If someone asked you explain exactly what a computer mouse is, what would you say? A “pointing device”? But how does it actually point? With infrared sensors, of course. But what is “infrared”?

Not everyone knows what a mouse is, or what a gigabyte is, or how the Internet works.

To people who have used computers since the 1990s, this is an unnecessary dialogue. Doesn’t everyone know what a mouse is?

No, not everyone does. Nor does everyone know what a gigabyte is, or how the Internet works, or what a virus does, or the difference between Office 2003 and Office 2007. It’s called the digital divide, and it’s still an issue.

Granted, the digital divide really isn’t an issue in most office environments — you can expect your colleagues to have experience with computing and the Internet. But the fact that it still exists, even when computers are so inexpensive and ubiquitous, should remind us that we are not all at the same level, and it’s not always for lack of interest or aptitude. Read more…

Jenny Sweeney Computer Literacy Bing, CAPTCHA, digital divide, Google, Greater Philadelphia Cares, lingo, Microsoft, Office 2003, Office 2007, spam, Yahoo

At PC Helps Support LLC, “support” isn’t just a part of our company name; it’s our essence, and it extends to our corporate and individual charitable activities.

An excerpt from our mission statement reads: “We believe that we must meet the obligations of citizenship… that we have a duty to be good friends to the environment… and that we should strive whenever possible to make additional contributions that improve the communities in which we work and live.”

Volunteers at Philabundance.

That commitment to our surroundings is evident in our high rate of employee activism, of which we are particularly proud. From biking to raise money for multiple sclerosis research to volunteering at local food banks, our employees are out in the world making a difference every day.

Our most recent effort took place on a chilly November morning at the North Philadelphia warehouse of Philabundance, a nonprofit that works to end hunger and malnutrition in Philadelphia and the suburbs by acquiring food and distributing it through organizations serving people in need. More than a dozen employees and their families rolled up their sleeves to package 660 boxes of food that were sent to participating food banks in Delaware and Chester counties for the Thanksgiving holidays. Read more…

Jenny Sweeney Miscellany ASPCA, Cleveland Foodbank, Greater Philadelphia Cares, Philabundance, Ronald McDonald Charities, Toys for Tots, volunteer