Technology stories
"PC" is not a stereotype and neither are you! Readers share their best technology stories about the coolest tech tools they’ve used and how technology has changed their lives.
Convey your organization’s message the way you want
Members of the Brooklyn Youth Empowerment committee worked together to create a PowerPoint slide show of who we are and what we do. We started with the four aspects of our organization (Spirituality, Education, Health and Entrepreneurship), inserted pictures that best represented them and added captions to better explain the pictures. We enjoyed using PowerPoint’s Design feature the most for its variety of options, but the program overall was easy to use and understand.
Brooklyn Youth Empowerment Group, NY
Let the world know about your organization
Once we began, we noticed how easy it was to work with Windows Live Spaces. We did not use many features, but we chose the ones that we felt would best bring out our organization, Brooklyn Youth Empowerment. We posted a few blogs, added a slide show with captions and created a video about our organization. We feel the best feature on Windows Live Spaces is the blog posting because we made it look the way we wanted by changing the font style, colour and size. Windows Live Spaces is a great tool.
Brooklyn Youth Empowerment Group, NY
Find a Space in the crowd
It took me about two hours to complete my Windows Live Spaces page. It was pretty easy — a lot like creating a page in Facebook. I especially liked how simple it was to post videos from YouTube onto my Space. This could be a great solution to building your own web site without having to start from scratch.
Tamsyn Garner, NY
Make the right impression
This week, I spent time preparing pictures for our first annual report. I used Windows Live Photo Gallery to crop and modify a handful of images for the report, and I did this all quickly and effortlessly. I was surprised with how well the crop and red-eye features worked. They really helped spruce up the images.
Paul Cruikshank, NY
Design a simple yet powerful presentation
Although I had used PowerPoint in classroom settings — for presentations, discussions of scientific research and image/art analysis — I had never used PowerPoint for business presentations. I decided to use PowerPoint to create a basic slide show about my organization and found the program quite adept at showcasing financial information alongside graphics, background text and graphs. I believe presentations should not be cluttered or overly flashy; I like to keep everything simple. With PowerPoint, it was very easy to present different media — graphs, pictures and basic animation — on individual slides and convey complex information in a straightforward manner.
Paul Cruikshank, NY
Succeed in your new world
I immigrated to Canada from Iraq just three years ago. Although I had a degree as a software engineer, I had never practised as there was a lack of IT jobs in my country.
One night, I was searching for schools online and typed “Microsoft Certificate” into a search engine. CDI was the first school to pop up. Within 24 hours I was invited to an interview session and shortly after started my training.
While I pursued CDI studies, I wrote the Microsoft exams. When I finished school and the exams, I felt prepared to face my new world. My first job was as a Microsoft active directory support engineer with a Microsoft vendor. The experience was amazing and taught me so many IT skills.
Now I am a senior engineer with TD Canada Trust. My IT career has helped me buy a house and provide a decent life for me and my family.
Taha Taha, Mississauga, Ont.
Add power to your school presentations
Windows Movie Maker is a great tool to amp-up originality and add spice to presentations for school or for work. I first used Movie Maker last year for a class in my graduate school program. I was tired of the same old presentation tools and wanted to explore the world of multimedia. I thought of making a movie or slideshow to get my messages across but was a little nervous because I had no previous experience using multimedia software. When I clicked on the Start menu in Windows and found Windows Movie Maker everything changed. I was surprised and excited at how easy it was to use. Suddenly I could see my presentation mark going from a ‘B’ to an ‘A.’
This program inspired me to get even more involved in my project than I thought possible. Not only did I use a number of pictures and videos to create my movie, but I also used the sound overlay option to record my voice, which served as a commentary to match the visuals that were playing on-screen. The results: a seven-minute news segment that I was able to create, not to mention impress instructor and fellow peers! Over the last year, I have continued to use Movie Maker for school projects, multimedia presentations and even social events — I created a slideshow with music for a friend’s wedding. Windows Movie Maker stimulates creativity, is fun and can be used by anyone!
Laura Muir
Stay connected to everything and everyone
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t use a Microsoft product. I would be lost without it. To illustrate, I’ll take you through a typical day: I wake up, look at my Windows Mobile 6 PDA to check my email, which is synced to my Hotmail/Live account. This is brilliant for keeping in touch with business contacts and friends alike. I turn on my Vista-powered laptop, browse the Net and get ready for work. I get in my car, which has "Windows Blue & Me" to sync my PDA's contacts to the car's memory and allow me to voice navigate through my phone. This is fantastic as British driving laws forbid holding a phone while driving. I get to work, turn on my XP desktop and make sure our Server2003's backups have run. When I finish work, I go for a jog with my Zune V1.0 and then finish the day with some Windows Live chat and Xbox 360 before setting the alarm on my PDA for the next morning. I would be cut off from everyone if I removed all the Microsoft products from my life even for one day. Microsoft is, unconsciously, the most valuable aspect of my life for work and communication.
Jeremey Fraser
Avoid the lineups; browse online for gifts
My favourite thing to do is browse online for gifts. I usually buy last-minute items like books and gift certificates for family members who are impossible to buy for.
Although I do not work in retail anymore, I still feel nervous if I haven’t bought all my gifts by December 1st. I hate the December crowds, and I have the Internet to thank for my “mall avoidance.”
Alexis Morrison, Coquitlam, B.C.
Capture holiday traditions on your digital camera
Every year since we’ve had sled dogs and our own acreage, we’ve invited our family over, harnessed up the dogs and taken turns driving a dogsled team.
Recently we purchased a digital camera that takes short videos. We plan to shoot a video while driving a sled team and e-mail the video to family members who live out of town — a new spin to our dogsledding tradition.
Brenda Thomson, Saskatoon, Sask.
Competing in the Top 25 finalists inspired me to continue with film
My experience with the Share Your Passion contest was riveting.I was excited and honoured when I found out my video got into the Top 25 finalists. I checked the number of votes for all the videos at least three times. Microsoft Movie Maker was very easy and user-friendly. I finished my video editing in less than an hour. If there were another Microsoft contest like this one, I would no doubt participate again! I have just graduated from Grade 12, and competing in the Top 25 finalists has inspired me to continue with film in post-secondary school. I have been accepted into the Motion Picture Production course at Capilano University in Vancouver, B.C. Thanks!
Paul Human
Discover traditions from around the world
As a young couple, we don’t have extra cash for gifts. Our holiday tradition is picking different cultures in the world and using the computer to research their holidays. We assemble small presentations that include handmade objects, downloaded pictures, stories, traditions and other fun things, such as recipes. We share what we’ve learned with each other as we listen to carols, admire our tree and sip our coffee in comfort on Christmas Day.
Heather Popplewell, Calgary, Alta.
Download the lyrics to your favourite carols
My family is full of music lovers. Humming along to holiday tunes is common, but singing along is quite rare. Every year with the help of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, I go online and download Christmas carol lyrics to my heart’s content. When the family is reunited, standing around the computer screen and singing the right lyrics, the season feels magical. If only the pitch of the singing could be fixed as easily!
Carolyn Walker, Winnipeg, Man.
Ever-grateful grandma
I love the fact that as a grandmother of seven I can keep in contact with my children and grandchildren who live so far away. By using Windows Live Messenger, I can see my grandchildren open their Christmas and birthday gifts and the excitement they bring. Anytime the grandchildren want to see Grandma and Grandpa, they can pull up the webcam and microphone, and we can chat and see one another just like we were there with them. Without this technology, it would be only a few phone calls a year and still pictures and occasional cards. Thanks to technology, I have them here right at my desk.
Sharon Bucci, Niagara Falls, Ont.
Get help online with a holiday trivia game
During the Christmas season, I like to have a trivia game we can all play when sitting around with family and friends. Thanks to the Internet, you can find the answer to any question you have about Christmas traditions or special Christmas moments. It is a great way of learning who sang “White Christmas” and what the Grinch stole from Whoville.
Laurel Moore, Fruitvale, B.C.
Be a one-man media machine
I’ve always dreamed of creating my own films with hardly any outside help. People have always told me it is impossible to create a movie all by yourself. Since I was young, I was fascinated with computers and the art I could create with them. When I got older, I received a digital video camera for Christmas and went from there. I was able to gather footage, upload it to the computer, edit it, create a musical score and create graphics to add to the film. Soon enough, I had finished a video all by myself. I love the way this technology is going and can’t wait to be a part of it while it grows.
Liam Hanrahan-Powers, Vernon, B.C.
Invite your friends to a cookie exchange
I arrange a holiday cookie and recipe exchange every year. I send out computer-made invitations asking my friends to search the Internet for a new cookie recipe, and we each make six dozen of whatever cookie we choose. Then we get together and exchange cookies and recipes. This tradition has been going on for over 20 years now. Our circle of friends has expanded and so have our recipe collections.
Joyce Poyton, Hamilton, Ont.
Capture your children on video
I never wanted to enter the Share Your Passion contest because I thought it would be too hard to do and I wouldn’t have time to put something together. But after much convincing from my sister and after seeing a few clips by other contestants on the web site, I decided to try it. I did it while my babies were napping. Originally, I had used all still photos of my children, but my sister suggested that I put a live clip of them at the end. It took about half a day to get the live video done. As you can imagine, babies don’t sit still. Importing all the clips took a while, but once that was done it didn’t take long to put the movie together. I put all the photos together; then I chose the video effects. I played the video a few times to see how it was coming together. I was really proud of myself when I saw the finished product. My husband actually cried when the video was posted to the web site.
Margaret Hum, Share Your Passion winner
Make a personalized family calendar
My favourite winter holiday tradition is using my computer and digital camera to make a family calendar for the following year. I add in birthdates and special family events and select photographs related to the particular months of the year. I then print those calendars and make them part of the gifts given to family. I like to think it keeps the family close and always thinking about one another.
Lawrence Cote, Winnipeg, Man.
Let Outlook help you remember important dates and events
I lost my short-term memory after a traumatic brain injury. With the help of Microsoft Office Outlook, I have been able to attend college and run a marathon. This year, I am planning my wedding and training for a triathlon while continuing with school. As you can imagine, scheduling is extremely important. I use Microsoft Office Outlook as my daily to-do list, my scheduler, my grocery list, my study buddy, my trip planner and my training log. I can even take Outlook on the road with me with a Windows Mobile Smartphone. Without Outlook I would “lose my way to church.” But with Virtual Earth maps on my contacts list, I can easily figure out where I need to be, how to get there and what I need to do when I am there. Microsoft Office Outlook is my memory.
David McGuire, New Westminster, B.C.
Promote your business with Microsoft Publisher
I’m a program officer at DesBrisay Museum in Bridgewater, N.S., and, with little or no budget for promotional materials, I produce them all myself. From event posters to cards with our own heritage photos on them, I do it all with Microsoft Publisher. My newsletters are fabulous. I have even used Publisher to design a layout for my gift shop, using shapes and colours to help me visualize what I had and where I wanted everything to be. Microsoft Publisher is the greatest technology to come into my life.
Kendra Power, Bridgewater, N.S.
Express yourself
Before I had a laptop, I wasn’t one for taking pictures. But with the freedom the laptop affords, I can work or play anywhere, anytime. Digital photography allows me to easily edit, move, paste and print the photos I want. I often use Publisher and PowerPoint to convert my photos into movies and slide shows and to create excellent backgrounds for my photos. I can take my laptop to family reunions and burn pictures immediately to disc for everyone. Thanks to this newfound love, I’m able to show what I can do on a computer.
Shannon Eckenswiller
Organize your Secret Santa gift exchange
My favourite holiday tradition with my extended family is the Secret Santa gift exchange. My computer helps me be the top elf, matching up family members from Toronto, Ont., to Red Deer, Alta. It’s a lot of organizing, but my computer allows me to run it successfully each year — and be nominated by family members to start organizing every fall.
Susanne Feeley, Toronto, Ont.
Relive the past year with your video camera and Windows Movie Maker
With my family, I like to gather all the year’s photos and videos and select the best pictures and video clips to use in an end-of-the-year family video. I use Windows Movie Maker to edit them all together and throw in some music with transitions. It’s a real hit at our Christmas parties. Everyone loves the video. It’s a great way to review the year and relive the memories.
Gabriel King, Toronto, Ont.
Love your laptop
I love my laptop, and my Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS software. I took it on a trip this summer to the east coast. It mapped my initial route and sniffed out free Internet to help me find my way when I got lost. I was able to edit my photos and post them online while I was on my trip. It let me keep my loved ones posted as to my whereabouts and activities, and I could show them everything, almost in real time. Summer love is me, my laptop and my digital camera . . . on a road trip! All with GPS, so I can get home again!
Brett Slaught, Simcoe, Ont.
Track Santa’s progress online
My holiday tradition as a child was to track Santa by listening to the radio. Now my children and I can track Santa on Christmas Eve through the NORAD web site. It gets the kids thinking about all the faraway places Santa has to go to deliver presents. We surf the Net to learn about these different places. At the same time, we get cookies and carrots ready for Santa while he makes his way here!
Grant Stephen, Hamilton, Ont.
What could be more fun than a day at the beach?
Making a movie about a day at the beach and entering it into a contest! I had more fun with the Share Your Passion contest than I can say I’ve had in a really long time. The contest turned into a family adventure. I started with video clips of my kids at our local beach because it really is our greatest passion. My youngest daughter suggested I do something for Earth Day, since I was finishing the Movie Maker video on that day. So I drew an Earth using Paint and copied it about 20 times, making little changes to each drawing. I popped the drawings into the movie as slides and changed the slide duration to 0.25 seconds. Voilà . . . animation. I drew on some other photos, added some sound effects and finished the movie when my children gave their thumbs up. We had a blast. So what could be better than a day at the beach? Sharing it with the world.
Eden Bard, Share Your Passion competition finalist
Keep arguments at bay with Windows Vista Ultimate PC
The Vista PC has changed so many things in my life. One such change occurred when I connected my PC to the Xbox 360 Elite that I got for my birthday. I can use it to record TV with my TV tuner when I am out, and I can record The Daily Show on nights when I’m in bed too early. My fiancée and I no longer have to fight over what to watch on TV; I can watch live TV on my PC with Windows Media Center (in high definition, no less). Life is much more pleasant now. In fact, I think we can attribute fewer arguments and minor catastrophes to the TV tuner and Windows Vista Media Center!
David McGuire, New Westminster, B.C.
Discuss school topics through Windows Live Spaces
We use Windows Live Spaces to write blogs and share thoughts on class topics. Our professor for 18th-century British literature loves that we have this forum for discussion. I think we are all better prepared for class.
Katy Farmer
Stay the course with Windows Virtual Earth
After suffering a traumatic brain injury combined with memory loss, I need technology to help me daily. Windows Virtual Earth is one technology that I love.
I found on my four-hour runs through town that I often got lost (a downside to my injury). With my memory loss, I forget where I am heading, where I am and how to get back to where I started. I need a map at all times and instructions on where to go. Even though I can keep up with everyone, I am consumed with fear over getting left behind and lost. Windows Virtual Earth allows me to run in marathons regardless of my disability, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
David McGuire, New Westminster, B.C.
Link your technology with Xbox 360/Media Center
The Xbox 360 allows me to link my computer and all 10 of my hard drives to my 50” plasma and Dolby surround-sound system. Now I can just pick up my Media Center remote for my 360, press the Media Center button and have instant access to all the media on my hard drives. I’m in love with the notion that I can select any movie, photo or song stored on my computer and instantly show it on my TV. I have been waiting many years to be able to do this. Microsoft’s technology has made my dream come true.