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  • Home
  • News
  • Groups
    • Calendar
    • Group Directory
    • 1st Monday Meetings
    • Groups A-B >
      • Antiques and Collectables
      • Archaeology
      • Architecture Appreciation
      • Art
      • Backgammon
      • Badminton
      • Birdwatching >
        • Birdwatch Blog
      • Booktalk
      • Bridge
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        • All that Chess
      • Computing
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        • Country Walks - Tuesday
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      • Creative Writing 1
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      • Digital photography
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      • Family History
      • Folk Music
      • French Conversation
      • French: Get By In
      • French Intermediate
    • Groups G-J >
      • Gardening
      • Geology
      • German Language
      • History
      • History of Art >
        • History of Art Blog
      • Italian Language Studies
      • Jazz Appreciation
    • Groups K-P >
      • Kings Cribbage
      • Latin
      • Lino Printing
      • Local History
      • Mah Jong (Western)
      • Mah-Jong (BMJA Rules)
      • Maths and Physics
      • Members On Their Own
      • Music Appreciation
      • Petanque
      • Philosophy
      • Pickleball
      • Pins and Needles
      • Play Reading
      • Poetry Appreciation
      • Portraiture
    • Groups Q-S >
      • Quiz
      • Reading for Pleasure 1
      • Reading For Pleasure 3
      • Rummikub
      • Russian Studies
      • Science
      • Scottish Country Dancing
      • Scrabble
      • Short Tennis
      • Singing for Pleasure
      • Spanish Conversation
    • Groups T-Z >
      • Table Tennis
      • Theatre Visits
      • Topical Issues
      • Travel Tales
      • Trips and Outings
      • Weaving Group
      • Wine Appreciation
  • How to
    • Join Dorchester u3a
    • Renew Membership
    • Join a Group
    • Find Meeting Places
    • Change your details
    • For Group Leaders >
      • Beacon Quick Reference
      • Beacon Access
      • GL Role
      • Forms
      • Borrow Equipment
      • change this website
  • About Us
    • Contacts
    • Purpose and Principles
    • Organisation
    • Communications
    • Constitution
    • Policies >
      • Safeguarding
      • Data Protection
      • Privacy
    • Annual General Meeting >
      • 2023 >
        • AGM Notice
        • AGM Pre-reading
        • Minutes
      • 2022
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Resources
    • Central u3a resources
    • u3a Research
    • Local u3aGroups
    • Local Information
    • Learning Resources

Computing

Picture
The aim of our meetings is to provide an informal atmosphere where we can share, and hopefully solve, computer related difficulties. Often simple “Surgery” questions raised by our novices provide the most interesting and informative discussions with even the “experts” learning something new. In addition there is a presentation on a computer topic of general interest.

​We meet on the first Thursday of the month at 15:00 in Holy Trinity Parish Centre, downstairs classroom.

​
If you would like to know more about the Computing group meetings, please get in touch with me for a chat.
Alan Hopwood, email: arh@dorchesteru3a.org.uk
or tel: 07740 284 939
Next Meeting
We are having a break until December.
​Agenda:
  • Surgery - current Issues and questions
  • Main Topic: See Calendar
Location: Holy Trinity Parish Centre, Downstairs Classroom
If you wish to attend this meeting, please let me know.   
Alan Hopwood, email: arh@dorchesteru3a.org.uk
or tel: 07740 284 939
Go to Calendar
Future Topic List​​​ (votes in brackets)
  • Streaming - the best way to go (4)
  • Computer languages - functionality vs ease of use
  • Laptops vs Tablets (4)
  • Microchip design (2)
  • Being safe on the internet (2)
  • History of computer development (2)
Presentations from Past Meetings
We keep a note of meetings including the presentations on a blog page here.  The presentations include:
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Interesting uses of spreadsheets
  • Using PDF files
  • http Cookies
  • The use of USB sticks.
  • Password Managers
  • Email
  • Using Cloud Storage
  • Solid State Drives
  • Which apps are great?
  • Communication within the home
  • Blockchain, Bitcoin and NFTs
  • Linking Android Systems
  • Financial Applications
  • Using Smart phones
  • Using LibreOffice Impress
  • Implications of landline removal
  • Social Networking, which does what?
  • Backing up data
  • What can you do with a tablet
  • Creating a Blog

Resources

Digital Champions are a group of friendly and patient volunteers who are good at explaining computers, without using jargon. This service, sponsored by Dorset Council, is available from many Libraries across Dorset including Dorchester Library.
We have an enthusiasm for all things digital and look forward to the chance to show you how it works. 
We offer digital support for a wide range of issues, no problem is too small.
We can help you to:
  • set up and using devices including mobile phones, tablets and computers
  • get online and show you how to do home shopping
  • access digital NHS services 
  • set up Skype or Zoom to keep in contact with family or friends

You can find our full list of available sessions at: Digital Champion sessions - Dorset Council
You can also call their digital hotline on 01305 221048 to book a session or get help over the phone (available weekdays 10-12).
Digital Skills Guides
BT provides the following documents which can help you to start learning new digital skills:
  • getting started online
  • online safety jargon buster
  • online safety advice
  • how to download apps on Apple
  • how to download apps on Android
  • NHS app guide
  • food shopping
  • on demand TV and films
  • tech jargon buster
  • jargon buster wordsearch
  • how to listen to audiobooks
​Click here to bring up the BT page on which the documents are available - and then click on the title you would like to read.
Embedded digital champion training
If you work or volunteer in a role where you help Dorset residents, you can sign up for Embedded Digital Champion training to help service users get online. 
Dorset Council offers totally FREE Embedded Digital Champion training to anyone in Dorset who works directly with residents.
The training is online and takes up to 5 hours. You can watch our short promo video at: https://youtu.be/7Hj6ZcYHW_s.  It stars Digital Norma, a GP receptionist who becomes more confident in helping her patients use the surgery’s online services. 
You can sign up for the training and view dates at Become an embedded digital champion - Dorset Council.  If you’d like to discuss the training, email us at edc@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
​

Dorchester U3A Computing Club
Maintained by Alan Hopwood Email:  ah@dorchesteru3a.org.uk
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