SURVEY RESULTS – NEW USES FOR YOUR COMPUTER DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
By Linda Lindquist
Thank you to those who participated in my short Survey. This is a brief overview of the results:
- Surveys returned:
13 - How you use your computers:
e-mail, personal, work/business, games,
doctors’ portals, pharmacy, online banking / bill pay, grocery shopping, Zoom meetings - What you find frustrating:
slow computer, slow booting up, Microsoft Windows 10 updates,
inconsistent apps, printing problems - What else you’d like to learn:
troubleshooting, sorting out problems,
everything!
The most exciting insight from the survey is seeing the new and creative ways that you are now using your computers to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Doctors’ portals – by learning to use their doctor’s portals, clients are scheduling appointments, completing pre-check-in paperwork (saving time during their appointments), printing the results of their lab work (to give to other doctors), paying their co-pays online, having telehealth consultations with their doctors, and more.
- Pharmacies – clients are now ordering prescription renewals online from their drug store for delivery to their home (no need to visit the pharmacy or drive to pick-up the order).
- Grocery shopping – clients were excited to be able to order groceries online for delivery by their grocery store right to their door. They report that the store does a great job selecting produce, frozen items, cold products, and delivering the groceries to them. Yes, there is a delivery fee, but as one client said, they are no longer eating out.
- On-line banking – clients reported using their on-line banking to deposit checks from their smart phone banking app directly into their checking account, paying their bills online (saves postage), setting up autopay for recurring bills like utilities, insurance, car loans, mortgages, credit card payments, etc. By automating their banking, they no longer worry that a payment will be late. NOTE: For safe on-line banking, use a password for your wi-fi router, password protect your computer, and use a unique password for your online banking (one that you do not use for any other accounts).
- Zoom calls – many groups have disbanded face-to-face meetings during the pandemic. Some groups now meet in a virtual online webcam meeting app called Zoom. The people attending the Zoom meeting are visible and able to participate safely in the meeting from the comfort of their own home. Some of my clients used Zoom to safely see and talk with their family members over the holidays, avoiding travel. The free Zoom allows for 45-minute meetings.
Once again, thank you for participating in my survey. In future articles, I will address your frustrations and what you’ve said you’d like to learn.
Be well!
