Guides: Digital Literacy: Alaska KnOWLedge Center: Mobile Devices

Phone Tips

Whether you have a smart phone or a "dumb phone" you ought to find some helpful tips in this section.

Safety Tips for Children (Common Sense Media)
Dangers of Texting While Driving (Federal Communications Commission)
Are you a driver? On the road, off the phone is a good rule. This guide from the FCC provides stats on why you ought to pull over before sending that text.
How to Send a Text Message (lifehacker)

Smart Phones

iPhone Basics (GCF LearnFree)
Android Basics (GCF LearnFree)
Android basics will also apply to most Android tablets such as the Nexus or Galaxy.

iPads

iPad Basics (GCF LearnFree)
Using iPad (Apple)
iPads for Alaskan Libraries
While aimed at libraries with iPad loan programs, this guide has links to manuals and suggestions for apps for your iPad.

ereaders

An ereader is a device whose primary purpose is to display ebooks and audio books in electronic format. Tablets are handheld computers that are capable of many things, including displaying ebooks and audiobooks.

What is an e-reader? (GCF LearnFree)
Getting Started With ereaders and Tablets
Resource guide from the Alaska State Library linking to tutorials and manuals for many types of ereaders.

App Tutorials

Software for a mobile device is called an app. These tutorials show you how to use specific applications.

Gmail (GCF LearnFree)
Gmail is an e-mail app available for both iOS (Apple) and Android platforms.

Mobile Devices

Mobile 101 (GCF LearnFree)
From the website, "A mobile device is basically any handheld computer. It is designed to be extremely portable, often fitting in the palm of your hand or in your pocket. Some mobile devices are more powerful, and they allow you to do many of the same things you can do with a desktop or laptop computer. These include tablet computers, e-readers, and smartphones."