In my previous post, “Setting Up Your Child’s First Computer,” I mentioned that you can configure your router to block your child’s computer from accessing the Internet. I prefer this method over software-based methods because any software installed on your child’s computer can potentially be reconfigured by your child or one of their friends.
My 5-year-old daughter has always been fascinated with computers. This is not surprising since she sees Mommy and Daddy on their computers every day. When she was only three, we began making a game out of typing words that she was learning in pre-school, and soon she began picking out the letters of her name on the keyboard. She would giggle for hours as we helped her identify the letters in words she knew and helped her type them on the screen. She was typing her name like a pro long before she ever learned how to handwrite it. Not long afterwards, I installed some age-appropriate games on my computer so she could begin developing her hand-eye coordination by operating the mouse to manipulate the characters in the game. However, as her skills and enjoyment increased, so did her demand for time on MY machine (these demands always seemed to occur when I was in the middle of a website, photo, or video project.) So, when I upgraded to a new desktop a few months ago, I knew that it was time for my little girl to take over my old one. Here are some of the issues I considered when setting up her computer:
Most of the public has no idea that a political battle has been brewing in Washington over the idea of Net Neutrality: the principle that your Internet Service Provider sells you unedited access to the internet. No matter what site you visit, you get the same speed downloads from that site as you would any other. However, in recent months, some of the big ISP’s (who also happen to be phone and cable companies) have announced plans to throttle your bandwidth when you use certain services (like voice-over-internet calls, or video downloads) from the web. Needless to say, this exposes a major conflict of interest on the part of your ISP.
This video (from 2007), does an excellent job of explaining just what Net Neutrality is and what the current threats to our online freedoms are:
Let the high-tech Christmas fun begin! Nice to see our military has a sense of humor. You can really WOW the kids and grandkids by logging on to NORAD’s website devoted to the “live” satellite and ground-based RADAR tracking of Santa’s sleigh as it speeds through the stratosphere to the homes of good little boys and girls.
This also makes a great tool for getting little ones to go to bed. If they see that Santa is entering their airspace, they know that they have to get off to sleep or else the jolly fat man might skip their house this year.
NORAD Tracks Santa 2006
John W. Killinger is a certified Tech Support Specialist, Photographer, and owner of JK Digital Services.