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By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On Saturday morning, Boy Scout Troop Number One made the hike to the Dover Library to complete the third leg of their project designed to help local seniors better understand technology.
While the first two sessions were largely focused on computers, this one was based on better understanding and using cell phones and mobile phone technology. Broken down into three parts - understanding and setting up settings, downloading and navigating apps, and overall communications - the project was multi-pronged; there was both a presentation from Scout Dylan Rogers and ample personal help from individual scouts.
While the varieties of phones were different, there were many issues the seniors seemed to be sharing. Discerning which apps were free and which apps you had to pay for was one of the more pressing concerns, as was as how to download an app or delete an unwanted app. Wifi use was another issue, as Rogers had to both show how to connect to the library’s internet, as well as explain aspects like wifi passwords and data usage.
A scout helps a senior add a contact at Saturday’s Tech Tips session.
Using his personal phone that had been hooked up to the library’s Apple TV, Rogers looked through his own app list to determine which one he would show the seniors. After flipping through the MLB app and a United Airlines app, ever the always-prepared modern Boy Scout, Rogers showed the seniors a digital compass app before moving on to one that gives weather forecasts.
The project itself was conceived by Jack Ringel, a sixteen-year-old Eagle Scout candidate who had seen a similar project done at his high school, Roxbury Latin. Ringel said that he wanted to do something different than the more common Eagle Scout projects.
“A lot of the projects people do are more physical, like building a bench or something like that,” said Ringel. “I wanted to do something different, something a little more technical.”
While cleaning up beaches and building benches is great, this project may have had a far lasting impact on the daily lives of those who need help the most. It was clear that within ten minutes, the seniors Ringel and his troop were helping had a noticeably better understanding of how to use their cell phones.
It really took that little time, when given such personalized help.
It’s true.
Scout’s honor.
