AARP Wyoming and OATS Offer Free Tech Courses

CHEYENNE - AARP Wyoming and Senior Planet, the flagship program of Older Adult Services (OATS) will host a series of online technology courses this summer. The classes move at a moderate pace so anyone can follow along, says Senior Planet trainer Johnny Hernandez.

The virtual courses will be held on Thursdays from noon until 1 p.m. starting June 13. The course descriptions and registration links include:

June 13 - AARP Wyoming Practical Technology Series Covering Cloud Storage
Click here to register with your free AARP.org account, or to create an account.

In this lecture, you’ll learn the basics of cloud storage — a technology that lets you store documents, images, and other media files remotely while giving you greater accessibility, reliability, and protection for your important data. We’ll discuss what it is, why it’s the future of data storage, and demonstrate a few of the most popular services currently available to consumers.

June 20 - AARP Wyoming Practical Technology Series Covers Streaming and Smart TV’s
Click here to register with your free AARP.org account, or to create an account.

Every day, more and more people are “cutting the cord” and canceling their cable subscriptions. Instead, they’re using free or low-cost streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu to watch their favorite shows and movies online. This presentation will introduce streaming: what it is, how to use it, and the variety of content available. You’ll also learn how to watch live TV without cable and how smart TVs and streaming devices can let you watch videos from the Internet on your television.

June 27 - AARP WY Practical Technology Series Covers Google Maps
Click here to register with your free AARP.org account, or to create an account.

Visit sites around the world from the comfort of your home, get a bird’s-eye-view of your childhood neighborhood, or simply get directions to your friend’s house! Google Maps is a mapping application that offers satellite imagery, street maps, and street-view perspectives. It also has a route planner for your preferred transportation method, be it foot, car, bicycle or public transportation. During this lecture, you’ll get an introduction to the platform and a demonstration of how to use it.

July 11 - AARP WY Practical Technology Series Covers Smartphone Camera Use Beyond Photography
Click here to register with your free AARP.org account, or to create an account.

Join us to learn about additional ways you can use your smartphone's camera beyond photography! We'll explore a variety of fun and useful features made possible by apps, such as scanning QR codes, translating text, measuring objects, and even using augmented reality. We'll also cover considerations for choosing apps and reviewing their privacy and data practices.

July 18 - AARP WY Practical Technology Series Covers MyChart
Click here to register with your free AARP.org account, or to create an account.

Has your doctor or healthcare provider ever mentioned MyChart? Come learn about this electronic health-record portal that works both in a web browser and app. We'll go over how MyChart can help you keep all your health information in one place, communicate with your providers, and have a virtual visit. You'll also learn about the portal's privacy and security features.

July 18 - AARP WY Practical Technology Series Covers Voice Assistants
Click here to register with your free AARP.org account, or to create an account.

Voice assistants are no longer just on your phone! Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Home can do everything from playing music to ordering your Uber, from giving news briefs to turning on the lights. Learn about the many devices, current uses, and future implications of this exciting technology.

For those unable to make it to the Thursday courses, or those who would like to learn more at their own pace, check out free virtual Senior Planet technology classes offered by AARP. You can also watch these courses back for free once they conclude at aarp.org/wyondemand.