Ask Mr. Technology, Get Answers
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Huber and Weiser have put together the best advice from columns published in Library Media Connection magazine. This useful guide to ideas, shortcuts, and solutions to all types of hardware- and software-related issues addresses common questions regarding many applications including Microsoft Word, FrontPage, Windows, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Accelerated Reader, A+ Learning Systems, and Student Information Systems. The text is packed with hand tips. For example, while give a PowerPoint presentation and pausing for discussion, pressing the W key allows one to toggle between a white screen and the presentation. Free and legal sound effects for presentations are available at sites like Sound America at www.soundamerica.com. Read-aloud software can be found in Windows XP. Excellent image search engines can be accessed at sites like Pics4Learning at www.picsearch.com. Dark Net, Deep Web, and Opaque Web describe Internet content not directly indexed by conventional search engines. Questions about safe browsers, spyware, malware, and spam are addressed. The book suggests that passphrases, like ilovelittlekittens, are preferable to passwords because they are harder to crack. Answers to queries about operating outdated equipment, school networks, printers, drivers, podcasting, iPods, audio devices, and video tools are included. Definitions of technology terms complete the guide. This compact and informative text, filled with practical advice, is a must-have for all schools and a useful purchase for public lirbaries. - Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, Pennsylvania. School Library Journal, February 2008.