Technology, on the one hand, can be a bit frightening. There is so much to learn, so many different gadgets and seemingly an endless line of “the next thing”. One moment you’re buying an Nvidia GTX 1070 and the next day the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti comes out.
But on the other hand, technology can be incredibly exciting. The endless possibilities mean, well, you can do just about anything you set your mind to. Not only can technology help you with your daily activities, but it can also be a tool which you set off on your new hobby or teach yourself something new.
Below are three activities that you can start doing today! It doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced master or you consider yourself tech-challenged, with a little dedication and open mind you can accomplish anything.
Learn to Code
Even if you already have a good grasp of computers, you can navigate Microsoft Excel like a whiz and are your family’s go-to person for whenever the internet goes out, you still may not know a lot about coding. And why would you? It’s complicated stuff that looks like many scenes out of The Matrix.
Next time you’re on any webpage, go ahead and click CTRL+U. Do you see all that stuff and mumbo-jumbo? That’s all the HTML code for your specific webpage. It may look confusing, but it actually has a pattern and structure to it.
But why would you want to learn to code anyway? For one, it opens up a lot of potential jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% growth in the sector over the next decade for web developers and web designers. Other websites claim that that number is as high as 30%!
Even if you’re not looking for a career change, it’s still an excellent skill to have. Not only does it give you an understanding of computers, but it can help bolster your current job if you’re doing anything with computers, like social media, marketing or online sales.
There are lots of free websites that will teach you the basics of coding and how to improve. Many have instant feedback and forums where you can search for your answer.
Plus, you’ll finally be able to fully understand the age-old saying from all IT personnel: “It works, and I don’t know why. It doesn’t work, and I don’t know why.”
Building a Website
While it may seem like learning to code and building a website go hand in hand, that is not always the case. Of course, learning code is going to help you make a website, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
Your reasons for building a website could be one of many: making a business, starting a blog or just keeping a journal. If you have children and want to teach them about internet safety and responsibility, helping them make a website is a great way to go about that.
The first part is the most fun, in picking a great name and setting up your domain. After that, you’ll want to start thinking about the content you want to put on your website and any photos or videos.
There are lots of free tools out there to help you with the design side, from aligning pictures to choosing a perfect color scheme. Many domain hosting services provide you with their tools to help you make your perfect website.
Building a website is a big task, but not an impossible one by any means.
Building a PC
Ask a PC enthusiast and they’ll all say that building a PC is one of the most enjoyable and most satisfying experiences. It’s fun to watch everything connect and eventually start. It’s amazing to sit back and think “I built that, that was me!”
Is building a PC difficult? Yes, it is, but it has a small learning curve. If you can read an instruction manual, you’re going to be fine. The tools needed are few and there are countless videos and instructions out there to help you build your rig.
In addition to these videos, the community is large and incredibly supportive. They are always happy to pay it forward and welcome another member into the PC Master Race. Then, you’ll just have to decide on what kind of computer you’re going to want.
This is another great activity if you have children, something you can both do together and make a family project out of it.
