How to Read a Webpage

Here is the Tesco website homepage, i.e., the first page you come to when you go to Tesco’s website:

Wow! So much information! Where to begin?

I’m going to use the Tesco page above as an example, to help you make better sense of how websites work, so that you can make them work for you.

 

I have been with customers looking at a website, and I know that the customer is not engaging with what is on the screen. There is too much information to absorb, there is a seeming jumble of words and images, and trying to read in the traditional sense (start top left, line by line down the page, finish bottom right) does not work very well at all.

(Although I’d say I was very familiar with how websites work, I know exactly how these customers feel. When I watch those Saturday afternoon football results programmes (on the BBC, or Sky Sports News) I find it very difficult to know where to look! I’m trying to listen to the commentator, there is a tickertape banner at the bottom of the screen, there are latest scores mid-way down the screen, there are league table scores on the right, and … and …! Argh!! Where to look??? I’ve been practising lately, so I’m getting more relaxed with the programme, but it has been an interesting challenge. Young people seem to have no problems with it. Is this an age thing? Or an experience thing? Answers on a postcard to …!)

 Now back to the Tesco example. Let’s start analysing how this page works – and it is a very successful type of webpage. If we know how it works, we can begin to see how we can make sense of it for our purposes.

 The first point to make is that this page is not designed to be read in its entirety from top to bottom. In fact, it is the kind of text that is specially designed so that it is OK not to read everything on the screen.

Let’s go back a stage – why are we looking at the Tesco website? Usually, when going to a website, we have a particular purpose for being there. That idea of purpose is going to help us, because it will make us read the page in a particular way.

But Tesco are a clever bunch! They know that we go to their website with our purpose in mind, but they also want to give us other options for being there. I may have gone to Tesco to look at insurance prices, but I cannot avoid seeing the top banner. Not only is it eye-catching, but it is also at the top of the page, the part of the page I’m going to see first when I open the Tesco Homepage for the first time.

Also notice that the Tesco name and the Tesco slogan (“Every little helps”) are in the top left corner of the page. The top left corner is a very important part of the page, because as competent readers we naturally want to start reading this page from top left (and we expect to finish bottom right – see what Tesco have put there!)

If I am strong-willed enough to resist the temptations offered by Tesco, I can now start to find what I want on this page.

To do that, I need to skim and scan.

Skimming is speed reading to get the gist of a page or text.

Scanning is looking for a specific piece of information.

Both involve quickly letting the eye rove over the page, with a particular purpose in mind.

 Try it with the Tesco picture above:

• Where would you click on that page to look at the price of wine? (Easy!)
• Where would you click to buy flowers? (Quite Easy)
• Where would you click to do online grocery shopping? (Harder)
• Where would you click to find out how to contact Tesco? (Quite Hard)

If you’ve done the last one, you will have found the border at the bottom of the page, beloved of companies who want to make you search hard for some kinds of information. (I wonder why!)

Some of us need to practise skimming and scanning. Most youngsters these days are taught those skills at school, but some, possibly older users of webpages, may be put off “getting to grips” with a website because they think they have to read every word on the page. Not so! It’s OK to skip parts of the page as you skim and scan.

There are times when we all need to read the small print on screen very carefully indeed, but that’s a topic for another piece.

For the moment, it is sufficient if you have:

·         understood something about how website pages work, especially ones belonging to commercial organisations;

·         had a go at skimming and scanning;

·         understood the importance of having a purpose for going to a particular website and for skimming and scanning.

Now for homework!

Go to some other supermarket websites, give yourself a purpose for being there, and practise skimming and scanning to find what it is you are seeking.

You may also want to comment to yourself on how different or how similar supermarket websites are, in terms of:

·         general layout;

·         top left/bottom right usage;

·         top banner/bottom border content.

Not only will you be able to make sense of website pages, but you will also be more aware of the techniques companies use on their websites to separate you from your money!

Have fun skimming and scanning – making websites do what you want them to do.

Coping with Change

Have you had a look at Windows 8 yet? If not, you are in for a surprise.  It looks very different. Already I’m reading articles in IT magazines and on the internet guiding us through the newness that is Windows 8. I don’t remember such articles when Windows 7 arrived.

At the moment, I’m taking the advice of a recent internet article that advised dedicating specified amounts of times in which to get to grips with key aspects of the new operating system.

I can cope with change in the world of IT. To some extent, I have to if I am to be able to deal with the questions and problems that my customers bring to me. If I’m honest, I quite enjoy the prospect of getting to grips with a new piece of software, or exploring the changes to an upgraded version of an old favourite. I try to keep up-to-date with hardware developments, and regularly talk to suppliers and “strategic alliance” companies about up-coming developments and trends. I read the magazines, and subscribe to email newsletters.

But, having said all that, I’m finding it hard to learn to love Windows 8. I will persevere, of course, because there is a step-change in this operating system that has to be grasped.

Windows 8 is designed for the touch-screen generation, those who are at ease with the tablet and the smart phone, tapping and swiping. Touch screen monitors are now on the market, so that the touch-screen facility in Windows 8 can be enjoyed.

My guess is that Windows 7 and Windows 8 will exist in parallel for a while, with W7 being used in the kinds of places where a mouse and a keyboard are most effective. W8 will appear on tablet computers (e.g., Microsoft’s competitor for the iPad market, called the Surface), and possibly some smart phones. Eventually, touch-screen monitors will become the “order of the day”, and W8 will gradually take over from W7.

To many of my customers, however, change is not welcome. The world of IT is fast-paced, always moving forward, full of innovation and improvements. To some people, that world is exciting; to others, it is scary.

Let me illustrate my point:

·         Some customers notice if an icon on the desktop has moved or changed;

·         a change to the login procedure for email, for example, upsets and confuses;

·         a button that used to do something no longer does it.

And if those changes are noticed after I have worked on their PC, they blame me.

Now, some changes are inevitable if you update software. Mostly, software updates are for security reasons, plugging holes in software that virus-makers can exploit to get into a PC and do some damage. A few updates are cosmetic, but they are in the minority.

Changes in webmail access are often made by the webmail provider for security reasons – the commonest moan is that the computer  no longer remembers a password. But that’s a good thing if you forget to log out correctly when you access your emails in your local library or in an internet café in Mumbai.

 So, how can we cope with change better? I wish there was a simple answer. But there are some things that we can all do, to help us deal with the changes that are inevitably going to come along.

 Most of us have set ways of doing things on a computer. If we want to access our emails, or go on the internet, or load a Word document, or …. Whatever it is, we tend to do the same thing every time – because it works and it is easy to remember. We are all creatures of habit.

 One of the beauties of computer hardware and software is that there are usually multiple ways of doing something. Why? Because if one way fails, there are other ways of achieving the same end.

 For example, if I want to open a saved Word document, I can:

·         Open Word, go to the “open file” icon, and find the file;

·         I can open Windows Explorer, seek out the file, double-click it, and Word will open and load the file;

·         I can go straights to Documents (or wherever I saved the file), find the file, double-click it, and Word will open and load the file.

 If I want to go on the internet using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, I can:

·         Double-click its icon on the Task Bar (at the bottom of the screen), if its icon is there;

·         Double-click its icon in the Start menu (by clicking the Start button, bottom left of the screen);

·         Find the icon in the All Programs menu from the Start button.

 And now a hardware example – if I want to play a music CD, I can:

·         Insert the CD, wait for the PC to recognise the disc, and choose “play audio CD with …”;

·         Insert the CD, go to Computer (“My Computer” in Windows XP), click the CD icon;

·         Open Windows Media Player, choose the File menu, select the CD player, and choose the track to play.

But why, do I hear you cry, are there all these ways of doing the same thing? Yes, one way would be simpler. But sometimes choices can be our saviour.

Let’s supposing our preferred way lets us down – a virus hides the icon (yes, some can do that!), or someone accidentally deletes an icon, or for some inexplicable reason, our usual way just is not working. To know that there are other ways of achieving our purpose can be very reassuring.

While relying on one way of doing something is normal, we also need to know that there are other ways of doing whatever it is. All it needs is a bit of problem-solving skill and often some help from Google.

Or contact a Computer Technician!

The world of IT is full of choices – a bit bewildering at times, but great for users of the hardware and software. There are different operating systems, different browsers (for exploring the internet), different programs for accessing emails, different suites of office programs – the list is endless.

We need to know about the choices available, even if we do not regularly make use of the range of options. But, should disaster strike, and, for example, your favourite browser starts playing up, it’s good to know that there are other browsers you can download (for free!) to get you on the internet. And the same goes for many other key computer activities.

Now it’s time for me to return to my Windows 8 tutorial. Just when I  thought I’d got my head around Windows 7, Microsoft presents us with Windows 8. The march of progress is relentless and cannot be resisted.

PS Anyone want a copy of Windows 3.1???

Moving Emails: Perils and Possibilities

The context for this piece is the prospect of Windows XP coming to the end of its supported life in April 2014. I know that may seem some time away, but it seems to me that increasing numbers of people are currently considering moving away from XP to another Microsoft operating system, currently Windows 7, well in advance of the April 2014 cut-off date. (Windows 8 is about to arrive – but that’s another story!)

Windows XP came with a free email program (or “email client” as it is known) called Outlook Express. Some versions of Microsoft Office come with an email client called Outlook. Confused? You are not the only one. They are very different, and use very different file formats for emails.

Even more confusingly, Microsoft has decided to re-brand Hotmail, its very successful free email service, and call it –wait for it! – Outlook. Incredible!

To add to the confusion, Outlook Express (OE) is not available in Windows 7; it has been replaced by a choice of two free email clients: Windows Mail, and Windows Live Mail.

Even more confused? I don’t blame you.

The problems arise when moving emails from OE to a computer running Windows 7. OE seems to move to Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail quite easily. However, at this point, I do want to issue a word of caution: moving emails from one program to another, from one operating system to another, can be fraught.

Before you do it, always back up your emails, just in case. (If you do not know how to back up your emails, please put your question into Google; you will get good advice. Or engage the services of a computer engineer/technician.)

To transfer OE emails to Outlook means:

first moving OE emails and folders to Windows Live Mail;

then from Windows Live Mail to Outlook.

I hope you can appreciate that such a double transfer invites problems. Not always, but I’ve had them!

So, what’s to do? Here are my recommendations for how to proceed, and not only preserve your emails, but also your sanity!

1.    Tidy up your current emails. How many of us have dozens of emails in our Inbox? I am also constantly amazed that some people use their emails to store important documents and information. What is even more scary is the fact that while some people regularly back up their important documents, photos, music collections, etc., most people rarely back up their emails.

2.    Seriously consider using a different email client for each active email account (assuming you have more than one.) For example, I use Outlook for my business email, and Mozilla Thunderbird for my personal account.

3.    Seriously consider using webmail instead of an email client. Webmail means you go to a website to get your emails (e.g., Hotmail, Gmail). The advantages are that your emails are stored on a big computer somewhere that is going to be more secure, more maintained, and more backed up than yours. And you can access your emails from wherever in the world you can get an internet connection. If you change your computer, accessing your emails on your new PC is so much easier – you just load your web browser, go to your email website, log in with email address and password, and there they are! All major Internet Service Providers (e.g., BT, Virgin Media, Sky) provide a webmail service.

For some of us, the above recommendations represent major changes in how we deal with our emails. What I am recommending is some preparation for the time when emails have to move, and they will have to move if you use an email client when you change PC or upgrade to Windows 7 from XP.

If you ask me which one of the above is the most important recommendation, I’d say immediately that moving to webmail is the key piece of advice.

If any of the above make you go cold at the very thought of it, please consult a reputable computer technician/engineer. I happen to know one …!!

Independent Living and the Internet

Later this week I will be spending an hour or so with one of my customers called Mr Lancashire (not his real name). About three months ago, he decided to get broadband – his first experience of the internet. He now wants to learn how to shop online. Mr Lancashire is 86 years young.

At the moment, Mr and Mrs Lancashire rely on someone to do their supermarket shopping for them. That is fine, but it does leave them rather dependent. Mr Lancashire sees that using the internet for their weekly shop is a way of preserving his independence. They are going to keep using their friend to do some shopping, but should that arrangement come to an end, they know there is an alternative way to get fresh supplies.

My dealings with Mr Lancashire have set me thinking. I have left out an earlier part of the story. When he made his order for the internet (with a major Internet Service Provider), the ISP sent him the hub, cables and instructions, with the assumption that the customer will set it up by him- or herself. Mr Lancashire could not make sufficient sense of the instructions to do it for himself. So he contacted the provider, who wanted to charge him nearly £100.00. He politely said No thank you.

Instead, he contacted me. I serviced his computer, updated it ready for the internet, and installed security software. When I returned his PC, I connected his hub to the phone socket and then to his PC, checked that the internet was working, and set up his email – all for significantly less than his ISP was offering.

And my point is? There must be lots of people like Mr Lancashire, people who in their working lives never had contact with computers, and never saw a use for one in their leisure-time or in retirement. And yet it is dawning on some of them that the PC and the internet provide ways to stay in control, maintain one’s independence, and facilitate staying in one’s own home.

The internet-connected computer not only enables internet shopping, but also contact and communication with family and friends, via email, or visiting Facebook sites to see photos of what those young family members are up to! Hobbies and interests can be enhanced and stimulated by joining discussion forums or regularly visiting dedicated websites. Managing bank and savings accounts, paying bills, renewing TV licences – all that and much more can be done from the comfort of one’s computer desk and chair, in one’s own home.

Mr Lancashire is keen to take advantage of the opportunity – hurrah! But he is an “innocent abroad” at the moment, trying to learn a whole new set of skills, so that he can “read the screen” and “navigate around the world-wide web”. It’s all a bit daunting, and with the best will in the world at 86 that’s quite a challenge.

It seems to me that personal support is a key element in enabling older surfers to enjoy the benefits of an internet-connected PC. There’s a role for younger members of the family if they are nearby, and there are courses provided by the University of the Third Age and other similar organisations.

And then there are people like me. Yes, I run a business, so I charge for my services. But I am keen to provide support for those in a similar situation to Mr Lancashire. I also hope it helps that I am a silver-haired entrepreneur, well past the first flush of youth! I am local, with most of my customers in the South Manchester area. And I am willing to support local customers over the phone if necessary.

If you are able, please spread the word that TLC is branching out to support silver surfers as they use the technology to stay in charge of their lives. Set-up, support and tuition – those are the key features of the package I’m offering.

Testing New Software Safely

No matter what kind of computer user you are, there are times when there is the opportunity to install and use a new piece of software. But beware - things can go drastically wrong.

It can happen that a piece of software comes highly recommended, but may not be entirely compatible with your PC. I know, it has happened to me. I rely on my personal computer to run my business, so it gets very scary when something goes wrong with it, as happened recently. I wanted to try a recommended program - and it gashed my PC.

It's at times like this that you remember you haven't done the backups lately, and how will I get my emails, and .... ! Massive panic.

Fortunately, System Restore came to my rescue, and all is now well, but the feeling of panic has lingered on.

What is more cross-making for me is that I had installed a Virtual Environment program on another PC on my workbench, for the very purpose of safely trialling new software. How stupid of me! Lesson learnt.

I thought you might like to know a bit more about a Virtual Environment, as it may save you some pain and heartache.

A "virtual environment" is like a fenced off area in your PC. It behaves just like your PC, but any changes you have made are removed once you come out of the virtual environment. It can, therefore, provide a safe test area for new software, because you know if the program messes things, the changes won't be permanent - just come out of the virtual environment and it is as if nothing had ever happened.

There are a number of free virtual environment programs, but the one I'm using is called Returnil. The website is worth a careful read before using: http://www.returnilvirtualsystem.com/

It can be switched on permanently, so that if, for example, a virus got in and did some damage, you can restore the PC to the state it was before the attack.

But I mainly use it for trialling software. It's part of my job to be up-to-date, especially with free software, so it is reassuring to know that I can test programs without compromising my PC.

Which is what I did with my personal computer just a few days ago. I have learnt my lesson - it's Returnil for me every time I want to play with a new program. I hope it works for you, and saves you heartache and panic.

Microsoft and TLC Agree

Here is the concluding part of the latest Microsoft Security Blog (17 May 2012). In it, Tim Rains, Director, Trustworthy Computing, issues a Call to Action:

• If you are still running systems with Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1 in your environment, you need to install the latest service pack on these systems immediately as they are no longer automatically receiving security updates from Microsoft.

As part of a TLC Full Service, we check that the latest Microsoft Updates are installed.

• Enforce a strong password policy in your environment.  … Conficker is using a hardcoded list of ridiculously simple passwords, that hasn’t changed in years, to attack enterprise systems and continues to be successful using this tactic.  If an old automated threat like Conficker can do this, determined adversaries targeting your organization can do this too without using any “advanced” techniques.

TLC Computer Servicing has been advising people to use Strong Passwords for some time now. (A Strong Password is a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.)

• Deploy security updates for all software you have in your environment in a timely manner; this includes all software from all vendors, not just Windows operating systems.

A key part of a TLC Full Service is a software security update check. Popular software that has been targeted by viruses is updated. A full software update check is an optional extra.

• Use anti-malware software from a reputable vendor and keep it up to date.

A TLC Full Service includes making sure your security software is up-to-date.

• Use newer versions of software and newer service packs where possible to get the security benefits of the latest development practices, tools and security mitigations.

A TLC Full Service focuses on making sure you can use your computer securely and safely. Additional advice on using the internet safely is available.

We constantly update our knowledge and understanding of threats, and we implement best practice in the computer service industry - TLC with iron determination!

Preparing for a New Computer

Introduction
Getting a replacement computer is an exciting time, especially if you are looking forward to the new features of the latest operating system.

I regularly help people migrate  to a new one. But it is not always as pleasant an experience as it ought to be - for me as well as for the customer. So I’m sharing some thoughts this month on how to make the process as hassle-free as possible.

Background
A lot of people are now making the decision to move to Windows 7. Microsoft has said that after April 2014 there will be no more support for Windows XP. That means there will be no more updates, which means that XP will increasingly become a security risk.

A little known fact is that Microsoft has already withdrawn support for Vista Service Pack 1, so the pressure is on to keep up-to-date (Vista Service Pack 2 has been around for a while), and to consider the move to Windows 7.

Upgrade Advisor

Microsoft helpfully provides an Upgrade Advisor. It checks whether your existing hardware and software can cope with Windows 7.

Some components inside your PC and some hardware that you attach to it may not be compatible with Windows 7. That is where the Upgrade Advisor can help. In addition, if you have bought a branded PC (e.g., Dell, Packard Bell), the company website may have guidance on the possibility (or otherwise) of an upgrade for your model.

Some printers, for example, are not supported by Windows 7, so a trip to buy a new one may be required. It is worth checking to see if all your peripherals are compatible. Company websites ought to be helpful.

Moving to Windows 7 with your Existing PC

Vista to Windows 7 is the easiest move, as it is officially an upgrade, so that all your files and programs remain on your PC for the move to Windows 7 (although a full backup of your data files is advisable – just in case).

XP to Windows 7 requires a full reinstall, which means that all your files and programs will be wiped as part of the process. You have been warned!

Getting a New Windows 7 Computer

If you have decided to get a new Windows 7 PC, there are some preparations you should make.

First, it is strongly advised that all data files (e.g., documents, pictures, music) are safely backed up to a source external to the current PC (e.g., USB memory stick, external hard drive).

Second, find the disks for the important programs you want reinstalling. Many programs come with a product key that has to be entered when the software is installed. The product key is almost more important than the disk with the program on it.

This is where it can become difficult, as I have had many confessions that “a friend put that program on for me, as a favour, you know.” Well, it may have been a kindly act, but without ownership of the product key, you have an illegal copy.

Third, email: people who use Outlook Express (OE) on Windows XP are going to have to get used to a different program, as OE no longer exists. It is possible to move OE files to a new program, but there are known problems, and it is not always a smooth transition.

Before making the transition to a new PC, it is worth considering the merits of using webmail, instead of a dedicated program such as OE, or Microsoft Outlook, or Mozilla Thunderbird.

Webmail means going to a website to get you emails – such as provided by  Hotmail or Yahoo, or your Internet Service Provider (e.g., Virgin Media, BT, Sky). Webmail means that your emails and contacts are stored on someone else’s computer, which is likely to have better security and maintenance than yours (no disrespect, but let’s get real here!).

If you can get used to webmail before you make the transition, life will be a lot simpler for all concerned.

However, one word of caution – do you know your email password? You will need it to set up a new account with your preferred email program, or to log on to your webmail. Without it, no email! If you totally fail to remember or find it, your internet service or email service provider should be able to help.

Transferring Precious Files and Settings

Microsoft helpfully provides software that makes the transfer of data files and other settings relatively painless. However, it can be time-consuming, depending on how much you keep stored on your PC.

Final Thoughts

All in all, there is plenty to think about and to plan for in getting a new PC. A good service engineer will gather all the necessary information (including passwords!) and do the transfer for you. He/She should set up the new machine and should help you familiarise yourself with the new operating system and any new software items. Well, that’s what I do anyway – it seems only right.

A new PC should be a joy, so it is well worth the time to prepare for the arrival – with help from your friendly local PC service engineer.