Tapping Into the Future Today

Young people are predisposed to technology, they seem to just have a knack.  True.  But they still need guidance to truly harness their abilities.

Enter TAP.  The Technology Advancement Programme referred to as TAP, will screen, select, train and in effect, employ, 1,000 young adults in ICT (Information and Communications Technology). 1,000!

The yearlong programme will take the participants through an intensive syllabus in the classroom and through to real-world, hands-on training in the work world.

Ministry Project

The Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, through the Universal Service Fund (USF), has a mandate to “Support information and communications technology programmes that specifically target venerable groups including youth and disabled persons”.  The TAP programme brilliantly addresses this mandate in several ways.

First, TAP is open to unattached youth between the ages of 18 and 35 residing in all 14 parishes.  Second, no prior ICT skills are necessary as the robust programme is designed to train participants at all educational levels; that means that beginners, intermediates and experts will all be accommodated.  Third, the programme provides a stipend for participants to remove any possible barriers to participation.

Then, most importantly, upon completion of TAP, the graduates will be well equipped to become tech entrepreneurs or seek gainful employment in the private or public sector.  Further, the programme also features placement services for participants placing them based on their competence, interests and the needs of the host organization in the areas of ICT Research, Data Analysis and Digitization.

Launch Event

At the launch event, the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr The Hon. Andrew Wheatley noted that in effect, TAP prepares these young people to be active and successful participants in our knowledge-based digital society.  It’s no secret that the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is committed to ushering the island into the forefront of what some refer to as the fourth industrial revolution.

Technology is not isolated.  It touches everything!!  All industries, including Agriculture, Manufacturing, Education and Health among many others, all benefit from technology.  The reality is that there is no option; technology is necessary for all industries.

As the Minister noted, TAP will empower the population to truly harness the opportunities presented by technology.

The comprehensive programme will be rolled out islandwide with the assistance of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU).  CMU President, Prof Fitz Pinnock attended the launch to show his support for the programme.  Also in attendance were Mrs Hillary Alexander, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Mr Robert Lawrence, Board Chairman of the USF and USF CEO Suzette Buchanan.

The TAP programme kicks off in January 2018.

Watch the full launch.

Embrace Retired Technology

Perhaps you’re retired and have lots of time your hands.  Maybe, you’ve been working your whole life and never took the time to take on tech.  Whatever the circumstances, whatever your age, technology need not be daunting.  In fact, it can be fun!

Jamaica National Pensioners Association AGM Presentation

The World Bank reports that the average Jamaican life expectancy is about 74 years of age.  I’d hate to discredit the World Bank, but my own observations put the average about 10 years later than that.  If I’m right (and I often am), you could live for 20 years between retirement and well, you get the point.

If you want to truly enjoy those 20+ years, focus on the things that can maintain, or better yet, improve your quality of life.  Look out for the tools and experiences that help you stay in contact with family and loved ones, that help you stay healthy, stay in the know, stay financially fit and of course, stay independent.

Technology can help you stay.

Stay In Contact

The grandkids may be far away, but apps like Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp make video conference as simple as pushing a button and talking face to face.  No more lonely nights or weekends, no more boring conversations with fellow seniors.  Retirees can feel like they are right there in the room.

Video gaming can be a natural extension of video conferencing.  Take talk to the next level and learn how to really engage the rug rats on their level by mopping the floor with them (virtually speaking) in a online RPG (Role Player Game).

If the fam proves too busy to connect, consider connecting with a new job.  Lots of seniors rejoin the workforce on a “limited” basis thanks to teleworking.  Book editors, accountants and a host of service related professionals earn real money on their own time.

Stay Healthy

Sitting behind a desk, even for a short time, doesn’t contribute to your physical health.  So, rather than sit, get up and go, with a fitness tracker and heart rate monitor, both paired with an app that automatically reviews data from the wearables and sets fitness goals based on your unique digital profile.  It sounds like a lot, but it can work seamlessly once configured.

Machines in moderation - Skype in your personal physician to review the fitness data and goals, without ever having to leave the comfort of your home (or cruise or wherever).

Listen up, you can even upgrade your outdated hearing aids to custom moulded in ear monitors with on board Bluetooth.  When my Dad had a private call on ‘speaker', thanks to his audio boosting, wireless ear pieces, I realized that he was hipper than me!

Being schooled by a tech savvy Jamaica National Pensioner

Stay in the Know

Speaking of hip, nothing is hipper than being able to participate in the water cooler (or now I guess it all happens on Facebook) conversation.  Ditch the papers thrown at your front door and get online for a wider range of news.  Take it a step further, get online for a course or degree.  Like teleworking, online educations afford flexibility and low cost learning.

Stay Financially Fit

Costs become even more important on a fixed income.  Save time, and most importantly money, by skipping the senior line in the bank in favour of banking and online bill payments.  Monitor your statements for suspicious activities (and trends), send (or receive) money for the young ones and rack up savings with those loyalty cards and virtual coupons.

Just because you’ve got some time on your hands doesn’t mean you got money to waste.

Stay Independent

After all, you are smart and independent.  Building on those traits, we can look out for consumer grade GPS trackers, heart rate/blood pressure monitors, self driving cars and smart homes reducing the need for personalized in home care while maximizing self-sufficiency.

Look forward to being older, its the time when you get to tech it easy and stay in life.

Tech4Life airs every Wednesday morning at 8:15 am on @RJR94FM 

Websites Every Parent Should Know

Continuing in our series on cool websites, here are some sites for parents. There are lots of great sites to help parents do just about everything. But we’ve decided to focus on health, education and having fun.

So, let’s start with health:

www.webmd.com
www.kidshealth.com
www.familydoctor.org
www.nas.org.uk

Then, let’s look at education:
www.education.com
www.familyeducation.com
www.choicesmagazine.com

Can’t leave out fun:
www.ziggityzoom.com
www.parentstalk.com

Finally, two great all purpose sites include:
www.parenting.ivillage.com
www.parents.com

Parents can’t be there all the time, so when you can’t be watching consider:
http://www.parentalcontrolbar.org/
http://www.contentpurity.com/
http://www.netnanny.com/
http://www.cyberpatrol.com/

Of course, nothing replaces tender loving care.



I was looking for great local sites to help parents help kids prepare for GSAT, CXC and other local exams. Tell me about the best sites you know for exam preparation.


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