Playing around
February 15, 2000
© 2000, Douglas E. Welch
The next time you are sitting at your computer contemplating that
next round of Solitaire let me offer a different kind of game
that is interesting as well as educational. Open up your favorite program, it doesn't matter which one, and
play around with one feature that you have never looked at before.
Engaging in a little computer play today might make your next
project a little bit easier.
Too much
Most of today's computer programs have entirely too many features
and functions for the average user. The trouble is, among all
the unneeded features are a few which can help make your computing
life easier. When you are in the midst of a deadline, you stick
to your tried and true methods even if there might be a better
way. The only way to find the features you need is to play around
a little when your work is slow. Think of it as a treasure hunt,
if you want. You are looking for that one menu choice or command
than can help shave minutes, if not hours, off the time required
to put together letters, reports or email.
Don't be afraid
Often, you can be afraid of trying new things in fear you might
damage the computer in some way. I often tell my clients, "short
of taking a baseball bat to the computer, there is little you
can do to damage the computer and even those few things are easily
repaired." You can make your computer play even less threatening
by using non-critical projects as your playground. If you are
working on a letter to a friend and lose it, it is far less stressful
than losing a report for the boss. Put together an electronic
address book using your database program. Compare cars or washing
machines using your spreadsheet program. Write a letter to a long,
lost aunt. These types of fun, non-threatening projects allow
you to play around without fear.
One at a time
It can sometimes help if you concentrate on one feature at a time.
Perhaps you want to learn how to adjust margins and tab stops.
Look them up in the online help that is frequently provided with
software today. Flip through the manual, if you have one. Once
you get an overview of the feature, dive in. Try making the paragraphs
narrower or wider. Figure out how to create different margins
for different pages. Add and remove tab stops. Try out the different
kinds of tabs; left, right, center, decimal. Make your document
look terrible. It doesn't matter. You can always start over and
try something different.
Time for a break
The minute you find yourself getting frustrated or bored, head
off to play that game of solitaire. Learning about computers isn't
meant to be a chore. It should be both fun and productive. After
a few weeks of computer play you will be amazed at how much better
you are at using your computer. When you learn in a non-threatening,
fun environment, at your own pace, you are more likely to retain
the information. Now, go out and have some fun playing with your
computer.
Douglas E. Welch is a freelance writer and computer consultant
in Van Nuys, California. He also writes Career Opportunities, a weekly column on high-tech careers and A Gardener's Notebook. You can find more of Douglas' writing on his web page at: http://www.welchwrite.com/
He can reached via email at douglas@welchwrite.com
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