Delcotimes.com recently published a piece about a great service from
Widener University. I wish someone would have told me about this when it
was going on. <grin>
delcotimes.com
Widener University students provide technical support during Community
Tech Day
By Kathleen E. Carey, Delaware County Daily Times
CHESTER >> City resident Virginia Demby had a friend bring her and her
laptop to Widener University Saturday afternoon so she could get some
technical assistance.
“I really need my computer,” the visually impaired 81-year-old said. “My
assistive devices are attached to this computer. I could not figure out
a way to stop what was happening to it.”
It’s for people like Dembly that Widener University partnered with IBM
to provide the second annual Community Tech Day.
“The idea is to provide a service to the community through tech support
for people who might not have access to tech support,” said J. Adam
Fischbach, chair of Widener’s Computer Science Department.
He said the 40 computer science and information system undergraduate
participants undergo a six-week training program before working on the
50 or more machines that were brought to University Center Saturday.
Lisa Farnin, IBM’s corporate citizenship manager, said the company sees
it as a way to combine experiential learning for the students, IBM’s
interest in helping local communities and ways to engage their volunteers.
“It really brings true impact to the people that you’re serving,” she said.
The priceless component of the program, however, is the students,
according to Farnin.
“It’s really because of them and their skills that this happens,” she said.
Widener sopohmore Dave Bennett, 20, a computer science major, said he
volunteers simply for the satisfaction of helping other people.
“They’re at a loss at what to do,” he said of the community clients who
come. “Seeing that smile on their face when you actually get somewhere,
(that) ‘Oh my gosh!’ epiphany moment, that’s really nice.”
Bennett said sometimes it’s challenging to determine how much effect
he’s having.
“It’s hard because a lot of the things we do, especially in my major,
you don’t really think, ‘How am I helping other people by making
programs?’” he said. “But, this is a direct way to impact and help others.”
For Demby, the students’ expertise and willingness to help was immeasurable.
The octogenarian began experiencing problems with her laptop about two
months ago. Reliant on Social Security and disability income, her budget
is limited.
“When Windows 10 was downloaded into my computer, it is not compatible
with ZoomText and it messed my computer up,” she said.
When she heard about the Community Tech Day, Demby decided to skip a
theology class so she could get her equipment fixed.
“ZoomText not only enlarges things for me, it will add a camera, it will
read for me, it has a keyboard set up that makes it visible for me to
see,” Demby said. “It makes it possible for you to do many things that
persons with vision problems cannot do.”
Demby had waited before getting her cataracts removed. Then, her vision
deteriorated quickly. Upon further testing by her ophthalmologist, she
was diagnosed with glaucoma.
Having the Widener students help restore her computer was a blessing.
“It’s a treasure,” Demby said. “It’s a treasure here. These guys are
doing a great job. If you go out and hire a tech, ... it’s an expense.
If I hire a tech to come out to my apartment and do it, it’s even more
expensive. There’s no way I could afford what they are doing for me.”
And, for students like Bennett, it’s the chance to assist someone like
Demby that motivates him.
“Everyone comes in, they have a problem, they need it to be done,”
Bennett said.
He said they talk about various scenarios in the classroom but it’s a
different dynamic to see it in a live interaction with a person.
“We say OK, we go through, we help them work through it and they see how
we do it and they (say)... ‘Oh my goodness! All along — this thing!’”
Bennett said.
He recalled one client who’s a reverend. Her computer was having
problems with a browser going to a different search engine. When they
went to fix it, they saw she also had a virus as well and they cleaned
it up.
“She was so happy, she gave all of us hugs,” Bennett smiled. “It was
just a good moment. We really appreciated that. We were really thankful
that we did this.”
It’s that kind of interaction that keeps him coming back for more.
“You’re just trying to spread goodness,” Bennett said. “You do all this
stuff for yourself and it’s nice to just help someone out.”
About the Author
Kathleen Carey is the lead business writer for the Daily Times. Reach
the author at kcarey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx .
--
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
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