SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS)
GENERAL SIG INFORMATION: The Special Interest Group (SIG) is on the leading edge of action for the Front Range PC Users Group. Please see Special Interest Groups (SIGS) for new and proposed SIGS. This page is to chronicle the activities and experiences FRPCUG members are involved in at various locations.
DIGITAL IMAGING SIG
The Digital Imaging SIG has grown out of the Digital Imaging Clinic lead by Rick Mattingly, and the increasing use of digital cameras by members. Topics can include cameras, scanning, or software. The hot topic currently is software for organizing and, especially, modifying images once out of the camera and into the computer.
- Thanks to Mr. Paul Smith of the Larimer County Genealogy Society (http://www.lcgsco.org) for his presentation "IrfanView Does More for Less" at the March 19th meeting.
- The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 8th.
DESKTOP PUBLISHING (DTP) SIG
The Desk Top Publishing SIG has developed out of the Advanced Word Classes by Mike Morris and his presentation on the subject at a FRPCUG General Forum meeting. This SIG was created to compare different software applications, to help with choosing the right application for the task, and to learn about the features of different applications.
- Graphics insertion/placement was again a topic of discussion at the March meeting of the DTP SIG. The use of a table for reliable graphics placement in a Word document was demonstrated by creating a letterhead.
- Using the sample letterhead, the Word Templates feature was also demonstrated.
- The use of the Word Styles and References features were used to create a Table of Contents.
- Thanks to member Warren Ward, we got a first--although quick--look at the open source DTP application called Scribus. First impressions are favorable.
- The two hours scheduled for this meeting were filled with a lot of discussion, and with sharing of questions and answers. That two hours seemed to go by very quickly. Are you looking for answers to your documentation questions? Or looking for ideas? This Special Interest Group (SIG) is not restricted to any specific software application. Join us at the next meeting. All knowledge levels are welcome.
- That next meeting is scheduled for April 16th. If you have a question, problem or topic of interest, bring it to the meeting. Even better, send it via email to SIG leader Mike Morris in advance (twriterext(at)gmail.com). That allows for some preparation time and perhaps a more complete answer.
TECHNOLOGY SIG
The Technology SIG spends significant energy in internet connections, networking in offices (of members) and developing protections against virii, malware, and helping to install protective software. Preferred activities involve improving networks, adding wireless connectibility, exploring voice over internet protocols (VOIP), new technology, searching for the most avant guard websites, researching new linux applications. Since many of the same people are involved in many of the same SIGS, it is not easy to know where to describe the activity.
This past year the Technology SIG has helped members and community seniors in all the areas described above. Assistance was provided to a member locating good component matches to order and build the optimized computer. Members help to evaluate various combinations of CPUs, motherboards, memory and video cards for the optimmized machine. Linux, Microsoft, OS/2, Unix, operating systems (OS) are poked, massaged, cussed and discussed.
Any item of technology is fodder for these intellectual forays into cyber investigations.
DIGITAL IMAGE SIG, DESK TOP PUBLISHING (DTP) SIG, WEB DEVELOPMENT SIG, and COMPUTER RECYCLE SIGS?
Shop Talk and other scheduled sessions are posted on the events calendar and anyone wanting to participate in these learning events are welcome. The Web Development SIG has never fully developed, but has "hangers-on" from the FRPCUG web page/site develemnent... which is continuous. In the Web Development SIG, we have been involved with cascading style sheets (css), html & xhtml coding, and Java script calls to date sensitive images. All new to this reporter, this has been a very interesting learning experience.
The idea of a Computer Recycling SIG came about after providing a rebuilt computer to a retirement center in Stratton, Nebraska. That process worked well for them and we learned a bunch in the process, and have thought that others might find that same need could be met elsewhere... but, that hasn't happened. Most of the retirement centers around Fort Collins are administered by larger organizations with full-time IT people. These are less inclined to depend on a non-profit group for the residents computing needs... Also, residents have their own computers where they are accustomed to use them, and mobile work stations are provided by the health care providers where personal computers are not brought into the facilities by family members.
Sharing experiences is what SIGS are about.
This website is the result of many years effort by a growing number of people. It is "morphing" from a strictly HTML format to a Cascading Style Sheet format. We hope to include more photos, and update the graphics, build on content of the past and encourage the membership to take a more active part in it's maintenance. Current work on the web is guided by the Web Development Worksheet on the frpcug.pbwiki.com. Please check it out and leave your comments if you're inclined.
All participants are open to the expansion of this task into a SIG. Hey, it's promoting the educational purposes of FRPCUG.
COMPUTER RECYCLING SIG
This proposed SIG, the purpose of which is to assist the provisioning of rennovated computers for the Adult Learning Center, for their clients, and/or to rebuild cast-offs with Linux OS for local nursing homes and retirement centers on an "as needed" basis.
Our approach would be to develop a workplan for those interested in this process, assess the need, develop a supply line, validate the economic issues, develop an approach to analyse test and assemble working computers for specific placement in centers. We would hope to further assist seniors to be in touch with families by email, instant messaging, etc., and have an inexpensive window to the world.
Investigate this further at the "Shop Talk" sessions Saturday mornings at the Senior Center lobby/lounge, or, at the monthly meetings
