May 18, 2023 marks the 12^th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), when we focus on raising awareness about the importance of creating digital spaces that are more accessible and inclusive. We’ve all heard that word before — accessibility — but what does it really look like in regard to the challenges someone with a disability may encounter with technology? Read on to learn about digital accessibility, how you can participate in making Pitt more accessible, and the resources available at Pitt.

With the warm weather approaching, you will only get busier over the summer. That’s why there’s no time like the present to start your tech projects to better serve you when you need them most. No one likes a crowded, disorganized desktop; an outdated profile or CV; or worrying about getting hacked, so strike while the iron’s hot (aka, while you’re less busy) and get to it! Here are four things you should put on your tech to-do list this summer:

Now that the spring semester has ended, you can reflect on the past year. Technology is at the forefront of education, whether it’s office hours over Zoom and using Canvas to organize class information, to all the apps students will use to complete their classwork. Take some time this summer to get one step ahead on your classroom tech resources so the fall semester comes with technological ease. Pitt IT is up and running all summer long to help. 

Whether you’re taking classes, working, going on vacation, or just chilling out this summer, your tech is likely to be an integral part of it all! Staying productive and active during the summer can be a challenge, so here are some tips for staying productive and focused and for keeping your tech in working order.

There are many advantages to taking and teaching classes during the summer term. Class sizes are smaller and can be completed in half the time (or less) of a typical course. They can be a great option to help students graduate on time, especially for those with more than one major or minor or for those switching majors. Summer courses can also present challenges due to compressed timelines, non-traditional students who are not familiar with University courses, and the demands of commuting.  Here are our best summer session tech hacks.

Online meetings, workshops, and events are here to stay. Your coworkers may be next door or across the country. You can meet with colleagues and customers from around the world without needing to travel. Instructors allow for online class presentations, while conferences are offered online as a cheaper and more convenient option. Even fundraisers and religious services are online today. 

Graduation. The word sends a tingle down a senior’s spine at the mere mention. Commencement is so much more than just walking across a stage. Graduating from the school you’ve called home for four years changes everything about your daily routine and also means finding a job or going to graduate school, moving away from your friends, and so much more.

Sending fans a ticket offer for the game they most want to attend. Athletic trainers measuring an athlete’s biometrics to maximize their on-field performance. Processing on-field stats to guide game strategy. Coaches tracking their budget in real time to help guide spending decisions. That is the reality for professional sports leagues, but just a pipe dream for most collegiate programs.

For college students, it’s imperative to have a good device to take notes, complete and turn in assignments, and stay in contact with your peers and professors. But what do you do when your laptop is low on storage and you can’t download the software you need for a new course? How about when your device is slow, and you have an assignment due at midnight? What if you need to pull an all-nighter and live off campus?

Signing up hundreds of participants for a new research study in just a few days is something that most researchers only dream of. One group at Pitt did just that after offering up a $10 Amazon gift card for those willing to complete their online survey. However, even with the incentive, that response seemed too good to be true. Turns out, it was, and the researchers were the victims of a bot attack.