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A beginners guide to digital images
Digital images are now part of our daily lives. From capturing memories and sharing experiences on websites, blogs and social media, to documentation such as news articles, educational materials, presentations and research papers, whether in your personal life or in the workplace, the chances are you use digital images but how much do you actually…
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How to clean your computer
To keep your computer running smoothly and to protect it from viruses and malware it is important to clean it regularly. In this blog post I offer some simple ideas to clean your computer. The post focuses on Windows computers but the ideas can be adapted across computers, browsers, software and platforms.
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File naming conventions
When you open the file storage on your computer what do you see? Can you easily identify the file you need? Can you tell from the file name what the file is without opening it or whether it is the latest version of your file? If the answers to these questions are no, then you need…
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World of spam
If you are active online, you have almost certainly received spam. Similar to junk mail, spam is any unsolicited communication sent in bulk but rather than being sent in the post, it is sent via the internet. Recently I have been dealing with a lot of spam posted to a social media group I manage.…
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What you need to know about domain names
A domain name (also known as a website address or URL) is what someone types into a search engine to find a website. Every website has a unique domain name which enables the creation of an online presence and enables other internet users to find and contact the website owner.
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Why you should never send financial, personal or sensitive information by email
Have you ever been asked to send financial, personal or sensitive information about yourself by email? It is something I have been asked to do many times and has now become something of a bugbear. Why? Fraudsters are becoming increasingly savvy — if you send financial, personal or sensitive information by email, there is a…
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Screen time
Have you ever considered how much time you spend online? It bothers me hugely and I am constantly trying to get away from my digital devices. If you are looking to reduce your screen time too, in this blog post I share ideas and resources to support your digital wellbeing.
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Spreadsheets versus databases
Do you know your spreadsheets from your databases? This blog post aims to show the difference, the advantages and disadvantages and generally help you get to know your onions.
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Word processor wars: Microsoft Word versus Google Docs
For many years now Microsoft Word has been the go to word processor but there is a new kid in town. In May 2021 Jake Anbinder a PhD candidate in US history caused a storm on Twitter after tweeting ‘Gen Z just does not use Microsoft Word, period. When you ask them to submit .doc…
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A short guide to backing up
Have you ever lost an important document you created on your computer or had a moment of panic because you thought you had? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you will understand the importance of backing up the data on your computer. Hard drive fail, accidental deletion, natural disaster, theft, ransomware, malware, they…
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Questions for web designers
The importance of having a website today is indisputable but if you are not a website designer by trade, creating one from scratch can be a daunting task. In this blog post I draw on my experience of working as a web editor and advise on questions to ask a website designer before you employ…
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The future is digital, the future is now
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a webinar on how we can fight the cost of living crisis using digital technology. It was organised by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and the Digital Poverty Alliance, organisations that believe we are all responsible for ensuring technology-led change is safe and positive for everyone in society. I…
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The rise and rise of the QR code
Have you noticed? QR codes currently seem to be everywhere. Changing your bank, you might be asked to scan a QR code for information about your new account. Taking part in an online event, you might be provided with a QR code to give feedback. Watching a tv show you can vote using a QR…
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Tools of the trade
As a virtual assistant I am called on to use many organisational tools in my work, so for this blog post I thought I would write about some of the tools of my trade that make my work a little easier. Got some favourite ways of being organised and staying on top of things? I…
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How to keep your website looking good
In a previous life, I worked as a web editor on a local government website, so for this blog post, I thought I would write about some of the ways you can keep your website looking good. My role involved writing, editing, proof reading and approving web pages prior to publication and educating people on…
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Digitally present
On 6 August 1991, the first website was introduced to the world. It is hard to believe the world wide web is only 30 years old, as today it seems there is little we can do without it.
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Making digital technologies accessible to all
The Oxford English dictionary defines accessibility firstly, as how easy something is to reach, enter, use or see and secondly, as how easy something is to reach, enter or use for somebody with a disability. In the second instance, accessibility means people with disabilities are not excluded from using something as a result of their…
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