Passwords, PIN numbers and security access codes – they seem like the bane of 21st century living. It’s so easy to forget which combination goes with which web site or with which credit card. Remembering passwords is almost a skill in itself! But with more and more of our lives going online, the first and foremost line of defence against unwanted intruders is the strength of our passwords.

There’s no doubt that we’re living in the information age – and that for many of us, computers and the internet have become part of our daily lives. With the personal computer revolution almost 15 years behind us, we’ve all learnt to ‘get along’ with technology, and for the most part, we’ve got the basics mastered. Two of the most fundamental interactions we have with computers and the internet are ‘words’ and ‘images’. By that I mean, mastery of creating and editing text, as well as that of capturing and handling photos.

Email – love it or hate it, it’s ingrained into our personal and business lives – the communication tool of choice for the information age, due to its speed, reach, and universal appeal. The following is a refresher on good email etiquette, good email habits, and good formatting tips for writing emails with clarity and punch.

Have you heard of Skype but were afraid to ask about it…? Don’t panic – it’s been a mainstay of voice communications for computer-folks for a long while, but there’s still lots of you (us!) out there who need to be introduced to the concept… one step at a time.