Technology is for Everyone at Oak Crest’s Digital World Expo

While “gamers” and app-fixated cell phone users are associated with youth, every generation stands to benefit directly from advances in technology. And there are plenty of resources to help tech-savvy seniors or those just looking to learn.

That’s what the first Digital World Tech Expo at Oak Crest retirement community showcased on Friday, March 18 at Crestview Hall.

More than 100 residents and guests of Oak Crest attended the Expo, which featured exhibitors, seminars and an interactive Skype demonstration to kick off the event. 

“More than ever, seniors are utilizing technology for fun and socialization, improved health and staying connected with family and friends,” stated Lou Maranto, sales director at Oak Crest. “Our goal was to bring as many of these resources together for attendees to learn more about what they already use or to be exposed to something new like Skype or Facebook.”

The event began with a demonstration of Skype, the web application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet.  The audience heard from Elise Murphy Rowe, a resident of Wind Crest retirement community in Denver, CO.  Rowe frequently uses Skype to talk with her daughter who lives in Amsterdam and granddaughters in London and New York.

Frank Chen, a resident of Oak Crest, then called his daughter, Linda, who lives in New York City. A former computer marketing executive, Chen uses Skype to stay connected with friends as far away as China.

The seminar instructors included Jeffrey Wolk of Wolk Imaging via Penn Camera on Digital Photography 101, Alex Wilson of Hunt Valley-based System Source on Protecting Your Identity on the Internet and Zach Cheney and Jonathan Gold of Erickson Living on Staying Connected Through Skype & Facebook.

Oak Crest resident Edda Rosskopf attended the tech expo. A former employee of IBM Corporation in its downtown Baltimore location, Rosskopf described herself as a computer user. “I am vice president of the Seton Alumni Association, so I use my computer to publish our newsletter and to stay connected with other members,” stated Rosskopf. “The seminars at the expo were informative, particularly learning ways to prevent identity theft on the Internet.”

The Office Depot store located on Joppa Road in Parkville participated as an exhibitor. Other exhibitors included the Oak Crest resident-run Wii Bowling Team, Computer Group and Genealogy Club. Resident Bob McKeever displayed his award-winning digital photography. Representatives from the Oak Crest Medical Center (electronic health records), Audiology, TV Studio, Renaissance Gardens and IT departments also served as exhibitors.