Submitted by Rock Island

Rock Island has been hard at work bringing high-speed fiber optic and wireless connectivity to the San Juan Islands, offering islanders a better option for internet and phone service. Now what?

Rock Island Communications will be providing free weekly classes at specified locations and times. The classes will focus on getting those who would like to know more and start taking better advantage of emerging technologies and the new high-speed internet solutions being deployed on the islands. The classes will have specific subjects for each class and the first hour of the class will be dedicated to explaining the basics of the subject and there will be a Q&A session for the following hour. These classes are designed for those are now just beginning to dip their toes in the world of technology and want to do so with some knowledge of the basics so you can build confidence in their own ability to use technology properly and safely.

Rock Island is happy to provide these weekly classes free for the rest of this year as a community service in an effort to help people be more confident and comfortable in their use of technology. Our intention for this educational series is to help our neighbors foster a greater sense of confidence and to ease some of the trepidation that some people may feel when dealing with technology. Ultimately, we would like our customers to not have to rely on others to help them solve minor problems and more importantly, hopefully, avoid those problems before they occur.

Here are some examples of subjects that will be covered in the classes:

• Streaming – Cutting the cord. How to watch TV without having cable or satellite service.

• TV remote control basics – Making sense of all those buttons.

• Technobabble – Tech Terminology and why it’s important to use the correct terms.

• Computer basics –mousing, clicking, double clicking, drag and drop, etc.

• Connections – Wifi, Bluetooth, USB, Thunderbolt, HDMI and more.

• Smartphone and tablet basics – Swiping and tapping.

A lot of these subjects will overlap and as the classes progress, attendees should be able to start to see how all these pieces fit together and interrelate.

Terminology is probably the single most important and overarching theme for all of these classes as terminology is the first and most frustrating barrier in understanding technology. Using the correct terminology also helps to prevent miscommunication and makes finding solutions to problems much more efficient and less stressful for all parties involved. These classes are not intended to make anyone an expert on technology. They are designed to make technology a bit less daunting and/or frustrating. We hope that people who attend these classes come away with more confidence and less apprehension towards these new-fangled devices, be able to take fuller advantage of them and get more enjoyment out of them.

Stay tuned for a class schedule, and please let us know what topics you’d like to see covered.

For more information contact the course instructor at Gene Nery at 360-378-5884 ext. 316 and gino@rockisland.com.