FreeGeek

Back when I was Executive Director of the Ohio Community Computing Network, I would visit Community Technology Centers often. I knew they were underfunded and understaffed.

It all came flowing back to me when I found myself helping set up a public computer lab last night. The lab is a project of the University Area Enrichment Association, with lots of involvement by FreeGeek Columbus. The lab will be staffed by volunteers and mostly available as an open lab. They are looking for volunteers to monitor the lab and answer questions.

FreeGeek volunteers and OneWebDay Columbus volunteers (including my kids!) set up the lab last night so we can use it for OneWebDay today. Its not fancy. Every machine, monitor, keyboard, mouse combo looks different. And used. Because they are. All are refurbished. A volunteer found the tables on CraigsList. And the chairs are of the metal variety so common in church store rooms (which is exactly where these came from).

My mother asked me to teach her how to use Facebook. My family has been encouraging her to get on Facebook for the past year. My mom is a social person. We know she'll love it. Will it confuse her sometimes? Certainly. Will she make mistakes? Certainly. Should those things keep her from using it? Certainly not. The value it will bring to her life is most definitely worth any struggles. Facebook will help her feel connected to her family members that are spread throughout the country. Facebook will be an important social outlet for her.

We all struggle with technology. For various reasons we choose to continue using it, having determined it has enough value to warrant dealing with the frustrations.

The world we live in is very much digital. We go online to pay bills, research purchases, find jobs, pay taxes, and connect to each other. Many of us (myself included) get frustrated when a task I expected to accomplish online is not possible.

What of those in our society unfamiliar with accomplishing tasks online? What of those who do not know how to complete an online job application? What of those who must use a public access computer to check their email? How are their lives impacted by lack of access to technology and/or lack of digital skills?

The digital divide is not just about individual access. Its also about businesses.  A small business that has a computer but does not understand what tools are available or how to use them, is considerably slowed down.

OneWebDay is September 22. OneWebDay provides an opportunity for communities to celebrate the power of Web for positive change. This year, OneWebDay focuses on the importance of access to fast, affordable, open Internet for all people, otherwise known as digital inclusion. OneWebDay activities are taking place all over the world.

For OneWebDay Columbus we have planned a mix of activities around both learning and giving. Focused on the idea of digital inclusion, we've recruited volunteers to teach workshops and accept technology donations. Workshops include: Intro to Ubuntu (an open source operating system), Free/low cost online applications for small businesses and Legalities of open source software.

OneWebDay Columbus is very much a community effort. Its completely supported by volunteers and small business donations. EdgeCase is covering the cost of food. FreeGeek is providing the space. ShinyDoor is coordinating the day. Assist Data Recovery will be cleaning all donated hard drives. Possitivity Green will be recycling all donated equipment that cannot be refubished. All the workshops will be taught by volunteers.

I love Columbus. I want my city to thrive. I know that for any location to thrive, we need to support each other - to teach each other, to encourage each other. Technology is an integrated, important piece of our lives - personally and professionally. For each of us to thrive, we need technology support. Gathering to teach each other and build computers for others not only spreads knowledge and resources, it also builds community.

Join us. September 22. 4:00-9:00 at FreeGeek Columbus located in the basement of Summit United Methodist Church at 82 East Sixteenth Avenue.

Bring computer equipment to donate/recycle. And attend a class. Give. And learn.