Citizens Online runs weekly drop in sessions in Bala, Gwynedd, to offer residents personalised support with technology. Richard, our digital champion who runs these sessions, recently shared how privileged he feels to have had the opportunity to support local resident Mr Jones who is 84 years of age. He is a great example of how it’s never too late to start using technology!
Before attending the sessions, Mr Jones told Richard that he had, “virtually no interaction with tech except dealing with a clock”. Mr Jones speaks Welsh as his primary language. In the past he has found that with so much information to start using tech in English, it can be difficult to understand as the nuance or essence can be lost or misinterpreted in translation. He also wasn’t sure of what he could do upon accessing the internet. A part of him felt that learning this new skill wasn’t worth the hassle, or would be extremely difficult and there were so many things that could go wrong. Thankfully, he was persuaded to come along to a session and find out more.
Richard said, “I really wanted to write this piece, not only to celebrate Mr Jones’s achievements to inspire others – but also, and especially to himself! I also want to highlight that learning is a personal journey, everyone has different interests and goals to work towards, but as long as you are willing you’ll get there.”
Funding from The Access Foundation allowed us to gift a tablet to Mr Jones to get him started. If you asked Mr Jones about what he’s learned since joining our sessions he would gladly tell you, “I’m still pretty basic as I don’t like to take risks”. But the reality is that Mr Jones has made amazing progress. He is confident to exchange emails with his friend Jane, attaching pictures he has taken to share with her the sights around him. He can now use his tablet to:
- go on youtube
- search google
- find files on his device
- download and use apps from the google play store
- understand how to keep safe online, understanding how to download verified apps and how to spot scams
- access wifi in different locations
Richard said, “It’s such a pleasure to see the progress that Mr Jones has made with mastering tech. I’m thankful for the opportunity to support Mr Jones each week and his achievements are truly inspirational. I often use Mr Jones as an example of how it’s never too late to start learning to use technology. No matter how nervous you feel, a digital champion can help you to achieve your goals. If Mr Jones can do it then why can’t you?”
We are looking for more volunteer digital champions in our Gwynedd project.
Nid yw byth yn rhy hwyr i ddechrau defnyddio technoleg!
Mae Citizens Online yn cynnal sesiynau galw heibio wythnosol yn y Bala, Gwynedd, i gynnig cefnogaeth bersonol gyda thechnoleg i drigolion. Yn ddiweddar, rhannodd Richard, ein pencampwr digidol sy’n cynnal y sesiynau hyn, pa mor freintiedig y mae’n teimlo o fod wedi cael y cyfle i gefnogi rhywun lleol fel Mr Jones sy’n 84 oed.
Cyn mynychu’r sesiynau, dywedodd Mr Jones wrth Richard nad oedd ganddo, “bron dim rhyngweithio gyda thechnoleg ac eithrio delio gyda chloc.” Mae Mr Jones yn siarad Cymraeg fel ei brif iaith. Yn y gorffennol mae wedi darganfod fod angen cymaint o wybodaeth i ddechrau defnyddio technoleg yn Saesneg, mae’n gallu bod yn anodd ei ddeall gan fod modd camddehongli yn y cyfieithiad. Doedd o ddim yn siŵr chwaith beth allai wneud ar gyrchu’r rhyngrwyd. Teimlai rhan ohono nad oedd dysgu’r sgil newydd hon yn werth y drafferth, y byddai’n hynod o anodd ac roedd cymaint o bethau a allai fynd o chwith. Diolch byth, cafodd ei berswadio i ddod draw i’r sesiwn a darganfod mwy.
Meddai Richard, “Roeddwn i wir eisiau ysgrifennu’r darn hwn, nid yn unig i ddathlu llwyddiannau Mr Jones i ysbrydoli eraill – ond hefyd, ac yn arbennig iddo’i hun! Rwyf hefyd am dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod dysgu yn daith bersonol, mae gan bawb ddiddordebau a nodau gwahanol i weithio tuag atynt, ond cyn belled â’ch bod yn fodlon fe fyddwch chi’n cyrraedd yno.”
Fe wnaeth cyllid gan The Access Foundation ein galluogi i roi tabled i Mr Jones i’w roi ar ben ffordd. Pe baech yn gofyn i Mr Jones am yr hyn y mae wedi’i ddysgu ers ymuno â’n sesiynau byddai’n falch o ddweud wrthych, “Rwy’n dal yn eithaf sylfaenol gan nad wyf yn hoffi cymryd risgiau”. Ond y gwir amdani yw bod Mr Jones wedi gwneud cynnydd anhygoel. Mae’n hyderus i gyfnewid e-byst gyda’i ffrind Jane, gan atodi lluniau y mae wedi eu tynnu i rannu gyda hi o’r golygfeydd o’i gwmpas. Gall nawr ddefnyddio ei dabled i:
• fynd ar youtube
• chwilio yn google
• dod o hyd i ffeiliau ar ei ddyfais
• lawrlwytho a defnyddio aps o ‘google play store’
• deall sut i gadw’n ddiogel ar-lein, deall sut i lawrlwytho apiau sydd wedi’u dilysu a sut i adnabod sgamiau
• cyrchu wifi mewn gwahanol leoliadau
Meddai Richard, “Mae’n bleser gweld y cynnydd y mae Mr Jones wedi’i wneud gyda meistroli technoleg. Rwy’n ddiolchgar am y cyfle i gefnogi Mr Jones bob wythnos ac mae ei gyflawniadau yn wirioneddol ysbrydoledig. Rwy’n aml yn defnyddio Mr Jones fel enghraifft o sut nad yw byth yn rhy hwyr i ddechrau dysgu defnyddio technoleg. Ni waeth pa mor nerfus rydych chi’n teimlo, gall pencampwyr digidol eich helpu i gyflawni’ch nodau. Os gall Mr Jones ei wneud yna pam na allwch chi?”
Rydym yn chwilio am fwy o bencampwyr digidol gwirfoddol yn ein prosiect Gwynedd Digidol.
