By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
If the computer seems as alien to you now as it did when it first entered homes in the 1980s, you aren’t alone. But people at Linden Ponds have found that it’s never too late to log on and learn.
Gateway to communication
With access to e-mail, 11 community computers, and courses for everyone from first-time users to the more experienced, Linden Ponds has resources to fulfill residents’ technological needs, whether they’re keeping in touch with relatives or buying gifts online.
“If you have your doubts about the Internet, with very little experience, you can be a user here,” says Jim Carlson, who lives at Linden Ponds and teaches some of the courses there.
Every Erickson community member receives an account with Erickson’s Internet system, known to most as “Touchtown” (but officially called the Resident Internet Gateway). Through this system, each person has an e-mail account and access to announcements, activity schedules, and discussion forums, among other resources.
Technical support
If the idea of learning the new system sounds overwhelming, there is help. A customer care representative takes users’ calls on weekdays, and through the computer club, classes are available for those who need assistance. Introductory classes, which are taught in a pair of two-hour sessions, start with the fundamentals (including the history of the computer) before going into the more technical skills.
“The vast majority of people learn enough so they can finally start to use the computer,” says Bengt Pettersson, who founded the computer club when he arrived at Linden Ponds three years ago; he has since taught about 150 people there.
As well as beginner classes, Pettersson, Bernard Goodwin, and Jim Carlson teach specialized classes, including one on Touchtown. They also host help sessions every Thursday morning for an hour.