Digital Diva: Improve Your Image With Savvy Cyber Know-How
DAVIS
Chances are you've been living in denial for some time. You keep thinking that these computer-thingys are going to go away and you won't have to really learn how to use them. Or, you like relying on your tech-savvy coworker to help you print every single document.
But the reality is that computers aren't going away. And they really can make your work easier and more efficient if you know how to use them.
So here are four simple tips to make your work life a little easier.
Use screenshots. How many times have you had a technical problem, and you struggled to explain to a coworker what was on your screen? Maybe you were getting an error message. Or perhaps your website looked off. Instead of resorting to interpretive dance, just take a screen shot, which is like taking a photo of your computer screen.
• To take a screenshot on a PC: Press the Print Screen button on your keyboard. It's usually on the right-hand side, sometimes near the top, sometimes on the far right edge. It may be abbreviated as "Prnt Scrn." Pressing that button takes a picture of what's on your screen. Then, create a new email message to your IT staff and press the Control (CTRL) and V buttons at the same time. That will automatically paste the picture of your screen in the body of your email. You can also paste screenshots in Word documents or into any photo editing software.
Some versions of Windows also have a program called Snipping Tool that makes taking a screen-shot even easier and allows you to do some quick, basic editing. To see if your computer has Snipping Tool, click on the Start Menu, then select Search. Type "Snipping Tool" into the search bar. If the program is on your computer, it should show up. I created a shortcut on my desktop for the program so I can access it easily.
• To take a screenshot on a Mac: Just press the Command, Shift and No. 3 buttons simultaneously to take the shot.
• Advanced users: You can also take a screenshot on your iPhone. Click the home button (the circle button at the bottom of the screen) and the sleep button (the button on the top right rim of the phone) simultaneously and hold it for a second. You'll see the screen blink and (if your sound is on) hear a click. The screenshot will automatically show up in your collection of photos.
Just Google it. If your computer isn't working, or if you want to try to figure out how to do something computer related, you don't have to call the IT department. Just Google it. Chances are, your IT department is just going to Google it after you call anyway, so why not cut out the middle man? I don't know how many times someone I work with has told me about a problem they were having that I was able to easily solve by simply checking on Google. For example, how do you link your Twitter and Facebook accounts? Well, I typed that exact question into Google and found a very helpful page in the Twitter help center.
And what about creating mailing labels? Well, I typed the question, "How do I create mailing labels" in Google and found a step-by-step guide on how to do that in Microsoft Word.
And let's be clear. When I say Google it, don't Bing it or Yahoo it. Just Google it. Your results will be better.
Get rid of that AOL account. Have you noticed your 20-something coworkers looking at you askance? Chances are it's because they know you still use an AOL email address. We've all grown to accept that what you wear impacts how people perceive you. But in today's digital world, your email address is as important, if not more important, than your ZIP code. An AOL email address means you're lost somewhere in the 1990s. It's time to close out that account and get a Gmail account. If you can't stand the idea of letting Google own both your searches and your email messages, then go with Yahoo or Hotmail. And you don't have to abandon your AOL account entirely. You should be able to forward any emails sent to the AOL address to whatever new email account you set up.
Streamline your passwords. "I don't remember my password," just isn't an excuse anymore. It's 2012. Remembering and managing our passwords is what we do now. It's a requirement, just like taxes.
You don't have to be overwhelmed by the number of online accounts you have. Set up a system. For low-risk accounts that you set up for online newspapers or magazines, use one relatively simple password. For moderate-risk accounts that you set up to buy stuff online, add a little complexity to that simple password by adding additional digits or reordering the characters. Finally, use the most complex, lengthy passwords for your highest risk accounts, like online banks.
Don't be afraid to write down your passwords the old-fashioned way, with a paper and a pen. And you don't have to keep them in a safe, either. Unless you have a really rotten co-worker, chances are no hacker is going to break into your desk and steal your password cheat sheet.
Got news for Digital Diva?
Email Christina H. Davis at cdavis@wbjournal.com.
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