The document provides an overview of using a personal computer and the internet for seniors preparing for retirement. It discusses using a PC for communication via email, chat, video calls, and social media. It also covers using a PC to access news, travel information, manage health and finances, learn, play games, and pursue hobbies like digital photography. The document provides recommendations for what to look for when purchasing a PC and getting internet access, and where to go for help or more information.

1. My PC and the Web 'Computing for seniors' Seminar: ‘preparing for retirement’ Bruxelles-Luxembourg, 2008-Q4 http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu

5. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Communicating: ‘ chat ’ http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu Online chat can refer to any kind of communication over the internet , but is primarily meant to refer to direct 1-on-1 chat or text-based group chat (formally also known as synchronous conferencing ), using tools such as instant messaging applications— computer programs , Internet Relay Chat , talkers and possibly MUDs , MUCKs , MUSHes and MOOes . While many of the web's well known custodians offer online chat and messaging services for free, an increasing number of providers are beginning to show strong revenue streams from paid-for services. Again it is the Adult service providers , profiting from the advent of reliable and high-speed broadband , (notably across Eastern Europe ) who are at the forefront of the paid-for online chat revolution. For every business traveller engaging in a video call or conference call rather than braving the check-in queue, there are countless web users replacing traditional conversational means with online chat and messaging. Like Email , which has reduced the need and usage of letter, fax and memo communication, online chat is steadily replacing telephony as the means of office and home communication. The early adopters in these areas are undoubtedly teenage users of instant messaging . It might not be long before SMS text messaging usage declines as mobile handsets provide the technology for online chat.

6. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Communicating: ‘chat’ – e.g. Google talk http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu

7. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Communicating: ‘ video chat ’ – e.g. Google talk http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu

8. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Communicating: telephone calls http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu http://www.skype.com Internet telephony with webcam or not

9. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Communicating: telephone calls http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu http://www.jajah.com Internet telephony or www.voipbuster.com www.voip.com

13. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Communicating: your own personalised homepage for your browser http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu www.netvibes.com Google, Yahoo … offer similar possibilities

16. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Keeping up-to-date with current affairs: > e.g. news on Nepal http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu Google Alert FAQ ( english version ) Google Alert FAQ en français

17. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Keeping up-to-date with current affairs: a RSS feed http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu Google reader help

18. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Travel: Google Earth http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu For UK: ordnance survey For France, see also the site of the Institut Géographique National www.geoportail.fr Google Earth is a free programme to be downloaded to your PC or Mac Google Earth and UK Met office, global warming http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/index.html

19. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Travel: www.geoportail.fr http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu For UK: ordnance survey

22. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Google Health http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu http s ://www.google.com/health/html/about/ Of course, you must have an account by Google http://www.healthvault.com/ b y Microsoft

23. My PC and the Web > A PC – what for? > Finding documents and information http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu All the knowledge in the world?

34. My PC and the Web > A PC: how does it work? > Software … elsewhere (on the Web) http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

35. My PC and the Web > A PC: how does it work? > Software … elsewhere (on the Web) http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu

39. My PC and the Web > How does it work ? >Internet Service Providers (ISP) http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu How many ISPs and Internet players will ther still be in 10 years’ time ? In the meantime >>> Telecoms, ISPs ISPs account for most consumer complaints in 2006 Difficult times for ISPs' set to continue. The DGCCRF, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumption and Repression of Frauds, which is currently organising meetings with ISPs to check the quality of their customer services, has just published its 2006 assessment of complaints in the telecommunications sector. The conclusions could not be clearer: with 17 322 complaint procedures, ISPs represent the most criticized sector of activity. In total , 29 704 complaint procedures were recorded, i.e. 4.1% less than the previous year. Despite these rather optimistic results, the DGCCRF notes that "the level of the consumers' dissatisfaction remains high". Indeed, the complaints against Internet services now account for 58,3% of all recorded procedures. Their number increased by 17.4% in relation to 2005, where 14 755 complaints had been lodged by private individuals. The principal reasons for complaints relate to technical problems (29% of the total), difficulties in cancelling services (22%) and problems relating to invoicing (9.7%). Another complaint factor is that with the generalisation of total l ocal loop unbundling which enables the subscriber to have a telephone line while freeing terminating the subscription to France Telecom, technical problems which may affect the proper functioning of the Internet may also affect the telephone line.

41. My PC and the Web > Addresses to help understand the Web and its evolution http://www.aiace-luxembourg.eu How big is the Web ? The Hidden Web A possible future of research? See the article on Freebase The stakes in the international governance of the Internet: documents Why a new Internet protocol ( IPv6 ) After ‘ DNS ’, ‘ ONS ’ towards an Internet of objects identified by ‘ RFID ’: