CDHTBS Session 26-6-7 PPL Notes by STAGG Distributors

COMPUTERS: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE FOR SENIORS

OR

“COMPUTERS DON’T HAVE TO BE SCARY”

PPL NEXT WEEKS FILMS

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

Reassuring Pace: The format is very friendly, and you will be encouraged to progress at your own speed, throughout this journey.

Supportive Learning Environment: We meet here in a warm nonintimidating space where questions are welcomed, and mistakes are part of learning.

Building Confidence: I especially want to boost your confidence in navigating IT, making it accessible and enjoyable for you.To foster a can, do attitude towards technology.

Jargon Free: Getting the most from your devices in plain English

TOPICS WE WILL BE COVERING

Malware

Passwords

Learn My Way

Learn My Way is a much better experience when you register. You can access all the learning topics for free. Below is a list of the subjects available on Learn My Way.

• Using your device

• Using email

• Staying in touch

• Online entertainment

• Employment and work

• Managing your money online

• Starting to use the internet

• Safety and security online

• Spending money online

• Working with office programs

• Managing your health online

• Digital media literacy

FREE EXTRA SUPPORT

Update Chrome / Microsoft

Google's latest Chrome update fixes 74 security vulnerabilities, including one under active attack.Are you up to date? –normally automatic but if not –settings > about Chrome > updates automatically

REMEMBER THOSE UPDATES

Microsoft’s biggest-ever Patch Tuesday fixes 206 bugs, including 3 zero-days

"Microsoft has issued fixes for the largest Patch Tuesday in history, fixing 206 vulnerabilities and three publicly disclosed zero-days. Make sure you update.

Moxi at work in Hospitals

In hospitals across the US, patients and staff have become accustomed to seeing a one-armed, four-foot high, friendly-looking white robot going about its business.

Nurses have been known to greet Moxi, as the robot is called by its maker Diligent Robotics, with a "good morning", a high five or even a hug.

Moxi –which shuttles medical supplies around hospitals –might respond by displaying its heartshaped LED eyes and a beep beep greeting of its own.

MOXI THE ROBOT

South Korea unveils $880bn chip and AI investment plan

South Korea has unveiled plans for at least $880bn (£666bn) of investments to build out the country's chip manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in the coming years. (More than America at $600bn)

AI INVESTMENT

It is part of the country's so-called Three Mega Projects to develop new chip production hubs, data centres and robotics technology. The plan is aimed at rejuvenating the economies of areas outside the capital Seoul, President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday.

Samsung profits jump 1,800% as AI chip sales soar

South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics says it expects to post a 19-fold jump in its profits, driven by global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips.

AI INVESTMENT

The company forecast that it made 89.4tn won (£43.6bn; $58.4bn) between the start of April and the end of June, marking its third record quarterly operating profits in a row.

Chip giant SK Hynix raises $26.5bn as shares surge in bumper US listing

AI INVESTMENT

South Korean computer chip maker SK Hynix has raised $26.5bn (£19.8bn) in its NewYork share offering, marking the largest ever listing by a foreign firm in the US.

The company, a key supplier to AI chip giant Nvidia, The shares surged as much as 17% on Friday in their first day of trading on the Nasdaq. Its share price has more than tripled in South Korea this year, which along with Samsung Electronics has helped boost the benchmark Kospi index by more than 70% over the same period.

IBM hails new 'block of flats' design breakthrough for ultra tiny chips

IBM has unveiled a new chip design which it says could enable manufacturers to cram 100 billion transistors on a silicon chip the size of a fingernail.

But IBM claims its new chip tech is the equivalent of around 0.7nm, which may make it the world's first known chip technology below 1nm. (a few atoms)

The firm claims in tests, its prototype performed 50% better than its own 2nm chip and was 70% more energy efficient.

"IBM's NanoStackis like proposing a 100-storey skyscraper," he said, adding that in his view, the firm's closest rivals such as Samsung and Intel are closer to 30-50 storey buildings with their own 3D chip work.

IBM ULTRA TINY CHIPS

Nvidia announces new AI chip for personal computers

• Nvidia has announced a new chip for PCs as it moves into the consumer market for devices integrated with AI technology.

• Nvidia has traditionally focused on creating Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) –specialised chips originally designed to rapidly process computer graphics for video games, but now also widely used to power artificial intelligence systems.

• "This reinvention of the computer is as big of a deal as the reinvention of the phone into what we now know as the smartphone," Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang said as he unveiled the RTX Spark chip.

NVIDIA UPDATE

Microsoft says new quantum chip 1,000 times more reliable than predecessor

• Its new quantum chip is vastly more reliable than its previous version, paving the way for a quantum computer solving commercially useful problems within three years.

• That means the new chip is 1,000 times more reliable -an improvement in performance the tech giant compares to the difference between a phone that needs charging every day to one which needs charging every few years.

• "If they succeed, they will leap from being a player with no production quantum computer, to being a serious player in the race to make the next generation of fault-tolerant machines."

QUANTUM UPDATE

A smartphone ban in English schools

Came into force on Monday, 29 June, making individual schools and trusts legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day.

It is separate from the recently announced ban on social media for under-16s, and the government said the move would give "legal force to what schools are already doing in practice".

Almost all schools already have some sort of phone ban in placebut policies vary.

• “No see, No hear” policy

• Magnetic Pouches

• Collected in

• Lockers

Applies to teachers –with exceptions

SMARTPHONE

BAN

PlayStation will stop releasing games on

discs in 2028

New PlayStation games will no longer be released on discs from January 2028, the gaming giant has announced.

Sony said in a blog post, external new games would still be able to be bought in shops, but they would come with a digital code.

It comes just days after Rockstar announced the hotly-anticipated Grand Theft AutoVI would similarly launch without a physical disc.

It marks a significant moment for the gaming industry, which has in recent years begun to rely more and more on digital distribution.

THE END OF THE DISK?

GoogleTakeout

Ever wondered if there was an easy way to download a copy of ALL your Google photos

Well there is and it is called Google Takeout https://takeout.google.com/

Google Takeout is a free Google service that allows users to download and export copies of their data from Google products, including Google Photos, Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Contacts. Users can select specific services, choose file formats and archive sizes, and receive their data as downloadable files or transfer it directly to supported cloud storage providers.

GOOGLE TAKEOUT

What about Apple Users

iCloud for Windows allows users to access and sync Apple data on a Windows PC. It automatically keeps photos, videos, files, passwords, contacts, calendars, and bookmarks up to date across Apple devices and Windows.

With iCloud Photos, users can view and download images directly through File Explorer, while iCloud Drive provides access to documents stored in the cloud.The app also integrates with Microsoft Outlook to sync mail, contacts, and calendars. Password support enables secure access to saved credentials in supported browsers. iCloud for Windows makes it easier to work seamlessly between Apple devices and Windows computers. Download from the Microsoft store https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/new/apps/pc

ICLOUDFOR WINDOWS

Warning signs –urgent threat –partial email addresses –big bright buttons –free gifts

EMAIL SCAMS

Warning signs –urgent threat –partial email addresses –no user namebig bright buttons –big discounts –urgent action required

EMAIL SCAMS

Topical Scams –vague wording –urgent response –No

address details -tasty payout

EMAIL SCAMS

Online Shopping Scams

Two thirds of all online shopping scams now start on Facebook and Instagram.

Unusual offer: Promises of high-value products (“meat box from Aldi for under £10”) for an extremely low price are classic signs of scams, especially when they leverage well-known brands.

Anecdotal story: The post uses a personal story (“My son works at Aldi…”) to appear trustworthy and relatable, a common technique in social engineering.

Age restriction: Arbitrarily targeting people over 40 is a psychological trick to make the offer feel exclusive and relevant.

External link: The most common tactic is to provide a link in the comments rather than in the main post to avoid automatic detection by the platform.

Urgency and simplicity: Encourages quick action with phrases like “took me about a minute,” downplaying any possible risk.

As it turns out, the possible risk, or “worst case” as the Facebook post calls it, is a lot worse than losing a minute of your time.

SOCIAL MEDIA SCAMS

YouTube content creators contributed £2.2bn to the UK economy in 2024 and supported 45,000 jobs, according to an impact report carried out by Oxford Economics.

YOUTUBE UPDATE

Some of the biggestYouTubers in the world are British, with names like DanTDMand the Sidemen boasting millions of subscribers.

And Brandon B, who has 16 million subscribers, and is known for his short-form visual effects videos, said the industry needed government support to "break through to the next level".

YouTubers historically had to get significantly more eyeballs on their videos than TV for the same advertising money.

MrBeast

• YouTube: MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has surpassed 505 (+50m) million subscribers (same as the population of the EU 27 countries !!)

• Instagram: His official account, @mrbeast, has approximately 91 (+15m) million followers. HypeAuditor.com

• TikTok: MrBeast is among the top three most-followed creators on TikTok, with over 125 million followers.

• Over 800 million across all platforms

• Personal wealth $2.6 billion –earns 300m per year

• Company valued at $5.2 billion Single post between $130,000 and $700,000 EACH

• MrBeast is known for reinvesting a significant portion of his earnings back into content creation and business expansion, often leaving him with limited personal liquidity – gives away between 30m to 50m to charity per year.

YOUTUBE UPDATE

MrBeast

YOUTUBE UPDATE

QUESTION TIME

THIS TIME SATELLITES

How many active satellites are there currently:

• As of May 2025, there are about 11,700 active satellites orbiting the Earth.

• Today there are 16,043 (up 4300! On last year (Starlink 10,000+)

• Plus 2,900 inactive ones awaiting deorbit

• Rocket bodies –2,300

• Tracked Fragments –12,500

SATELLITES

Every week Russia (and others) try to hack these satellites by flying close by to steal the data . So hacking is not just restricted to the planets surface ! Russia & China have increased their fleet of satellites by over 70% in the last decade. (China currently 1,300)

SATELLITES

UK have over 700 (Russia 370)

It is also clear that the race to establish bases on the moon will be part funded out of military budgets and the resulting land grab will be cantered on the poles initially where the water is most likely to be found.

Satellite Orbits:

SATELLITES

Space Science / Astronomy (Earth Orbit only)

• Purpose: Observatories looking outward (though many big telescopes sit at Lagrange points).

• Examples: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble.

• Count: Dozens (small compared to other categories).

OrbitTypes:

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

• Altitude: ~160 km –2,000 km above Earth.

• Period: 90–120 minutes per orbit.

• Used for: Communications constellations (Starlink, OneWeb), Earth observation, ISS, small sats.

SATELLITES

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

• Altitude: 2,000 km –35,786 km.

• Period: Several hours per orbit.

• Used for: Navigation (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou).

Geostationary Orbit (GEO)

• Altitude: ~35,786 km (directly above the equator).

• Period: 24 hours → satellite stays fixed over one point on Earth.

• Used for:TV, weather satellites, military communications.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)

• Altitude: ~600–800 km, special type of near-polar orbit.

• Used for: Earth observation, climate monitoring, spy satellites.

• Unique feature: Passes over the same point at the same local solar time each day → consistent lighting.

SATELLITES

Polar Orbit

• Altitude:Typically 200–1,000 km.

• Inclination: ~90°, passes over Earth’s poles.

• Used for: Earth mapping, reconnaissance, scientific missions.

• Advantages: Can see the entire Earth over time.

Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO / Molniyaorbit)

• Altitude:Very elongated —low perigee (~500 km) and high apogee (~40,000 km).

• Period: 12 hours.

• Used for: Communications & reconnaissance at high latitudes (Russia uses Molniyaorbits).

• Advantages: Long dwell time over certain regions.

SATELLITES

Special & Non-Earth Orbits

• Cislunar Orbit: Between Earth and Moon (future lunar satellites).

• Lagrange Point Orbits (L1, L2, etc.): Gravitational balance points, used for James Webb Space Telescope (at L2).

• Tundra Orbit:A variation of geosynchronous orbit with high inclination, giving long dwell over high latitudes.

SATELLITES

Starlink Satellites

Operated by SpaceX –

Elon Musk

How many are planned to provide global coverage ?

Initially they planned for 12,000

They aimed to have 10 million customers by the end of 2025 –(they achieved 12 million) Adding 50,000 new users per day!

SATELLITES

Starlink & One Web Satellites

So

maybe buying Space X shares is not such a bad idea after all ?

Don’t forget they also makeTesla cars & Robots as well !!

QUESTION TIME

What are Apps? Apps

What is an App?

An app (short for "application") is a software program designed to run on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets —though the term can also refer to desktop applications. While desktop apps are tailored for PCs, mobile apps target touch devices and often rely on internet connectivity.

Apps

What is the App store ?

An App Store is a digital distribution platform where users browse, download, and update apps. The most famous is Apple's ‘App Store’, launched in July 2008. It provides a centralized and secure way to discover and get apps for iOS devices. Also known as the ‘Play Store’ on Android (Google) devices

Apps

On a Windows PC it is known as the ‘Microsoft Store’

The growth of Apps (Apple Store)

• July 2008: 500 apps available.

• Sept 2008: 3,000 apps.

• Jan 2009: 15,000 apps.

• June 2009: 50,000 apps.

• Nov 2009: 100,000 apps.

• August 2010: 250,000 apps.

• July 2012: 650,000 apps.

• Oct 2013: 1 million apps.

• June 2016: 1.5 million apps.

• 2020 3.4 million apps

• 2022 3.8 million apps

• 2023 3.9 million apps

• 2024 –2025 1.9 million (tidy up)

Apps

App Software Developers

As of 2025, there are approximately 26.9 million software developers worldwide, (equivalent to the population of Shanghai) with mobile app developers making up 40% of that group. This equates to roughly 10.8 million mobile developers globally.

• UK –70,000

• Western Europe: Around 5.5–6.1 million developers across core tech nations.

• North America (U.S.): Between 4.1 and 4.6 million developers, including independent contractors.

• And the biggest ?

• India: Roughly 17 million developers

Apps

App Downloads

2008 Jul: Launch10M first weekend

2008 Sep: 100M

2009 Apr: 1bn and by Sep: 2bn

2011 Jul: 15bn

2012 Mar: 25bn

2013 Jan: 40bn and by May: 50bn

2015 Jun: 100bn

2022 Sep: 370bn cumulative downloads

That’s 44 for everyone on the planet !

2024 Digital goods & services: $131bn

Physical goods & services (e.g., online retail, groceries, ride-hailing): $1,014bn

In-app advertising revenue: $150bn

Apps

Apps by function

• Social Media Apps -Facebook, TikTok, Instagram

• Games & Entertainment -Candy Crush, PUBG, Netflix.

• Productivity Apps -Microsoft Office, Slack, Trello, Google

• Utility Apps -Weather, calculators, flashlights, QR scanners.

• Lifestyle & Health -MyFitnessPal, Calm, Fitbit, Tinder.

• E-commerce & Finance -Amazon, PayPal, Revolut, Shopify.

• Travel & Navigation -Google Maps, Uber, Airbnb, Booking.com

• News & Education -BBC News, Duolingo, Coursera, Khan Academy.

Apps

Apps –How they make money

• Free with ads –e.g., YouTube, many games

• Freemium (free download, paid extras) –e.g., Spotify, Candy Crush

• Subscription-based –e.g., Netflix, Duolingo Plus

• Paid apps –e.g., Some professional tools, premium games

• Bespoke apps for industry –Restaurants, Salespeople, Heavy Industry, finance

Apps

Where to buy?

Think of App stores as high street stores

Apple apps come from the App Store

Android (google) from Google Play (store) etc

Apps

What do they cost?

• FREE -When supported by advertising these are usually Free initially. Paying an additional one-off fee to remove the adverts if required (FREE / GET)

• One-time cost –Cost show under the app

• In app purchase –price varies either for increased functionality or time

• Subscription –Bit like a direct debit where in subscribing you agree to making a regular payment UNTIL YOU CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

Apps

Pre Installed Apps ios

Core Apps

• Phone

• Messages

• FaceTime

• Contacts

• Mail

• Safari (web browser)

• Camera

• Photos

Pre Installed Apps ios

Utilities

• Clock

• Calendar

• Weather

• Notes

• Reminders

• Calculator

• Compass

• Voice Memos

• Magnifier

• Measure

• Stocks

• Files

• Translate

• Tips

• Shortcuts

• Find My

• Settings Apps

Pre Installed Apps ios

Media & Entertainment

• Music (Apple)

• TV (Apple TV)

• Podcasts

• Books

• News (varies by region) Apps

Pre Installed Apps ios

Productivity & Services

• Wallet

• Maps

• App Store

• iTunes Store

• Health

• Fitness

• Home

• Freeform (drawing app)

My Top 20 Add on Apps In

My Top 20 Add on Apps

In February 2025 USA Neilson TV viewing figures showed that YouTube is now the most watched TV service in America on TV’s ! This excludes phones & tablets.

In the UK YouTube now comes second ahead of ITV and just behind the BBC but is catching up fast. Remember using the Brave or Duck DuckGo apps means no adverts for free.