Technology Talks... let's try this again!

This year has been unlike any other with COVID-19 changing how we do many things. Between keeping your glasses free from mask fog and searching for the ever-elusive disinfectant, we are also attempting to adapt to virtual communication. However, figuring out Zoom or Facetime (or one of the other hundred virtual platforms) can be quite a struggle. Even those comfortable with technology under normal circumstances are often left scratching their head. Tech companies release new platforms and devices at a surprisingly rapid rate, simple phones have become a thing of the past and many are left feeling uncomfortable using their phone even for simple tasks. Upgrading to a smart phone can be intimidating and it comes with steep learning curve. Getting comfortable with a new device takes time and patience. The past few months provided us with a great deal of unexpected time, but patience was not necessarily included.

Ninety-six percent of Americans own some sort of cellular phone and 81% of those own a smartphone, a 35% increase from 2011. Furthermore, 53% of the 65-year-old and up population have traded in their trusty flip phone and transitioned to a smart phone (Pew Research, 2020). If you are new to the smart phone world or if this virtual communication norm has pushed you to the edge, please know I understand and I want to help!

Rains County AgriLife Extension is hosting Technology Talks, an introductory course on understanding (and using) your smart phone; this course will cover texting, email, internet use, and apps (virtual communication apps like Zoom and Facetime). Technology Talks is geared toward individuals new to their smart phone or those needing assistance using their current device. This course will meet for two extended sessions, Friday, December 4th and Friday, December 11th from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon at the Rains County Extension Office, 410 Tawakoni Drive, Emory, TX. Attendees need to bring their smart device (phone or tablet) to both sessions.

This is a welcoming and fun learning environment where no question is too basic. This course is free of charge and we welcome everyone to come and learn. Please call (903) 473-4580 or email (address below) to reserve your spot; due to social distancing requirements, space is limited and have your handkerchief ready to wipe those glasses because yes, masks are required.  

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me, (903) 473-4580 or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu. Follow Rains County AgriLife on Facebook for additional information and upcoming events.

References:

Pew Research Center. (2020). Mobile Fact Sheet. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/

Technology Talks #2

The first go-round of Technology Talks went really well.  In fact, it went so well that I will be offering a second session in March. If you wanted to try the first session, but were unable to make it, I would love for you to join us.  The class will start over by discussing the basics of smart device usage (texting, emailing, navigation, etc.) and apps.  We will meet at the Hunt County Extension office, 2217 Washington Street in downtown Greenville from 2:00 to 3:00 on March 1st, 8th, 22nd and 29th.  Again, this series is geared toward individuals who are new to smart devices and/or need assistance understanding and using their device.  Set-up as four, one-hour sessions, we will cover introductory basics, Internet and email use, popular apps, social media, and online safety.  Attendees will need to bring their own Wi-Fi capable device (smart phone or tablet).  This is a welcoming and fun learning environment where no question is too basic.  This series is free of charge and everyone is welcome to come and learn. Sessions will focus on specific (but flexible) topics, independent of each other.  

The first session is still in progress and we are now discussing specific apps.  If you have a basic understanding of your device but would like to learn more about Pinterest, Map My Walk, or My Fitness Pal, please join me January 11th, 18th, and 25th at the Hunt County Extension office at 1:30.  We will be discussing a specific app each of those days.  Smart devices can be extremely helpful when working to improve your health.  Our January sessions will focus on apps that you can use on your health journey. 

One thing I found out from the first session was most people have never taken the time to play around on their device so they end up never comfortable with it.  If you are interested in the series but not available at the scheduled time, please email or call me.  I truly enjoyed working with the individuals in the first session and I want to make the series available to everyone. 

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or just want to chat, please feel free to come by the Hunt County AgriLife Extension office, 2217 Washington Street, Greenville, Texas, 75401, call (903) 455-9885, or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu.  

Technology Talks

A 2015 Pew Research Poll found 68% of Americans own a smartphone (a 33% increase from 2011) and 45% own a tablet.  How many of you feel left behind in technology or are uncomfortable using your own device?  As quickly as technology changes, we all feel that way sometimes.  Getting your first laptop or smart device can be overwhelming and there is a learning curve.  It takes time to play around and get a feel for any new product.  Often times, we do not want to mess something up or do something that we are not able to fix.  If this is you, we are here to help!  Hunt County AgriLife Extension is hosting an introductory series on understanding technology, specifically Internet, email, and smart device apps.

This series will be geared toward individuals who are new to smart devices (or laptops/computers) and need assistance understanding and using their devices.  Set-up as four, one-hour sessions, we will cover introductory basics, Internet and email use, popular apps, social media, and online safety.  Sessions will be held each Wednesday in December from 1:30 – 2:30 pm at the Fletcher Warren Civic Center in Greenville, TX.  Attendees will need to bring their own Wi-Fi capable device (laptop, smart phone, or tablet).  The first session will be Wednesday, December 7th.  This will be a welcoming and fun learning environment where no question is too basic.  This series is free of charge and everyone is welcome to come and learn. Sessions will focus on specific (but flexible) topics, independent of each other.  

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or just want to chat, please feel free to come by the Hunt County AgriLife Extension office, 2217 Washington Street, Greenville, Texas, 75401, call (903) 455-9885, or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu.  Follow my blog by visiting http://agentsarah.blogspot.com/.

Improving My Diet - Part 4 (Food Logging)

This article is the fourth installment of my series on various steps I am taking to improve my diet.  If you missed the earlier topics (Meal Planning, Eating a Rainbow, and Water Intake), you may read them on my blog, just visit http://agentsarah.blogspot.com/. This week I will address food logging.  It’s truly amazing how much more we eat than we realize.  If you really slow down and look at your portion size and log the food you eat correctly, often you will see why you are struggling with weight. 

If you have a smart phone, food logging is incredibly easy.  There are several great apps (MyFitnessPal, MyPlate Calorie Tracker, Lose It, etc.) that you may download to help you keep track of what you consume.  If you need help getting started, I will be happy to meet with you and walk you through any of these apps. 

So why is food logging an important factor in improving your diet?  We live in a society of large, grande, and supersized.  All of these are fine once in a while, but if you eat these large portions at every meal, you are consuming way more calories than you need.  Each person needs to intake a different amount of calories each day, depending on your goals, size, activity level, etc.  So I won’t give you a target calorie goal in this article, but I’ll be happy to help you work through your specific needs if you want to come by the office.  Once you figure out how many calories you need to consume to maintain your current weight, you can then determine how many more or less you need to eat to meet your goal weight.  Food logging helps you see what you actually consume.  So often we eat without thinking and by mid-day, you have consumed the amount of calories you need for the entire day.  People tend to forget about the calories in their coffee creamer or the chocolate treats on their desk.  But all of these forgotten calories add up and put you way over the amount of calories you actually need each day. 

I have said this before in other articles, but I am visual person.  Seeing things helps me understand them on a different level.  Food logging helps me see what food I am eating and helps me know where I need to adjust to meet my goals.  Hopefully, you will try this with me and I am happy to help you get started!

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or just want to chat, please feel free to come by the Hunt County AgriLife Extension office, 2217 Washington Street, Greenville, Texas, 75401, call (903) 455-9885, or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu.