Beyond Disability Inc
Ian George - Technical Support
Thanks again for the opportunity to put together a few thoughts off another year as a volunteer with BDI. It was difficult to comprehend the passing of Colin Richmond, his technical input and enthusiasm for BDI was invaluable and leaves a big challenge for the remaining committee.
There was the changeover to Windows 7, a stable operating system that should see few problems for us in the next few years. I have enjoyed the year and the get togethers we have had with Tricia, Richard, Glen and Peggy and look forward to the year ahead and learning more of the 'back office' and technical stuff.
Kind Regard, Ian George. 2015
Thanks again for the opportunity to put together a few thoughts of the year 2016 as a volunteer with BDI. With the sad passing of Glen Holman not long after the 2015 AGM, it left a large hole in our Tech support. I was asked by Richard if I could pick up the Mantle that Colin had left for Glen. This proved to be quite a challenge, especially with the Telstra issues and how to prepare BDI equipment for client use.
Fortunately our new volunteer Chris Mills who started with us around the time of the 2015 AGM was able to use his extensive Microsoft Certified experience to take on the task of having computers and laptops formatted and ready for use when needed.
Great to have our other new Volunteer Klaus Jungling joining us in March ‘16 and being able to offer his time and expertise to BDI. And using your idea Tricia of preparing lists of our clients, allowing Klaus and me to get in touch and introducing ourselves to our clients. With Windows 7 still meeting our current client needs and working with Klaus and Neil Robertson updated we think, the last remaining clients from Windows XP to Win 7.
I have enjoyed the year and the get togethers we have had with you, Richard, Klaus, Peggy and John and look forward to continuing our association through 2016.
Kind Regards Ian George. BDI Tech Volunteer.
Thanks again for the chance to offer a few of my thoughts for the year. There has not been much success in finding new clients even with the best efforts of the committee. It seems the climate of computing is changing with people using cheaper mobile phones/tablets and mobile plans and the roll out of the NBN. So as mentioned last year, it has been a year of looking after our existing clients.
Working with Klaus and Richard we have consolidated our stock of computer equipment which is now securely stored at Klaus and my place and we disposed of all our obsolete equipment.
We still have a healthy stock of machines with Windows 10 ready to go and easy to connect to the next generation of Telstra Mobile Broadband WiFi modems. We have received from Telstra recently the new WiFi modems to replace all our ageing Bigpond modems which we plan to change over shortly.
There is still ‘work in progress’ in designing our new Website which has however presented some challenges that we need to work through.
The NBN rollout is continuing in our area and with NBNCO’s target to complete the rollout by 2020 this will mean more and more of our area will have access to the new network. Plans still around the $30 to $40/month for a basic data plan.
To check out the NBN in your area, go to: <http://www.nbnco.com.au/>_and enter your address to see when it is planned for your area or if already available, see the next step to get the NBN connected. NBN required if you have a home phone you want to keep and other things such as back to base alarm systems or emergency assistance such as MePACS. NBNCO states that once it is available in your area, the old copper network will be disconnected, therefore no phone or home Internet.
Many thanks again to Peggy and John for offering their home on a weekly basis to host the workshops.
I have enjoyed the year and the association with our committee at the Workshops and looking forward to the coming changes to our constitution, which may allow more people to access our services. Kind Regards. Ian George. BDI Technical Volunteer
BDI 2021 Via Zoom AGM Technical Report 9th Oct '21 Last AGM Sat 3rd Oct '20 via Zoom
Who would have thought that the global pandemic would still be touching everyone since early 2020? BDI is no exception; we have been able to hold some of our regular weekly Workshops at Peggy and John’s but with restrictions being reimposed with further outbreaks we have had to revert back to Zoom Workshops.
These restrictions have limited some of the services we can provide,
from assisting new and existing clients face to face to collecting any donations of equipment. Again fortunately online help is available via Teamviewer and using Auspost to post out any smaller computer equipment.
As mentioned last year, it has been a year of looking after our existing clients. We have reasonable stocks of machines with Windows 10 ready to go and easy to connect to the next generation of Telstra Mobile Broadband WiFi modems if new clients don’t wish to have their own Internet or only have small data requirements.
The main NBN rollout has now been completed, as at the end of 2020 this will mean most of
our area will now have access to the new network. More and more people now have the option to access online streaming services such as Netflix, ABC iView and SBS On Demand if they choose to connect to their own Internet service via an Internet Service Provider such as Telstra, Optus etc. To check out what is available in your area, go to www.nbnco.com.au and enter your address to see the next step to get the NBN connected.
NBN is required if you have a home phone you want to keep and other things such as back to base alarm systems or emergency assistance such as MePACS.
Many thanks again to Peggy and John for offering their home on a weekly basis to host the Workshops at the times we could meet in person.
I have enjoyed the year with the association with our committee at the Workshops and via the Zoom video conferences. Ian George. BDI Volunteer.
With the global pandemic restrictions well behind us, we have been able to resume our regular workshops face to face.
I would also like to acknowledge the continuing work Klaus has done with refugee and welfare organisations in re-purposing older equipment before it becomes redundant. It has continued to be a year of looking after our existing clients. With the news that
Microsoft is withdrawing support for Windows 10 and the ongoing releases of Windows 11 with version 24H2 due later in 2024 and the cost of new devices coming down, we have been taking the opportunity of upgrading laptops and PCs for any clients’ machines that needed attention.
As we know technology keeps changing with the move to devices such as Android phones, tablets, Chromebooks and even Apple products is becoming more popular and this is a focus that BDI is coming to terms with.
The initial NBN rollout was completed as at the end of 2020 and with more and more fibre technology being installed in 2024/5, this will mean more of our area will now have access to the new fibre network and the pricing for NBN powered plans are becoming more viable.
This can mean more people now have the option to access online streaming services such as Netflix and ABC iView if they choose to connect to their own Internet service via an Internet Service Provider.
Many thanks again to Peggy for offering her home on a weekly basis to host the Workshops. It with great sadness that we lost Peggy’s husband John in late ‘23 and the news that Peggy has decided to return to the UK.
I have again enjoyed the year with the association of our committee at the Workshops and look forward to another prosperous year in 2025. Ian George. BDI Volunteer.
BDI 2023 AGM Technical Report 12th Sep '24