Google Drive is a cloud-based storage service that's completely online. You don't have to buy or download software the way you do with some other word processing and spreadsheet programs. It lets you save various types of files in the cloud instead of your computer's hard drive, with easy access from all your digital devices. The free Wi-Fi at Bethesda Gardens Frisco makes it easy to access your Google Drive files. Google Drive is also designed to allow easy file sharing with other people. Once you've stored a document or spreadsheet on Google Drive, you can share it with others so they can easily view or make changes to it.
File creation, storage and sharing aren't just for the working world. You can find many personal uses for the different options on Google Drive. Popular options seniors might use include Google Docs to create text documents, Google Sheets for spreadsheets and Google Slides for digital presentations. Some examples of how you might use Google Drive include:
To get started with Google Drive, you'll need a Google account. If you already use Gmail to send and receive emails, you're all set. While you're in your Gmail or Google account, look for a three-by-three grid of dots in the upper right-hand corner. Click on it and then click on Drive, which has a multicolored triangular logo.
This launches your personal Google Drive. It shows the files you've created and files that have been shared with you. You can also click the large New button in the upper left-hand corner to create a new file.
You can also simply type drive.google.com in your browser's search bar. If you're already logged into Google, you're ready to go. Otherwise, Google will lead you to a login page.
Google Docs is the word processing arm of Google Drive. You can use it to create all types of text documents. You might consider using it for online journaling or list-making.
To create a new document, click the New button in the upper left corner and click on Google Docs. A new document will pop up in a new tab. You're ready to type whatever you want with various fonts, font sizes and features in the text. You can also insert images, tables, charts and other extras. Just remember to name the document so you can easily find it later.
You can create a Google Sheets file in a similar way. Click the New button and select Google Sheets. You can customize the cells and insert special features to create your customized spreadsheet. If you want to add more pages to the file, click the + in the lower left corner and a new sheet will appear at the bottom. You can rename each sheet to keep them organized.
Google Drive lets you upload photos you want to save. To add your photos, click the New button and then click on File Upload. File Explorer will open, letting you choose the photos you want to add. Find the folder where the images are stored, choose the photos and click Open or Upload. This uploads the images into your Google Drive.
All documents you create in Google Drive have a Share button in the upper right corner. You can grant access to certain people or let anyone with the link access the file. Google Drive also lets you decide if other people can edit the document, make comments on it or only view it. You can offer editing privileges if you're creating a shared document that you want people to collaborate on. For instance, if you're creating a sign-up sheet for a family Thanksgiving celebration, you might give everyone editing power so they can enter their names next to what they want to bring.
Google Drive is a relatively straightforward tool, but it can take some time to master. The following tips can get you up to speed on how to use this file storage system:
Google Drive is versatile and used by many people, making it an easy, accessible option for seniors.
