101 Great Things You Can Do With A Computer!

by John Woodman, The Springfield Computer Guy

The computer has now become such a useful tool, with such a large number of possible applications, that no matter how computer-savvy you are, I can pretty well guarantee you that there’s something on the following list that you never knew you could do!

A few of the items in this list will cost you extra (usually those things that require an additional hardware or software purchase). But the great majority are things that you can do right now, for FREE -- free, that is, if you have a decent computer with standard software and a connection to the Internet.

I've marked the items that are likely to need special software or hardware with an asterisk. Some items that require some money (like shopping for clothes) are not marked with an asterisk because there is no need for extra hardware or software, and thus no charge for doing this through your computer. If it doesn't have an asterisk, and doesn't involve a purchase, it's probably free!

• Type ordinary, printed letters.
• Dictate letters, articles, books, whatever you want -- and have the computer write down the words as you speak them. (Note: Computers are not quite perfect at this yet, but they are good enough to be quite useful, and are continually improving in their ability to understand and write down speech). *
• Send and receive faxes. *
• Send electronic greeting cards.
• Create and publish your own newsletters, including photos.
• Email: Send and receive letters and short messages to any location in the world at a speed that can be almost instantaneous -- as many of these as you want, without paying the price of a postage stamp.
• Send and receive scrambled messages that nobody on earth can read except you and your correspondent.
• Instant messaging: Carry on a live conversation by passing instant notes back and forth with a friend or relative who’s sitting at their computer, anywhere in the world.
• Compile family photo albums and share photos with others.
• Videoconference with friends or relatives. See them as you speak to them. *

• Access dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia.
• Look up informational articles and serious research papers on just about any topic.
• Browse the entire catalog of the county library system and choose as many books as you want, from locations all over the city. Later you can drop by the branch nearest you, and your books will all be there at the desk, ready and waiting for you. No charge.
• If you can’t find the book in the county library system, you can check the local universities from your desktop.
• Find the telephone number and address of just about anybody in the United States. All you need is their name and the state they live in. If you only have their phone number, you can look up their name.
• Look up public records on anybody you want (generally this is a service you pay for, as the information is only readily available to you through a middleman).
• View an aerial photograph of almost any neighborhood in the United States.
• Translate foreign-language documents into English.
• Access historical documents, broadcasts, and videos.
• Look up laws, local ordinances, etc. for just about any state or city.
• See what time it is, accurate to within half a second.
• Find an expert to ask just about anything.

• Buy all kinds of things, even hard-to-find items, for great prices! Have them delivered to your door.
• Verify a merchant’s reputation. Verify that you’re dealing with the right company, and that nobody else can see your information along the way.
• Get prescriptions for a better price.
• Buy custom clothes, made to fit just for you.
• Create a "model" with your shape, build and hairstyle, and have your model try on clothes for you.
• Buy books, new or used, for about the same price or, more likely, cheaper than the local bookstore. Have these delivered to your front door. Make your choice based on reviews written by real readers.
• Find and purchase rare books and other rare items.
• Compare prices on just about anything, from many different merchants in order to get the best price.
• Design your own t-shirts, bumper stickers, business cards and signs, and have them professionally made for you.
• Track items that have been shipped to you.

• Sell unwanted items.
• Buy, sell, or research cars -- including determining the value of a used car.

• Get a map of, and detailed driving directions to, almost any address in the United States.
• Research attractions you might like to go to.
• Compare prices on airline tickets and vacation packages. Book your reservations.

• Read reviews on any movie you might like to see, from among thousands. Pick a film and view an actual preview of it. If you're a parent, read a reviews that detail potential objectionable content.
• Play an infinite variety of games, either alone or against other live players.
• Check what’s on tonight’s TV lineup.
• Listen to any of dozens of genres of music on your computer, for free. Build a large collection of the kind of music you like. (You’ve heard of people illegally sharing copyrighted music -- but what I’m talking about here is all free of charge, all perfectly legal, and the artists HOPE you'll make use of it).
• From your large collection of music, record your own CDs. Pick only the songs you want on them. *
• Listen to old-time radio shows.
• View an art gallery.
• Find out all about your favorite personalities.

• Instantly access the latest news. Discuss this with other people. Sometimes you can even learn about events before they’re covered on networks like CNN.
• Get the latest weather and sports, too -- instantly.
• Read newspapers from cities across the United States and the world.
• Listen to radio broadcasts.

• Pay your bills online.
• Get your bank account up to date.
• Find the best deals on life insurance.
• Save legal fees by making out your own Will and other legal forms. *
• Save time to the library by printing your own IRS forms -- any form you want, any year you need!
• File your income tax return -- and get a faster refund! *
• Track your stock portfolio. Buy and sell stocks and mutual funds.
• Check your credit report or a business’ reputation.
• Contribute to your favorite charity.
• Receive money from anybody with a credit card.
• Send money to just about anybody with an email address.
• Choose different suppliers in order to lower your monthly bills.

• Access free recipes for anything you’d like to cook.
• Shop for a house or apartment.
• Check out information on what any neighborhood is like.
• Search the Bible. Or, listen to it in the King James Version -- narrated by Alexander Scourby.
• Listen to a church service.
• Do genealogy research.
• Share your family photos with others.
• Locate your long-lost friends and relatives. Connect with old classmates.
• Receive jokes or encouraging stories every day.
• Meet other singles.
• Find a group of people who share your hobby or interest, whether common or unusual.
• Engage in political or social activism with like-minded people.
• Set up real-world meetings with groups of like-minded people on any of dozens of common interests.
• Assist in the search for real extraterrestrials, in finding a cure for anthrax, or in other, similar large research projects.
• Analyze and learn about your own personality.
• Join a support group. Consult with others concerning a specific life problem, or a specific medical issue, such as Lyme Disease, Down Syndrome, etc.
• Completely analyze and plan/ optimize the nutrition of your meals. *
• Find a current list of community events in your local area.

• Edit your own videos. *
• Write and publish your own stories.
• Create your own map of a particular geographic area. Include only those geographic features you want.
• Create your own graphical, artistic work. (Requires special software, but some of this is available free).
• Create your own music. *

• Entertain kids with educational games.
• Take mini-courses on just about any subject.
• Assess your skills, and get certified in new ones. *
• Earn a college degree. *
• Find and apply for jobs.

• Track and manage your time (this requires special software, but some programs you can get for free).
• Keep track of business contacts; manage your sales efforts. *
• Account for all transactions pertaining to your business. *
• Receive free coaching on business issues from someone experienced in the area you need.
• Search patents, trademarks, and other government records, such as property records.
• Transact business with the government and others.
• Create business presentations.
• Advertise your business. *
• Create hard-copy flyers and brochures, even color-separated brochures of professional quality.
• Provide customer service from your computer -- by email or live.
• Sell things 24 hours a day. *
• Network with other professionals. Share your network of contacts with your friends, and have them share their network of contacts with you.

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© 2003-2006 John Woodman, Springfield, Missouri, (417) 877-1812.