If you’re reading these words, it’s highly likely that you’re the geek of the family. When a sister’s, brother’s, mother’s, father’s, second cousin’s Mac or iPhone or iPad or wireless router or printer goes bad, it’s you who are called in as the first responder. Given your expertise, now would be the perfect time to give of yourself and, while visiting family, take a turn through their technology. That includes:

OS X’s Software Update is a minor miracle in that it automatically queries Apple’s software servers to look for updates. However, it’s not terribly helpful if the person who normally operates the Mac rejects these updates because they’re unsure of what an update might be packing. Arm yourself with the Mac’s administrator’s password, run Software Update, and see what’s waiting. Install those updates that matter (particularly security updates).

Of course your friends and family have more software than what’s offered via Software Update. Take a gander at the applications they use most often and look for a Check for Updates entry under the application menu. Before you give it up as a job well done, if the object of your affection has an iOS device, launch iTunes, select Apps, and click the Check for Updates link at the bottom of the iTunes window. In all likelihood there will be scads of updated apps waiting for you.

And while you’re in iTunes, jack in their iOS device to see if a worthwhile update awaits. iOS 4.2 has some pretty slick tricks up its sleeve but those people who never sync their iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches may be blissfully unaware of it.

Note that some people don’t have the benefit of a fast broadband connection. If you’re visiting a broadband-challenged friend or relative, do their Internet connection a favor and download Apple’s updates from the company’s to your Mac (which presumably has a much faster connection), place them on an easily transportable bit of removable media, and install the updates from that media on to their computer.