Minimizing windows

Fed up with having to search for the minimize button, so that you can see what's on the desktop? Here are a couple of shortcuts:

• To minimize all the open windows: either Windows + M, or Windows + D, where Windows is the key with the Windows logo. These Windows keys normally live next to the alt keys. You can remember the shortcuts by M for minimize and D for desktop.
  
• To minimize the current active window only: Alt + spacebar, let go of both keys, and then press N.

As a slight digression, you may have noticed that pressing Alt + spacebar opens a menu for the window. Some other things you can do using this menu:

• Closing a window: Alt + spacebar, followed by C. ( Another shortcut to close a window is Alt + F4. )
  
• maximizing a window which isn't fully covering the screen: Alt + spacebar, followed by X.

An information website for the over 60's in Salford

Last Monday we were visited by three very pleasant young ladies from Salford University who had been commissioned by Salford Council to design a information website for the over 60 people living in Salford. The object was for it to be a set of simple links to services, social and pleasure, in the Salford area. The young ladies having designed the site wanted the views of VIP's on using the site. The site can be got on www.asksid.info . The letters sid stand for Salford Information Directory. Please try the site and give your opinions on it and then we will pass them on.

Having had a brief look myself I found it quite good. The only thing that came to mind was that I could not find anything that told me when the information on the site had been updated.

IT can help

IT can help ( ITCH ) is a programme of the British Computer Society. They provide volunteers who visit disabled people in their homes to help sort out software and hardware problems. This service is free. Contact ITCH:

• By telephone on 0800 269545. This phone line is actually run by AbilityNet, but just ask for the help of an ITCH volunteer.
• By email, using these email addresses.

As an alternative to ITCH, the RNIB run a computer support network. Contact RNIB support:

• By telephone on 0845 604 2341
• By email at tcsvolunit@rnib.org.uk
  

How fast are you?

How fast is your typing?

Website at www.careerstep.com/typeintro.html offers a 1 minute test.

Fastest person makes the coffee on Monday.

Hope it works in Zoomtext

The First Mouse

A picture of the First mouse demonstated in 1968 by Douglas C. Engelbart who said "I don't know why we call it a mouse. It started that way and we never changed it." It was bulky and slow and made of wood.

It was quickly followed by the first sheepskin mousemat.