Technology for Tomorrow

08/21/2026

This week, we wanted to share a recent report from our friends at Senior Planet which details how technology has impacted caregivers for older adults. Working with over 350 people, Senior Planet sought to answer the question "can technology play a role in giving caregivers the support they need, not only to manage the healthcare, financial, and practical affairs of their loved ones, but also to allow space to live their own lives?" The answer? There isn't necessarily a simple one, but if you'd like to learn more, please consider checking out their report at https://oats.org/caring-for-caregivers/?utm_source=Senior+Planet+Email+List&utm_campaign=196de11ddb-licensing-q3-2026&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7aaa498d1b-196de11ddb-420245586&mc_cid=196de11ddb&mc_eid=3b32a3926c

Senior Planet has phenomenal resources available to the community and nonprofit organizations and we're thankful to be a licensed partner with them!

View the Report Looking for a downloadable version? Email us at [email protected].

08/19/2026

Thank you to the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation for their partnership and generous gift supporting our Digital Navigator program. We share their belief in building a more connected, equitable, and just world — and with their support, we're helping nonprofit staff and community members build the technology skills and confidence they need to expand digital literacy across Vermont.

We’re excited and thankful to be continuing our partnership with Comcast, and many thanks once again for their support.

08/14/2026

We’re happy to announce that our Everyday Tech series in partnership with Central Vermont Council on Aging and Senior Planet has made the papers! The Everyday Tech series is a free class for seniors that focuses on providing fundamental technology skills to older adults in central Vermont. Keith Puffer, CVCOA’s Tech Program Volunteer Coordinator said “We have worked with Technology for Tomorrow in the past to bring online classes to our older adult neighbors, and I am so excited to again be working with this Vermont organization to support our communities. This partnership helps us enact our mission to support older adults to age with dignity and choice, staying connected to the communities they love.”

The participants of this group have been curious, engaged, and a joy to work with. Our first session on computer basics was a pleasure to run, and we’re looking forward to the next 4 classes in our 5-session series!

To read the article in the Times Argus, click the link below!
https://www.timesargus.com/theworld/libraries-seniors---aug-13-2026/article_d0ff1e64-23d0-5034-810f-42ca7e8d1963.html

CVCOA and Technology for Tomorrow Take the Mystery Out of Tech

08/12/2026

Today we have some exciting news to share with you regarding our ACC AmeriCorps member Wolde North, who has been serving at T4T as an American Connection Corps Member for the last two years. We’re happy to announce that not only has Wolde been accepted for a third service term, but he has also been chosen to be one of the Team Leads for this upcoming service year. This role is designed to give returning members of the ACC additional leadership and growth opportunities. It gives newer members a mentor who have walked in their shoes, and dealt with similar challenges in the world of national service.

We are incredibly proud of his accomplishment, and we’re looking forward to seeing what’s in store for him as he continues his journey with ACC and our organization!

08/07/2026

Maliki LaForce finalizes his journey with us and takes a career with the State of Vermont as an Administrative Services Tech! We're sad to see him go, but happy to see him continue his pursuit in serving the local community.

"Take it one step at a time, and be the change you wish to see."

08/05/2026

Recently, we've noticed an uptick in our community of parents requesting classes and lessons around children's internet safety. In one of our classes, a learner said "My child keeps asking for more money to use on his 'Obby' in Roblox. I thought these games were free?"

Though a game is free to play, there are lots of ways companies will still make money, such as "microtransactions." These are small purchases within a game, often between $1 and $10, often taking the form of a "loot box." Put simply, a "loot box" is a form of gambling, where a player will receive an in-game item that can unlock features or change the appearance of their character. With how much money can be made from these purchases, companies have even taken steps in the past to try and make it easier for children to spend money without even understanding what they were doing. Some steps have been taken by agencies and lawyers to reverse these practices and refund the money, but they are still around.

When it comes to entertainment, our children deserve to have fun without repercussion. We always recommend parents to experience the media first before letting their child have it as a way to increase the confidence, not only of the child, but the parent too.

07/31/2026

We are happy to announce that in just a few weeks, we will be partnering with Central Vermont Council on Aging to deliver a 5-class series on digital literacy fundamentals! These classes are being offered to older adults and community members in Central Vermont free of charge, and focus on important topics such as computer and smartphone basics, an introduction to the internet, protecting your personal information online, and artificial intelligence. We want to quickly thank Senior Planet for helping us to make these courses possible through their amazing class materials.

Our series will start on August 12, with classes running from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, and will be provided online as well as in-person! For more information, please consider checking out their events page here: https://www.cvcoa.org/calendar?m=8&y=2026&type=0

07/24/2026

Do you find yourself scrolling too often or getting distracted by your phone? Undoing habits can be very challenging, but there are some useful tools already on your mobile devices that can help keep you on track and focused.

Depending on your phone, an iPhone or an Android, these settings might have different names. Apple put their tools under the "Screen Time" settings, while Android uses the "Digital Wellbeing" application. Regardless of names, both perform the same function. Simply select the "App Limits" or "App Timers" option, select the application you'd like to avoid using, set a time limit, and hit ok. Alternatively, you can block an application between set periods in a day: for example, if you want to avoid looking at social media before bed.

07/22/2026

Tomorrow will be our 13th session of the Tech Thursdays webinar series in partnership with AARP Vermont . In 90 minutes, we will break down Google Translate by showing how participants can access the application, translate written and spoken messages, and use their cameras to scan and convert text.

These sessions are offered nationwide and are free to all AARP members, taking place every other Thursday from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. For those who are not able to attend, there are also recordings available upon request. If you're interested in joining, consider checking out AARP's events page to sign up here: https://www.aarp.org/events/details.google-translate-tools-for-everyday-use.6sn8qvsp92j

As always, we want to give a massive thank you to AARP Vermont who have continued to support this series, and to Erin Boyd for helping us to run every session!

07/17/2026

Yesterday, Burlington School District Parent University and The Family Room VT held a celebration of learning and excellency of their students who have come consistently to learn about tech scams, computers, and receive direct technical assistance in line with their goals! At the event was our lead trainer on the project, Maliki LaForce!

"I wasn't expecting to receive as much praise as I did. The real praise should be going to the students who have shown dedication, persistence, and courage when broaching the new world of the internet. These students are parents in our community who continue to try their best and learn what they don't know every day. Thank you to the students, the Family Room, and Burlington's Parent University for having me. I hope our paths cross again in the future!" says Maliki.

These programs would not have been possible without the amazing staff at Family Room and Burlington Parent University who provided translation services, childcare, tech assets, and much more to the students of the class. A big thank you goes out to them and the generosity of our funders and donors!