Thursday 2 April 2020

Computer speak.

I have spent the morning, with the help of my son, trying to get organised with Zoom.   With did this on the telephone I hasten to add - no face-to-face contact.   At the end of half an hour I was pretty worn out and, so it seems, was he.   He speaks in Computer Speak whereas my following of instructions takes the form of instructions like 'that little plus sign somewhere near the top left of your screen'.   I was surprised to find that, after half an hour, when we agreed to leave it until tomorrow for both our sakes, and I switched off to get lunch, a Zoom icon had appeared on my computer.   So we have made progress and we are certainly part way there.   We will see what tomorrow brings.

In these days of isolation it will be good to chat to my grandchildren and great grandchildren and to chat to friends for a while. 

Looking out of the window the sky is blue and  the sun is shining but still there is a stiff, cold wind blowing which means that Percy is not all that steady in the wind and I am best staying indoors; it is even too strong to walk in the garden.   I understand warmer weather is forecast soon - and it can't come soon enough.

I feel that spirits are being kept up well in Blogland and I do thank people like John (going gently) who is in the thick of it and yet manages to keep us all cheerful as well as his patients.   I hope we shall all remember to applaud again at 8pm tonight to show our appreciation to all medical staff everywhere.   Keep smiling.

26 comments:

Margie from Toronto said...

I sympathize with you - we try to do Zoom meetings twice a week so that staff can keep in touch - my visual worked fine the first meeting but no audio - it says I have to update Chrome - then the second time I could see everyone else but they could see or hear me. This past Tuesday I just called in so I could at least hear and be heard.
I have a friend who is a techie and he has taken over my laptop remotely before to help me with problems so I'm hoping he might be up to that next week - he recently had a heart attack so don't want to overburden him. But his wife says that he is getting bored so he may be up for it.
Hope you can get things sorted.

gz said...

I am wary of Zoom...we are hearing of more problems with people hacking into conversations.
My daughter cancelled her Skype account because of similar problems.
We haven't had problems with Google hangouts, but you do need Gmail/a google account for that.
It will be interesting hearing how you get on with zoom.

Gwil said...

I’ve recently read a report about Zoom my daily paper which tends to support gz‘s comment. I don’t have Zoom as I have another option.

Granny Sue said...

We used zoom to connect 8 of us siblings last week and plan to do it again this week. It was wonderful to see their faces, especially a brother I haven't seen in years. I hope to be able to do the same with my cousins Les and John(of Stargoose and Hanglands blog) sometime soon.

A poetry group I'm in used Google Hangouts last week and it was fine but this week had many glitches. We're going to try Skype next time and see if that's better.

I suppose by the time this is over us older folks will be managing the new technologies quite well, although I feel like I am hanging on by my fingernails trying to learn to use it.

Librarian said...

For work, I use whatever tool my client uses; some have Skype for Business, others use Go2Meeting or Equinox.
For leisure, I facetime with my Mum and Dad. That has never failed us, and I am not aware of any privacy or IT security problems with it.
Zoom gets very mixed opinions from other Data Protection Officers (my "colleagues" in a wider sense). But whatever works for you, as long as it DOES work!

Rachel Phillips said...

Hilarious post.

the veg artist said...

It's not so easy to follow these things remotely. I once had to talk my father-in-law through how to turn on the TV in my house using a remote control. They were house-sitting to wait for a delivery for me, and had never used a remote control before.
To the amusement of my colleagues in the office I was saying "Look for a little black gadget, point it towards the bottom right of the TV. Press the button at the top. An invisible beam will connect them. Do not shake the hand gadget - keep it still while pressing." About 5 minutes later - "It's come on BBC, do you want to change channels?" Finally, once I could hear the TV over the phone, it was "Just turn it off at the wall when you leave."

Penhill said...

"April is the cruelest month breeding lilacs out of the dead land"

Sewing mamie said...

I went to the post office today to find out that they are not doing counter service and I have to get the stamps from the machine , forget zoom I was defeated by a stamp machine . Luckily a young assistant complete with mask came to my rescue , though wether the small parcel I sent to my son who is deployed in the gulf arrives we will have to wait and see .

Joan (Devon) said...

I sympathise with you about Zoom and all the rest of it. It's all beyond my comprehension I'm afraid. We only use Skype to stay in touch with our daughter and her family so that's fine for us. My husband was an IT Manager before retirement, so if we have a problem it is easily fixed, although he gets a little impatient with me, lol. Patience isn't one of his virtues sad to say.

I understand that tonight we will also be clapping for the others who have stepped up to the mark in our time of crisis like the postal workers, supermarket staff, delivery drivers and the people who are working hard to get equipment and clothing to the NHS etc as well as all NHS staff. They all deserve recognition and appreciation.

terry said...

I laughed as I spent about an hour yesterday trying to get zoom working while my son tried to make encouraging noises by phone or text. I eventually saw a half screen view of my grandchildren but had to use the phone to hear them. They laughed when I told their Dad to utilize patience!I also learned how to deposit a check by taking its' picture. Amazing!I look forward to seeing your blog every day,thank you so much. Terry

Bonnie said...

I believe you can get the Zoom worked out with your son's help. You already have a big first step in that you have the Zoom app downloaded to your computer and that is why you saw the icon on the screen. Just ask your son to divide the instructions into small steps and avoid using "computer language". With patience and a little time you'll be visiting with family in no time!

angryparsnip said...

We use whatever my son sets up. I hope zoom can work for you.
parsnip

Joanne Noragon said...

Back in the early days of computers, a fellow who was teaching me to use a new program always said, "Now X out of this."

Red said...

Your daily chat about how you get along is very interesting. It helps to keep me going. One can become very inactive. Keep busy and stay safe.

Cro Magnon said...

A few days ago I downloaded Zoom, then discovered that conference calls need to be booked in advance, so I uninstalled and reverted to my trusty Skype. I prefer the immediacy of Skype.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I had no intention of ever using Zoom, though I see in one of your comments above that I'm going to be put under pressure from my Stateside cousin. We'll see! In the meantime I wish you well in your quest to control the digital beast!

Heather said...

It is so exhausting taking instructions over the phone when you don't do computer speak. I have the same trouble. I was pleased to hear more clapping last night when I did my bit, accompanied by whistles and what sounded like banging on saucepan lids. The highlight of my day yesterday was when one of our bin men waved to me through the window! So looking forward to some warmer weather.

Tom Stephenson said...

There is a way to enable someone else to control the cursor (little arrow) on your screen remotely. Apple did that with me once, and its very spooky. They ask permission to do it, if you give it to them they do some magic and all of a sudden your cursor (little arrow!) is moving around the screen on its own!

Gerry Snape said...

Tonight is our zoom family getogether...just about managed to get it on the ipad after a lot of cajoling from my daughter...the penalties of a techie family when we two are arty! Well done to you and your son...G x

Sue said...

You're ahead of me, I've not even tried to use Zoom yet, although I am tempted. Could I talk my Mum through setting it up though ... I very much doubt it.

Alan has been having all sorts of business meetings on Zoom, Skype and the old fashioned conference calls on the phone to connect with his main employer, I've just stuck to running the email side of the business, there I am in my comfort zone.

wherethejourneytakesme said...

I thought with Zoom you could link in through an email link sent by a famil or friend - not heard of having to book time. We have just used Zoom this week to speak to the grandchildren but yes there are warnings about hackers - DH is onto this and looking at a German connection as often it is the big American companies that seem unsecured and prone to hacks. Will let everyone know if we come up with something more secure - we are trying out different things as it is our daughters 40th in April and we want to be able to have a virtual family party for her. x

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the encouragement - phase two later today when my son and I link up again to try stage two - I will keep you posted.

shadypinesqltr said...

My son organized a Zoom family meeting last night. He, his wife and my daughter all work from home and use Zoom with no problem. I thought I had it downloaded correctly but when the "meeting" started no one could hear me. I resigned myself to watching and listening to their chatter and occasionally chiming in with a hand gesture! I find Facebook Messenger is fabulous for talking and seeing my sister in Wales (I'm in Michigan). She is self quarantined and was able to take me on a tour of her new home. Stay safe!

Bea said...

Zoom seems to be the app du jour right now. I hope that you'll find it easy to use. x

Jinksy said...

Hello Weaver! How right you are - Blogland is the ideal place to go for a wander with no need of social distancing! I may see you again soon, as I tread the well worn Blogland paths. LOL
XX