How to tech it easy
Staying connected in a time of isolation
I was commissioned to write something for the UK’s Daily Express about the fundamentals of getting connected during coronavirus, aimed at older and unconfident internet users (and anyone wanting to help them).
They’ve kindly allowed me to reproduce a version of it online, so here it is. Being written for a print newspaper, it wasn’t intended to be an exhaustive set of step-by-step instructions or links. I was aiming for something readable and accessible that demystifies those basics that can seem mysterious and off-putting — but, once they’ve begun to be explained, you can start exploring and asking for support with.
Please do share this in any format: print, newsletter, whatever does some good. I’ve made the text available in doc and PDF formats for download and distribution:
First things first
If you have a home internet connection, the first thing is to make sure you’ve got the right tech for making the most of it. If you’re not a home-owner and are unsure about your internet connectivity, your landlord (or local authority or care-giver) should be able to help.
A basic smartphone can cost less than £100, with manufacturers like Doro specialising in easy-to-use devices. You’ll need to buy a postage-stamp-sized computer chip called a SIM card, sold by all phone networks, to slot inside your phone if you want to use it away from your home’s Wi-Fi (wireless internet) network. A pay-as-you-go bundle should ensure you only pay for what you need without locking you into a contract. Alternatively, if you don’t want to pay anything up front, some contracts offer free phones in exchange for a fixed minimum subscription period.
An inexpensive tablet is probably the most flexible and accessible way get more done online — especially if you find phones small or fiddly. Some of Amazon’s Fire HD tablets cost less than one hundred pounds, while a new tablet running Google’s Android operating system can be bought for less than two hundred. Apple’s iPads currently start at £349. A huge range of slightly older devices can be bought second-hand more cheaply, and are well worth considering provided they come with a warranty.
If you want a physical keyboard rather than a touchscreen, consider buying or borrowing a second-hand laptop. Or, for the most affordable and accessible experience of all, consider a smart home device like Google’s Home Assistant or Amazon’s Echo. These cost as little as £40 for an Amazon Echo Dot, and are excellent for anyone with a limited ability to use screens.
Once they’ve been set up, they are entirely voice-controlled. You just say the right word to “wake up” the device — “Alexa” for Amazon and “Hey Google” for Google — then tell it what you want. As in: “Alexa, play BBC Radio 4”, or “Alexa, call the doctor’s surgery.” You’ll need a subscription to Amazon Prime to get the most out of your Echo, however (see below).
Remember, all of the devices above need to be connected to the internet before you can use them. Most home wireless networks have a unique name and “wireless key” (password), and these are printed on the “router” box that generates the network, usually attached either to your incoming phone or cable TV line. To get online, go to the wireless section of the Settings menu on your device, select your home’s network, then carefully enter the wireless key.
If you are not sure how to set things up, ask a friend or relative for help.
Getting and giving help
Perhaps the most effective tech guidance and reassurance can come from a phonecall with someone talking you through what you’re seeing onscreen. Remember, too, that it’s easy for somebody else to share screenshots with you via email so that you can see what they’re talking about — and that you can also use a smartphone to take pictures of anything you want to share, then pass these on via email or a messenger app (just goes to the photos on your device and look for the “share” button at the very top or bottom of the screen: it’s usually a little box with an arrow pointing out of its top).
If you can’t reliably get online at all, consider asking someone you trust to “be the internet” for you. It’s amazing how much can be achieved during a phone conversation with someone else who’s sitting at their computer.
Staying informed
As the pandemic progresses, it’s important not to let yourself be overwhelmed, panicked, depressed or confused by conflicting advice. When it comes to technology, try to practice effective information hygiene. Much like its real-world equivalent, this has two basic rules:
- Try not to expose yourself to low quality information: be cautious, consume selectively, don’t panic. Try to get your updates from sources you have good reason to trust, and to compare multiple sources rather than relying on only one.
- Try not to pass on low quality or unverified information to others: don’t automatically share things because they’re shocking or new. If you’re on social media, be sparing and be kind. Ask questions and investigate ideas rather than leaping to conclusions.
In general, official sources likely to have reliable information include the latest NHS advice at nhs.uk, the NHS’s 111 health check, trusted mainstream news outlets, the World Health Organisation at who.int and the official gov.uk UK government response page.
Staying in touch
So long as you have a smartphone and an internet connection, apps like WhatsApp allow you to send messages, pictures and video chat with individuals or groups. If you don’t already use a messaging app, they’re probably the best and easiest way to stay in touch with family and friends. As long as you’re on Wi-Fi, they can also be used for free audio and video calls.
WhatsApp can be downloaded from the app store on most modern phones and tablets. The process is similar for most messaging apps: after downloading and opening the app, agree to the terms and conditions; allow the app to access photos, media, files and contacts on your device; enter your mobile phone number; then enter the verification code texted to this number to confirm your phone.
Alternatives to WhatsApp include Microsoft’s Skype and Google’s Duo, both of which have apps available, and can also be used on laptops and desktop computers (WhatsApp has a desktop computer app too). When using a desktop or laptop, open a browser and search by name to visit the official site, then follow the instructions. You’ll need a (free) Microsoft or Google account. Apple’s FaceTime is also easy to use, so long as you and the person you’re calling both have Apple devices.
A good alternative which doesn’t require an account is Whereby, whose website allows you to create an online “room” for audio and video conversations and meetings. Go to whereby.com, enter your name and email address, check your email for a verification code, then start using the free version of the service. Doing so means creating a name for your “room”, which will have a unique web address that can be shared with up to three other guests.
Zoom also offers a powerful and intuitive online conferencing service — while good alternative messaging services include Telegram and Signal, which both operate independently of the usual tech giants.
Local networking
If you have a Facebook account, you may be amazed at how many local groups you can find by searching for a place name in the search box at the top of the page, then clicking the Groups tab to bring up a list of groups. As long as they’re open groups, you can join and start taking part right away.
There’s much more than Facebook when it comes to local support. Try searching discussion sites such as Reddit for local or interest-based discussions; using YouTube as a resource for “how to” guides for everything from tech tips to fixing domestic appliances; or setting up an account on neighbourhood networking site Nextdoor. And don’t forget to Google your local area to see whether it has a website, to sign up for local newsletters, and discover where help is needed or already being offered.
Essentials and leisure
If you’re not used to shopping online, it’s worth knowing that you can almost certainly arrange a delivery with the same shops and supermarkets that you use on the high street. Almost all major British retailers offer an online service, and can be found by searching for their names in any web browser. You’ll need to set up an account and provide payment details: it should be safe to provide these so long as you’re on the official site of a brand you trust.
There are also online-only supermarkets like Ocado and, depending on where you live, specialists in regular deliveries of fruit, vegetables, bread and milk such as Abel & Cole, Milk & More, Riverford organic farmers— and regional alternatives. Waits are long for many deliveries at the moment, and some companies may not be taking new customers, but it’s worth persisting, as most are trying to create new capacity as fast as possible.
Amazon is the biggest online retailer, and it may be worth shelling out the £79 per year annual Prime subscription service if you want fast deliveries, streaming music and Prime’s video content, which can be viewed on almost any internet-connected device (including a television that has been connected to the internet and set up). Prime also includes thousands of eBooks that can be read on a Kindle, or via the Kindle app, under the Prime Reading label. Indeed, if you’re a big reader, now might be a good time to consider an e-reading device (in parallel with supporting your local bookshops by placing orders with independent retailers!)
And if you struggle with print, there has never been a better time to get into audiobooks, which are a simple and wonderful way to get your fix. Amazon’s Audible is a great place to start — or, for free books from the public domain read by volunteers, try Librivox.
The possibilities for online entertainment can be overwhelming — so, if you’re inexperienced, it’s worth starting with the kind of things you already watch, do and enjoy. Most major broadcasters have apps and websites; classic games from chess and backgammon to whist and bridge are played across the internet; and something as simple as TV and radio schedules are available on sites like the Radio Times.
Above all, no matter what you’re into, there will always be something or someone online that can help: whether it’s meditating with an app like Calm; learning a new language with DuoLinguo; browsing YouTube for yoga and home workout videos; learning new facts from Wikipedia; researching recipes on Epicurious; or simply streaming some music on Spotify and forgetting the world.
