Posts Tagged ‘Granny’

Teach Your Granny to Text & Other Ways to Change the World

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

Teach Your Granny to Text & Other Ways to Change the World is a new book available for £6.60 on Amazon.

Here’s the background:

In a unique collaboration between the social change organisation We Are What We Do and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), thousands of children were invited to come up with simple, everyday actions that we can all do to make a difference to the biggest problems facing the world today.

The best 30 actions, which tackle issues ranging from climate change and social exclusion to obesity and animal rights, are featured in a groundbreaking new book, entitled Teach Your Granny to Text & Other Ways to Change the World.

This book is the latest project from We Are What We Do – the organization behind the bestselling Change the World for a Fiver and the “I’m not a plastic bag” project with designer Anya Hindmarch – and has been produced with their trademark originality, creativity and wit. It includes contributions from some of the biggest names in children’s books: Anthony Horowitz who has
provided an exclusive Alex Rider short story to encourage kids to read with a pal; Sam Stern, who has provided a recipe to enable kids to cook a meal from scratch; and Where’s Wally? who makes an exclusive guest appearance to get kids to look closer. The interactive book also includes seeds, maps, stickers and much more.

Kudos to 10 year old Erica Ritchie who came up with the text-a-granny idea:

Erica Ritchie, aged 10, who contributed the title action “Teach your granny to text” explains where her idea came from: “It’s nice for grandparents and children to keep in touch in an easier way than e-mail and writing a letter and quicker and cheaper than a phone call – especially if they live faraway like mine!”

I’d recommend getting your Granny an iPhone as it’ll be an easy task teaching her with that. Don’t even bother trying with the likes of a Motorola.

The iPhone: It didn’t work, but I think I like it!

Monday, September 1st, 2008

Nearly two weeks ago, Ewan announced he was sending me an iPhone, and simultaneously I announced I really do not like the device. My ramble about the iPhone only summed up a few of my displeasures about the device, but I was more than willing to accept I maybe wrong.

Firstly, I should point out, the iPhone didnt work. Its by no fault of Ewan or I, but more like the Antenna is dead. I tried it out on O2, Virgin, Orange, Vodafone and other networks and it just wouldnt get coverage.
Despite this, I have to say I grew close to the device.

Although I couldnt text, e-mail, phone, browse or anything that the iPhone was mainly designed to do, I could use the functions of the device. I particularly found the QWERTY keyboard useful, and brilliant.

I hate touch screens, but the keypad was for the most part absolutely brilliant. I had a couple of issues with the fact I couldnt have it in landscape mode whilst texting or writing notes; but even so, brilliant.

I was equally surprised at the ease of use. My Grandma instantly fell in love with it, and was even thinking up ways in trying to persuade my Grandad to buy her one! I did find the lack of options and settings annoying; I like to have full control over a device I have, and I wasnt impressed with the lengthy settings menu with little depth.

Annoyingly, I found that the iPod on the iPhone was disappointing; the sound quality from the built-in speakers was horrific. The amount of energy it drained from the battery was equally appalling, and iTunes drove me utterly insane. However, I do have an iPod compatible Altec Lansing speaker device which I had never used with an iPod before. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality, but that was only because it was better than the worst I imagined it would be.

I cant say I definitely like or even love the iPhone, and nor can I say I hate it. I have enjoyed using it. I will admit I was wrong about the touch screen interface, it won me over; actually it pretty much won over everyone in my house.

I cant vouch for the whole quality of the phone either, and although Antenna issues exist in many phones, my research into the problem, and general issues with iPhones generally aggravated me.

You wont see me in the Carphone Warehouse or O2 store signing up for a lengthy contract for the device, but it has certainly opened up my eyes to some of its features. If I can, I will try and definitely get a device with a good QWERTY keyboard, and simple interface; but I will also need something that suits my needs.

Its a shame it didnt work entirely, because I would have loved to have found out whether the applications, browsing abilities and the like could have also won me over?


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