Washington Apple Pi

A Community of Apple iPad, iPhone and Mac Users

General Meeting:

Your Digital Life, Part 1: Creating an archival, searchable world

March 26, 2011, 9:30 a.m., George Mason University

Dr. Larry Kerschberg will demonstrate the use of a Fuji SnapScan scanner and special software that makes archiving paper records a breeze. Next, the "professor" will show how to convert scanned documents into Microsoft Word and searchable PDF formats. Finally, the "professor" will demonstrate how to catalog your books, music CDs, and iTunes collections.

Aside from saving lots of paper (and trees), such archiving can make your life safer and more transportable. We haven't quite reached the point where we carry around those funky pastel jello cube data storage units that Spock used on Star Trek. But a CD full of legal documents in a safe deposit vault is far more secure than scraps of paper in shoeboxes under the bed. And you can make a copy of that CD in minutes, for storage at your sister's house in Tierra del Fuego.

Note: Part 2 of this series will be on the third Saturday next month, April 16, instead of the usual fourth, to accomodate Easter.

The day's agenda

9:30 Questions and Answers
10:10 Back to Basics
10:20 Club Stuff
10:30 Coffee Break
10:45 Main presentation
12:00 Lunch Break
12:30 Mobile Lifestyle SIG

Remember, if you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can view the live Webcast of the meeting. Check out the URL shown below:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wap-general-meeting

The main portions of the meeting will be broadcast,which means during the coffee break, the meeting will be shown as off line.

If you intend to view the meeting on the Web, go to the site ahead of time and register yourself with the Ustream site. There is no cost and it will allow the meeting monitor to see exactly who is signed in and viewing the meeting.

Following the General Meeting, the Mobile Lifestyle SIG will meet.

Join us. Laptops and iPads welcome.

George Mason University Essential Information

The meeting will be held in Enterprise Hall, Room 178.

Address: 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA (near Rte 123 and Braddock Road)
Directions and Map: http://www.gmu.edu/welcome/Directions-to-GMU.html

Here is a campus map with annotations (PDF, 2.8 MB). Interactive map of campus: http://eagle.gmu.edu/map/fairfax.php

Important Parking Information: Two Options, Paid and Free

The Sandy Creek Parking Garage is fee-based facility. It is more convenient and closer to the meeting location. The Pi will subsidize the facility's parking fee by providing vouchers for donation request of $3.00.

If using the parking garage, park in Visitor's area; i.e., the lowest level. Take the elevator to the third floor (Campus Level), and exit along the sky bridge.

After the meeting, exit the garage using the exits marked for Validated Tickets. Your parking ticket goes in first. Then the validation ticket goes in next. If you have any problems, there is a speaker box for calling the parking lot attendant at the checkout point.

Free parking in Lot A (see map below)

Park as close to Mattaponi River Lane as possible, then walk north along that road toward the main campus buildings. The sidewalk route takes you directly to the side of Enterprise Hall, on your left. The meeting room is located on the second floor, accessible via outside stairs or via an elevator on your right as soon as you enter the building through the doors behind the outside stairs. We will endeavor to have signs posted to help guide you to the right location. It is at least a five-minute walk from Lot A and up a slight incline. We will be using a golf cart along the route, to offer rides to those who want or need a lift.

Handicapped Parking: There are three handicap parking spaces next to Enterprise Hall that can be used by members, on a first come first served basis. Have your Handicap Sticker showing on the dashboard or on the rear-view mirror.

George Mason Map