Have you ever really explored Google beyond using it a a basic search engine. Here are three features well worth a look for any Carer.

Google offers a number of features and products that can help make your life a little easier. But the best thing about Google is everything is free. All costs are paid for by people who by advertising in the google search engine. So what are some of the best feature for you to use?

Google Docs

Google provides all users with a fully functional document office right from your browser. It may not have all the features of the latest Microsoft Office suite but the price is much better. You can create and edit presentations, spreadsheets and documents and share them with others at the click of a button. It does make perfect sense managing your work from the web as it is always availbale where you have a computer with an internet connection.

From the Google Docs website:

• Create basic documents from scratch or start from a template.
  You can easily do all the basics, including making bulleted lists, sorting by columns, adding tables, images, comments, formulas, changing fonts and more. And it's free.
• Upload your existing files.
  Google Docs accepts most popular file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, PPT, etc. So go ahead and upload your existing files.
• Familiar desktop feel makes editing a breeze.
  Just click the toolbar buttons to bold, underline, indent, change font or number format, change cell background color and so on.

There is even a Google Docs help centre to set you back on the path to managing all you office documents. Visit the Google Docs website today to see what you can create. http://docs.google.com

Google Groups

Google allows you to search through postings and comments in online groups. This is a great feature as it usually returns more relevant results than a general search.

It does so because people form groups to discuss specific topics. You can, for example, doa  search on google groups for carers and find a lot of information straight from the people themselves. As our feedback on the Gateway shows, we like to hear it form the horses mouth. These group searches also look for information over the past few decades, where as searches only deliver recent results.

Check out google Groups next time you are looking for a little more information. http://groups.google.com

Google Calendar

Paper and pen is very yesterday thanks to Google Calendar. You can now take you diary with you everywhere you go. Well everywhere with an internet connection.It can manage all your tasks and let others know what your doing:

• Seeing the big picture
  With Google Calendar, you can see your friends' and family's schedules right next to your own; quickly add events saved in other calendar applications; add other interesting events that you find online.

• Sharing events and calendars
  You decide who can see your calendar and which details they can view. Planning an event? You can create invitations, send reminders and keep track of RSVPs right inside Google Calendar. Organisations can promote events, too.

• Staying on schedule
  You can set up automatic event reminders, including mobile phone notifications, and instantly bring up anything on your calendar with the built-in search tool.

 So get your life organised with the help of a great calendar tool from Google. http://calendar.google.com