, is worth whatever extra effort it may take. So challenge yourself and see just how unbreakable you can make your passwords.
Good luck, and safe surfing,
Dave,
Softarama team.
Posted: March 27th, 2011
Driver errors are bound to occur from time to time, and they can certainly cause a good deal of aggravation. But lo, it doesn’t have to be so. Check out these tips for correcting those pesky driver errors.
Update, Update, Update
The answer to many driver errors is to find the latest update patch, apply it, and watch the errors melt away. You see, many driver errors are caused by Windows Updates that are unavoidable. These updates can make key changes to code that end up affecting how drivers run. When this happens, developers are quick to hear word of it and update their drivers accordingly. Once you’ve done so yourself, everything should be back to pleasant web surfing and double rainbows.
Check for Malware
It could be that a file has been corrupted by malware, and this has led to your driver not working. Counter this by busting out the big guns, a powerful program that can find that nasty malware, quarantine it, and then smash it to little tiny pieces of mal.
Re-install the Driver
With certain device drivers, as with certain programs, re-installing seems to be the only course of action. All it can take is one file to get corrupted and it can render the driver or program useless. Instead of trying to diagnose the problem for hours on end, it’s often easier to just save yourself the trouble, delete the offending driver, and re-install it. Problem solved.
Driver errors can be a major annoyance, but hopefully some of these tips will help keep your hair in your head, and your drivers and devices in prime working order. Our Captain Optimizer can automatically update your drivers, saving you much of the work that comes with doing so manually.
Posted: March 25th, 2011
If you’re a regular computer user, you’ve probably had to deal with device drivers in one form or another. Or maybe you simply saw some advice online to someone telling them to update their drivers.
You see, that’s a usual refrain when someone needs help, and it speaks to the importance of device drivers in ensuring all of your devices are running like they should.
But what exactly are device drivers? Well to put it simply, they tell your operating system what to do with the specified device. Just about any piece of hardware requires the installation of these drivers
to run properly, though some of these will already be installed along with your OS.
Unfortunately, getting the drivers installed is often not the end of the device driver saga.
You see, different devices and programs may conflict with each other, or otherwise unknown bugs
or other issues may come to light at a later date, and the only way for the device manufacturer
to improve the functionality of these devices is to update their drivers. That’s why it’s often suggested to check for updates to your drivers if you’re having an issue with one of your hardware components.
Device drivers can be updated manually by heading to the manufacturer’s website and downloading and installing any updates, or by going into your device manager, finding the appropriate device,
and then choosing the Update Driver option.
What Captain Optimizer does is automatically search for and update any and all devices
with their most recent drivers, which is a great way to keep all of your devices performing to their maximum capacity, and playing nice with each other.
It’s a feature that we’re very proud to have in Captain Optimizer.
