Tech help changes with the times

"Technology can be a fantastic tool, it is sometimes just a matter of knowing what you need to have and how to use it in order to maximise the results you get from it."

John Froude, a mobile technician for Geeks on Wheels Taranaki, says just as technology is changing, so are the ways people use it and the ways in which they need expert help.

"You might walk into a shop and buy your laptop, but when you get home you need to network it with your printer, your modem, maybe you want to link it other computers in your house, your smart phone, you can even control your lighting from your tablet or your phone if you have the right equipment and software."

The changes in technology are great, says John, as it helps people work smarter and more efficiently. "There's all sorts of software available for farmers now for example, from mapping your farm, to managing your finances or storing herd records." Having this software available is great, he adds, but it is important for users to know what equipment they need to get the best results from it. "Geeks on Wheels technicians are often called out to help with upgrading a computer or setting up a home office to make the best use of the software available."

The fact that John comes to the farm, rather than the farmer having to come into town, doesn't just save time, "it means I can see exactly how you use the hardware and understand exactly what is needed. I can also identify problems with network or internet access when they occur as well."

A common task John carries out for clients is migrating data, "if you have bought a new machine, you still want your photos on it from your old one, or maybe you are installing updates and want to make sure you have everything backed up first". Anti-virus protection is very important he adds, "just as technology is getting smarter, giving us new software to use, unfortunately so are the people who create viruses, so it is important to make sure everything is well protected. When you do your banking from your computer, or store your farm data on it, you want to be sure that information will stay safe and not get into the wrong hands".

John is volunteering his time at Stratford library on a Tuesday morning throughout the month of August, to give free advice on all things technological to those who need it. "The library has this fantastic programme called tech talk where they are making their staff available to assist with questions about computers, so I was happy to come along and give some help where needed. The more people understand their technology, the more they will gain from it."

Noel Jones was one of the library users to make use of the service last week. "My six-year-old granddaughter knows more about computers than I do," he says, adding that keeping up to date is important. "There's no point in not learning, why have something that you can't get the best use out of?"

John agrees, "it is a really good feeling to visit a client in their home, and leave knowing I have made their life easier, that I have given them the ability to work smarter not harder".

Geeks on Wheels are a mobile computer support task force. They travel to your home or office to fix troublesome computers and help solve your computer problems. Geeks on Wheels offer a fast, friendly and efficient on-site service at your home or office with all staff highly trained to work on all PCs, Apple Macs, and smart devices.