Welcome to Wellington SeniorNet

SeniorNet is the place where people aged 50+ meet to learn to use and enjoy technology in their everyday lives.


News and Notices 
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Current Newsletters: 

Wellington SeniorNet Newsletter May 2022

    COG Computer Owners’ Group Magazine Notes April 2022 
Current Notices:
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Free Digital sessions for Seniors at the Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre
These courses are run by the Wellington City Council Library services. 
Learn how to use apps securely on your smartphone, tablet or computer safely to make life simpler – for free! 
All the most popular apps are covered, including SuperGold, banking, WhatsApp, Google Maps, online grocery shopping, TradeMe and more. 
There are sessions up to 24 May. Click on the following links to find out what is being offered and when in each of the centres.  
Sign up for the sessions on the Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre website. 

​                 The full schedule is here:
                 Johnsonville Library at Waitohi Hub          Arapaki Manners St Library          Te Awe Brandon St Library            
                 Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library          Karori Library          Miramar Library          Island Bay Library
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Accessing Rapid Antigen Tests 
Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are available free from Covid testing stations if you are symptomatic, isolating, or part of the close contact exemption scheme.You can also purchase RATs from pharmacies and supermarkets if you do not meet the criteria for a free test but are concerned that you may have been in contact with someone with Covid.

To see 'How to Report a RATs Kit Test result' Click Here
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SeniorHangouts 

The website for our popular online tool, SeniorHangouts, has now been launched. It’s been a long time coming but thanks to the sterling efforts of both Vinay, and the website support team we are now underway. It couldn’t be easier. All the activities of SeniorHangouts, are in one place. All you need to do is visit the new site and register at: www.seniorhangouts.nz.

To see the events for this week. Click here for details and to register 

If you are not yet a Seniornet member, and wish to join Wellington SeniorNet:  Join SeniorNet
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 Smartphone Driver's Licence Series
This popular course for iPhones and Androids is being repeated on the following dates:
 17 May: The Phone Basics
 31 May:  Phone Contacts and Texting (iPhone)
  7 June: The Camera and using Google Photos (Android)  and iPhones Photos apps
14 June: The Mail app and Maps.
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Wellington City Council Library Resources
Wednesday 1 June 
A member of Wellington City Council Library will take us through how to access eMedia with your Library Card as well as their mygateway research databases, which contain more than 60 additional premium resources.  This is a great opportunity to learn how to make the most of this very valuable asset. See below for details.     
All courses, workshops, tutorials and the Help Centre are for financial members only. To become a member, please see our joining page.


​Courses and Workshops

Smartphone Driver's Licence
Session 2 - Phone Contacts and Texting (iPhone)
When:  Tuesday 31 May, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where:  Anvil House, Level 1 Rooms 11 and 12
Presenter:  Allan Chee, Graeme Munro + experienced helpers
Registration required as numbers are limited to 6 iPhone and 6 Android users.
​Click Seniornet Registration    and specify iPhone or Android in the subject line.
If registration numbers are exceeded you will be put on a wait list and advised when the next class will be scheduled.
Cost: $10 per session - payable on the day
​Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others.
Click for details  (Smartphone Driver's Licence - Phone Contacts and Texting (iPhone))
This course is the second in a series of four hands-on sessions intended to provide the skills needed for effective and competent use of a Smartphone.  At the end of the series, the Smartphone user will have gained a Smartphone “Driver's Licence”. 

This session will cover:
The Phone App
  • Ways of making and answering calls
  • Most recent calls
The Contacts App
  • Management of your Contacts, add or delete Contacts
  • Set up Groups
The Message App
  • Types of messages, SMS, MMS
  • Sending and receiving text messages
The Mail App
  • Setting up your email account, sending, receiving, forwarding emails
  • Adding a second email account
  • Attaching photos or other media to emails 
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WCC Library Resources Workshop
When: Wednesday 1 June, 10am - 12pm
Where: Anvil House, Level 1, Room 2
Presenter: WCC Library Staff Jonathan Smith
Registration required.  Click Seniornet Registration.  
​Cost: $5 - payable at the door, correct change appreciated
​Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details  (Library Resources Workshop)
​​Jonny Smith from Library Resources will repeat his excellent and well received presentation previously about what Library Resources that we can access an how to access them
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IOS Users Group 
When: Friday 3 June 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Anvil House, 1st Floor Room 2
​Facilitator: Allan Chee
Cost:  This meeting is free for SeniorNet members
Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details (IOS Users Group)
At our last session Allan discussed Cloud Storage, specifically iCloud and how it is inter related to our devices. This month Allan will summarise iCloud discussions,  then we will move on to a more general conversation with attendees about their own issues using their iPhones, iPads, or iPod touch devices.
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Smartphone Driver's Licence
Session 3 - The Camera and using the Android (Google Photos) and iPhones (Photos) apps
When:  Tuesday 7 June 10.00am – 12.00pm
Where:  Anvil House, Level 1 Rooms 11 and 12
Presenter:  Allan Chee, Graeme Munro + experienced helpers
Register:  Registration required as numbers are limited to 5 iPhone and 5 Android users. 
​Click Seniornet Registration ​and specify iPhone or Android in the subject line.
If registration numbers are exceeded you will be put on a wait list and advised when the next class will be scheduled.
Cost:  $10 per session - payable on the day
​Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details  (Smartphone Driver's Licence - The Camera and photos apps
This course is the third in a series of four hands-on sessions intended to provide the skills needed for effective and competent use of a Smartphone.  At the end of the series, the Smartphone user will have gained a Smartphone “Driver's Licence”  
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This session will cover:

Camera
  • The various camera modes
  • Using each available camera mode
  • Recording videos
  • Basic editing, delete, save, print and share your videos

Google Photos (Android) and Photos (Apple)
  • ​Find photos fast
  • Edit photos: adjust, crop or rotate a photo
  • Create albums
  • Share photos and albums
  • Create collages

Google currently offers free unlimited cloud storage for photos, but from 1 June 2021 photo storage will be included in the free 15GB of general storage.
​Apple offers 5GB free iCloud storage to Photos
Both apps have built-in artificial intelligence to recognise faces, objects, documents and places. Users can also retrospectively insert geographic location on old photos with the assistance of other supporting apps. 
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Computer Owners Group (COG) 
When:  Wednesday 8 June, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where:  Anvil House,1st Floor Room 2
Facilitator:  Michael Munro
Cost:  This meeting is free for SeniorNet members
Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details (Computer Owners Group)
This group is for computer users at all levels of experience. Come along and contribute, enjoy yourself and learn something new.
  The format is primarily a question and answer session, where we can all help each other to solve problems, simple or complex. New members will find this very helpful, as we also show you how to go about solving issues that we may not be able to fix at the session.
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Digicam Group
When:  Thursday 9 June, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where:  Anvil House,1st Floor Room 2
Facilitators:  Ray Heenan & Rick Howarth.  
Cost:  This meeting is free for SeniorNet members
Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
​Click for details  ( Digicam Group)
Our special guest presenter DAVID WILCOX will showcase some startling pictures featuring his light-painting techniques with Landscapes and Portrait images. He will also discuss his views on composition and editing. Plus an introduction to FREE programmes to assist.  Following the presentation there will be a “cuppa” when you may open your own sandwich or biscuits.
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Smartphone Driver's Licence
Session 4 - Internet and Basic Settings
When:  Tuesday 14 June, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Where:  Anvil House, Level 1 Rooms 11 and 12
Presenter:  Allan Chee, Graeme Munro + experienced helpers
​​Register:  Registration required as numbers are limited to 5 iPhone and 5 Android users
​ Click Seniornet Registration  ​and specify iPhone or Android in the subject line.
If registration numbers are exceeded you will be put on a wait list and advised when the next class will be scheduled.
Cost: $10 per session - payable on the day
​Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details  (Smartphone Driver's Licence -Internet and Basic Settings)
This session is the final in a series of hands-on sessions intended to provide the skills needed for effective and competent use of a Smartphone.  At the end of the series, the Smartphone user will have gained a Smartphone “Driver's Licence”.

​This session will cover:

The Internet  App – Accessing  and Searching the Internet
  1. What is the Internet
  2. What is the Web
  3. What is a Browser
  4. What is a Search Engine
  5. The parts of a Browser
  6. The Web Address and its anatomy
  7. Common types of Domain
  8. HTTP and HTTPS
 
Intro to the Settings App – Management of your Smartphone Settings.
  1. Locate the Settings icon and tap to open it
  2. Connections settings
  3. Device settings
  4. General settings
  5. Controls settings  
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Apple Mac User Group
When: Monday 20 June, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Anvil House, 1st Floor Room 2
​Tutor: Bruce Ralph 
Cost:  This meeting is free for SeniorNet members
Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details (Apple MAC Group)
Have you just purchased an Apple Mac?  Or already a competent user, just wanting a little more knowledge? 
Each month Bruce will be presenting short videos demonstrating different basic Tips including a few advanced features of macOS. This along with anticipated interruptions from the audience makes this a great event to attend.
Topics covered in the May meeting will include:
  • Starting with a 'Questions and Answers' session
  • 8 QuickTips to improve your Mac experience.
  • Renew the conversation about Apple iCloud, it's, many different functions, also how to install iCloud on Windows PC. 
  • Ongoing reporting on MacOS Monterey totally new features, including coupling with iPad screen.
  • Ending with a interesting, possibly related video.
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Questions and Answers (Q&A) Group - Room 2
When: Thursday 23 June, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Anvil House, Level 1, Room 2
Facilitator:  Alan Royal
​Cost:  This meeting is free for SeniorNet members
Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others.
Click for details (Q & A Group)
The format will be a quick run down on present and future technology developments of interest to Senior​Net members followed by a question and answer session, where we can all help each other to solve​ problems, simple or complex.
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The Q&A for the last session held 24 March included:
  • YouTube transcripts to save time and data
  • Home Covid test
  • Tracking aircraft
  • Convert Your Photo to a Painting. Upload your photo and instantly see a preview of it converted into a popular style of artwork.
  • Printer inks from Trademe
  • Filtered Coffee is Healthier than French Press or Espresso
  • K Cup Drip Filter Travel Coffee Maker 
  • How to Convert an Image With Handwriting to Text Using OCR
  • How to Download Any Video From the Internet: 20 Free Methods
  • How to Edit a PDF
  • Exercise in bed
  • Wordle archive
  • 12 Video Sites That Are Better Than YouTube
  • The Best Free Movie Streaming Sites
  • Create Chrome shortcut to desktop
  • Select page for creating a shortcut. Press three dots on top right of Chrome page. Go to More tools/Create shortcut. Change the shortcut name to one you will remember.
  • Converting speech to text using Otter 
  • Using the Format Painter in PowerPoint and Word
  • The 10 Best Free Ebook Download Sites
  • Change your Zoom background
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Android Smartphones & Tablets Group
When: Tuesday 28 June, 1028:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Anvil House, 1st Floor, Room 2 
​Facilitator:  Graeme Munro
Cost:  This meeting is free for SeniorNet members
Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details (Android Smartphones and tablets Users Group)
If you want to get the most out of your Android device, come to this user group.
These sessions are specifically designed to help the beginner and new members are particularly welcome. Come along and ask your questions or maybe provide the answer to someone else’s question.  One-on-one help may be available if time allows.
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The Help Centre  (every Monday except public holidays)

When: Monday, 10:00am - 12:00pm or 12:30pm - 2:30pm
​Where: Anvil House, 1st Floor Rooms 11 and 12
Coordinator: Sandra Thorn
Bookings are essential as places are limited. To ensure a tutor is available Sandra can be contacted either by email at wellingtonseniornet@gmail.com or by phoning the office on (04) 473 1510 weekdays (except Wednesday) between 10am and 12 noon. Ask to speak with Sandra, and she will get back to you to arrange an appointment.
Cost: $10 per session (payment in cash please)
Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Click for details (The Help Centre)
​The Help Centre tutors can assist members who are new to computers or wish to improve their skills or are having problems with their portable device.
  We offer one-to-one assistance in a cheerful, friendly environment and while we don’t have all the answers we can usually point you in the right direction.
  We can help with a number of computing devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, Apple Macs, iPads. You can use the computers at SeniorNet or bring your own.
​  If you bring your own device please make sure the battery is fully charged or bring the power cord. It is very important that you bring all the log on details and passwords for your device.   ​