Engage your inner techie, scour the campus in search of high-tech hints – Love Your Computer… Engage your inner techie, scour the campus in search of high-tech hints – Love Your Computer Week has returned offering more interactive activities to satisfy even the most technologically timid.

Sponsored by the Computing Services and Systems Development, the third annual Love Your Computer Week is intended as a way for students to learn the ins and outs of their machine from basic care, to virus protection, to creating a secure password.

Cristy Spino, supervisor of Campus Computing Labs/ResNet, said this week’s events are “a way for students to take advantage of the campus computing services.”

In an effort to attract different varieties of students, CSSD has added a scavenger hunt to test students’ knowledge of technology resources.

The grand prize is tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins game.

On Monday, teams of four began with packets containing vital information for the search: a booklet with an overview of the rules, the questions and answer sheet along with a CD for documenting picture questions.

Unlike a standard scavenger hunt, this one incorporates clues that require online searching and digital photo documentation.

Planning began in October for this mass media hunt.

Teams will receive one point for correct electronic questions and two points for correctly answered and documented picture questions, provided two of the team members are present in the photo.

As the quest intensifies and minds begin to overheat with the stress of competition, contestants will have the opportunity to earn bonus points by answering additional questions for one point each.

For those who want to boost their stats even more, two points will be awarded for correct picture questions with all four members present in the photo.

Spino anticipates a high turnout for the scavenger hunt and has prepared 300 teams. She’s counting on sold-out Pens tickets to motivate teams and get those hard drives whirring.

Spino introduced Love Your Computer Week four years ago after she attended the ResNet symposium at Bernard College where similar activities and services were being offered.

The technology fair at Bernard served as a launching pad, but Spino thought Pitt could do it better. Through networking with other universities over the past three years new ideas have been uploaded to our campus’s weeklong workshop, including the scavenger hunt.

This year ResNet and CSSD have dedicated two days for the LYCW Carnival to accommodate the busy schedules of students.

The first annual LYCW offered 27 information sessions, but this year shorter, hour-long “breakout sessions” will brief interested viewers with vital information on topics like creating a secure password and virus protection basics.

Thursday is the deadline for teams to submit their scavenger hunt data and digital records and secure their chances for the Pens’ home game on Sunday, Feb. 24.