Unfortunately even to the end we were not able to take a look at the computer give-away sessions, where we may be able to see how the teaching session is done. But from staff's description, we can imagine how it works out.
The training session, which also serve to hand over these refurbished computer, is one of the three fundamental ideas of this non-profit organization. They are three goals that this and other similar organizations are hoping to achieve. One, reducing the environmental impact of electronic waste. Two, to increase access to computing and communication technologies. Three, to provide education, training, and job skills. The third goal, is where the training session comes in.
In the current world's workforces, basic computing and telecommunication skills have become common place, some even necessitate it. People who fall on the wrong side of the digital divide soon found themselves in difficult situations. As technologies in work places changes rapidly in response to the worldwide standard. Often times, people who can not adapt to these changes are laid off. Also, there are people who can not afford to acquire new technology as it is often times come at a price. A price tag high enough to turn away people who struggle to get a living.
This training session offered by our Service Partner is an attempt to give those people a second chance. It is most unfortunate that we were not in time to get to see one in action, but we did learn a lot during the weeks we attend their work sessions.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
After one is able to refurbish one computer, repeating the steps to go through another one become as easy as a breeze. Up to now our work in the service have been very simple, yet several unique problems did arise that require assistance from Service Partner (in our case, Jon and Terry). During those times it may be instead of helping we are hindering the progress. In the beginning several of us work on a single computer, then once we are more familiar with the process, one computer for each of us. Overall it was a great experience, and may continue to go visit their workshop afterwords.
Planet Geek's time table is set to that whenever 16 computer is refurbished. They will bring it to the local food bank and have a session. Notices will be given to people who have interest in acquiring a free computer. There will be steps taken to ensure that these computers will be put into the hands of those who really needs them. This was suggested by our staffs when we meet to discuss how this Service Learning is going to work out. At the end we very much have overrun our goal. We have 16 computers ready before the staff's expected date and a few more are underway.
Concerning the digital divide, there are not too many surprises for me. Due to my father's profession, I am constantly in touch with the recent development in technology. Yet there are other relatives who does not the same access to technology as I do. This was around a decade ago when I had no conscious idea about digital divide. Therefor my knowledge of it is quite vague due to drawing it from past experience. This service learning experience brings me a more precise image of what digital divide looks like.
Planet Geek's time table is set to that whenever 16 computer is refurbished. They will bring it to the local food bank and have a session. Notices will be given to people who have interest in acquiring a free computer. There will be steps taken to ensure that these computers will be put into the hands of those who really needs them. This was suggested by our staffs when we meet to discuss how this Service Learning is going to work out. At the end we very much have overrun our goal. We have 16 computers ready before the staff's expected date and a few more are underway.
Concerning the digital divide, there are not too many surprises for me. Due to my father's profession, I am constantly in touch with the recent development in technology. Yet there are other relatives who does not the same access to technology as I do. This was around a decade ago when I had no conscious idea about digital divide. Therefor my knowledge of it is quite vague due to drawing it from past experience. This service learning experience brings me a more precise image of what digital divide looks like.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
March 13th, 2011
Same place, same coldness, but at least we got more people coming so we did't feel the cold that much this time.
We were continuing from where we left off last week. Since we got some new guys coming in today so Jon introduced them to the procedures while i continued. There were several problems that comes up that required asking around for solutions. And at the end I got myself into checking out compatible video cards for the computer towers.
Now this is getting interesting. Even if we took out the broken part, some perfectly usable hardware that came out a few years ago can't do something we take for granted in current computers (for example, watching youtube videos). The hardware is note even a decade old! Even though most of the people agree that the world today is a rapidly changing world, but the cost may be too high to change the hardware.
During the video card test, over a third of all the video card have to be toss aside. Not because it is bad or broken, but because it's not compatible with the motherboard interface anymore. Then with the ones that are still operational, many of them have to be put aside again due to it's inability to play flash videos (same as above, youtube videos).
Why is this happening? From what we in the workshop can see, there are a few major factors. One been consumer's continual persuasion of better products, faster machines. In response to this demand there is another factor, companies that wants some good money. I do not deny that business have served the world a favor by transferring goods and services around the world; yet when certain human factor is mixed into it, the picture looks for the worse to lower end consumers.
Same place, same coldness, but at least we got more people coming so we did't feel the cold that much this time.
We were continuing from where we left off last week. Since we got some new guys coming in today so Jon introduced them to the procedures while i continued. There were several problems that comes up that required asking around for solutions. And at the end I got myself into checking out compatible video cards for the computer towers.
Now this is getting interesting. Even if we took out the broken part, some perfectly usable hardware that came out a few years ago can't do something we take for granted in current computers (for example, watching youtube videos). The hardware is note even a decade old! Even though most of the people agree that the world today is a rapidly changing world, but the cost may be too high to change the hardware.
During the video card test, over a third of all the video card have to be toss aside. Not because it is bad or broken, but because it's not compatible with the motherboard interface anymore. Then with the ones that are still operational, many of them have to be put aside again due to it's inability to play flash videos (same as above, youtube videos).
Why is this happening? From what we in the workshop can see, there are a few major factors. One been consumer's continual persuasion of better products, faster machines. In response to this demand there is another factor, companies that wants some good money. I do not deny that business have served the world a favor by transferring goods and services around the world; yet when certain human factor is mixed into it, the picture looks for the worse to lower end consumers.
Friday, March 11, 2011
March 6th, 2011
*I know it is late to post this, but there were just too many assignments before this.
This time is basically a follow-the-steps type of tasks. One of the founder Terry had the instructions typed up and printed to a sort of manual in putting the computer together, despite some confusion in the layout.
The workshop was in a donated basement, awfully cold on winter days. And due to the worry that heaters pop the fuses, the heater was turned on and off through out the session. Each person was assigned a table and to work on a machine. We were told that once we got used to it, we will be able to run several machines at the same time.
Once we got the machine, we were to go through a series of analysis on whether the hardware is set to running standard.
Basic hardware ranges from...
CPU: 1.7~2.4 GHz (single core)
RAM: 512 MB
HDD: 15~20 GB
Optical: CD-R/CD-WR only
Other: 3.5" floppy disk drive
these are the commercial computer standards of almost a decade's old! Yet when the operating system and the optional programs are installed, they run at quite amazing speed in comparison to today's standard. The 15 to 20 GB hard drive is not much, but if the people receiving the computer do not do anything too fancy with it, I can see that it will be enough to support many important operations. (no matter how fancy Microsoft makes a text file, not unless you type up a million words. an average text file never gone past the size of 1MB. But to those who does not have a computer before, it is better than nothing.)
*I know it is late to post this, but there were just too many assignments before this.
This time is basically a follow-the-steps type of tasks. One of the founder Terry had the instructions typed up and printed to a sort of manual in putting the computer together, despite some confusion in the layout.
The workshop was in a donated basement, awfully cold on winter days. And due to the worry that heaters pop the fuses, the heater was turned on and off through out the session. Each person was assigned a table and to work on a machine. We were told that once we got used to it, we will be able to run several machines at the same time.
Once we got the machine, we were to go through a series of analysis on whether the hardware is set to running standard.
Basic hardware ranges from...
CPU: 1.7~2.4 GHz (single core)
RAM: 512 MB
HDD: 15~20 GB
Optical: CD-R/CD-WR only
Other: 3.5" floppy disk drive
these are the commercial computer standards of almost a decade's old! Yet when the operating system and the optional programs are installed, they run at quite amazing speed in comparison to today's standard. The 15 to 20 GB hard drive is not much, but if the people receiving the computer do not do anything too fancy with it, I can see that it will be enough to support many important operations. (no matter how fancy Microsoft makes a text file, not unless you type up a million words. an average text file never gone past the size of 1MB. But to those who does not have a computer before, it is better than nothing.)
Planet Geek
It is a small organization that runs solely on volunteer and donations. The organization's goal is to recycle as many computers as possible, fix them to operational state, and put them into the hands of those who can not afford to get one.
While recent developments saw more and more people gaining access to personal computers, there are still a lot more individuals around the globe that does not have such privileges.
Of those people who can afford to get a computer, many of them chose to discard the existing unit when there is a newer, better computer released into the market. These discarded computers, when incinerated during the process of garbage disposal, produces toxin and carcinogens that are both harmful to human health and the environment. Regulation in several parts of Canada sets a few standards in the effort to recycle these computers, categorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as "hazardous household waste". But processes in recycling the materials used in computer also produces toxin, especially the recycling of plastic.
What may be done to solve the two problems? The answer is, refurbishing. Before the discarded computers are put into recycling process, fix them and give it to someone who really needs a computer.
Side Note:
Even though current up-to-date computers are packed with tremendous capabilities, the most simple and everyday tasks does not even require a tenth of that computing power. Tasks such as editing text, surfing internet, and sending e-mails are almost second nature to people who are constantly in touch with computer, and it can all be accomplished by a computer only less than a tenth as capable as the current average commercial computers.
While recent developments saw more and more people gaining access to personal computers, there are still a lot more individuals around the globe that does not have such privileges.
Of those people who can afford to get a computer, many of them chose to discard the existing unit when there is a newer, better computer released into the market. These discarded computers, when incinerated during the process of garbage disposal, produces toxin and carcinogens that are both harmful to human health and the environment. Regulation in several parts of Canada sets a few standards in the effort to recycle these computers, categorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as "hazardous household waste". But processes in recycling the materials used in computer also produces toxin, especially the recycling of plastic.
What may be done to solve the two problems? The answer is, refurbishing. Before the discarded computers are put into recycling process, fix them and give it to someone who really needs a computer.
Side Note:
Even though current up-to-date computers are packed with tremendous capabilities, the most simple and everyday tasks does not even require a tenth of that computing power. Tasks such as editing text, surfing internet, and sending e-mails are almost second nature to people who are constantly in touch with computer, and it can all be accomplished by a computer only less than a tenth as capable as the current average commercial computers.
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