By Tracy Lee Carroll

The world keeps getting smaller. Back when my eleven year old daughter was in Mrs. Stone’s second grade class at World Elementary in Nashua, she was assigned a Flat Stanley project. For those of you who have not yet met Flat Stanley, he is a young man (as told about by Jeff Brown) who had a bulletin board fall on him and flattened him to be only about a half an inch thick. Because of his flatness, he could travel quite nicely in an envelope anywhere in the world. The project was to create your own “Flat Stanley” and send him off to somewhere and have someone take him about, show him a good time and have him write back about his travels.

My daughter made her flat friend, Flat Bobby and I utilized my extensive Flickr network to enable Flat Bobby to circumnavigate the globe. The official project was only supposed to last a few weeks, but my daughter’s project is still ongoing four years later. Flat Bobby has traveled extensively in the United States, Mexico, China, The Philippines, Egypt, Germany, England, The Netherlands, The Bahamas, and Canada. He has sent home many photographs of his adventures as well as trinkets he’s collected. The most wonderful thing of his adventures is my daughter and I learned how small the world really is and how many wonderful people there are in it. We have made lasting relationships with people so far away and learned about their cultural differences while learning that we all have the same basic desires and needs in life.

That was the beginning of my eyes being opened to the possibilities of using Web 2.0 technologies to create pathways for students that were not available to children just a few short years ago. What an opportunity to get kids talking and collaborating with people all over the world! Bringing these ideas and thoughts one step further, I volunteered in my daughter’s fifth and sixth grade classroom last year to teach them about blogging. The idea was to create a Ning network that would be totally private. This satisfied nervous parents’ concerns about their children posting things publicly on the internet. Within the Bridges Ning network, the hope was to get other schools around the world involved and each school group would have their own private area as well as access to the common area in which to share ideas and conversations. The project got off to a great start but due to timing issues, never realized its full intentions.

Due to the project’s huge success in its beginnings, the school has hired me this year to work with both the fifth and sixth grade students to not only continue the project, but to expand upon it. I’ve been given the go ahead to publish a public blog with the kids as well as continue to work on Bridges. To start the year, we have spent the first two weeks going over internet safety and security issues while our relocated computer lab was being set up. The next two weeks have been focused on writing and typing up bios for each of the children. As our lab is no online in a very small capacity it is going to take us a little time in getting all the pieces online and running smoothly, but we are all excited about the possibilities and plans to bring these students online and reaching out into the world. I look forward to sharing more of our story with you as we move along and hopefully soon, I will be able to provide you with a link to our new public sites!

If you would like to contribute in any way to what we are doing or just say hello, you can contact me at tracylee (at) tracylee (dot) com. For more information on Flat Stanley, visit www.flatstanley.com.

About the Author:
Tracy Lee Carroll has held many positions, but her favorite is mother to four wonderful children for 27 years. She is currently opening doors into the world for fifth and sixth graders as she guides them through the waters of getting to know the internet while teaching them the skills they need to be safe. Sharing this knowledge combines two of her greatest passions: working with children and the amazing resource that is the internet.

Tracy has been an art teacher, as well as someone who can claim to have built one of the largest websites single-handedly in the days of the early frontiers of the online world. She has also owned her own graphics design firm and helped produce major magazines and adwork while living in New York. Yes, she is a native NYer, but has lived here in Southern NH long enough to call it home.

So while I encourage her curiosity, I also realize that TV, and to a lesser extent, computer time can have negative effects on young children. But other than the standard “no TV before two-years-old” recommendation of the American Pediatrics Association, what do we really have to worry about?

Fortunately, this subject has become the subject of greater study as the number of electronic distractions in our lives increases. Of course, I’m not saying that we should ban all electronic entertainment from our children’s lives…I’m not even sure that’s realistic. But it does make sense to be aware of the risks.

If you want to learn more, you may want to check out a free screening of “Consuming Kids,” April 29th at the Marlboro College Technology Center in Brattleboro, VT.

I know a lot of tech-savvy parents are SNHParents regulars. What are your thoughts on how much screen time, computer or TV, that’s right for your kids?

Additional details from the press release follow:

Press Release

April 2009

Film Screening of “Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood”

Brattleboro – The new documentary “Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood”, will be shown on Wednesday, April 29th at the downtown campus of the Marlboro College Graduate School. Co-sponsored by Know Media, Healthy Media Choices and the Windham Child Care Association, this film will be shown at 7:00 and is open to all. The film is not recommended for viewing by children.

“Consuming Kids” is a Media Education Production that targets the multi-billion-dollar youth marketing industry and takes a close look at the effects such marketing is having on children today. “We decided to show this film so that parents and other child care-givers could learn to make their way through the challenges of commercialization”, says Robin Rieske, coordinator of Know Media. Rieske also adds that although the American Pediatrics Association recommends no screen time before the age of 2, “marketers love to make parents feel guilty if they don’t feed their kids a steady media diet of TV, computers, and so called ‘educational’ videos”. As Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia states “This powerful, disturbing and heartbreaking film has the power to change the way we treat our children. It is the best possible parent education product. I recommend it to schools, universities, churches, mosques and synagogues.”

The film showing will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with members of Know Media, Healthy Media Choices and Windham Child Care Association. The discussion will include helpful tips on navigating the media culture with children. For more information about this event, please contact Robin Rieske at Know Media, (802) 258-2402. The film is free to the public. Donations are accepted to cover costs.

A light refreshment will be provided.

Calendar Event :

Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00 – “Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood” –which takes a close look at the effects such marketing is having on children today. Film screening –Marlboro College Technology Center in Brattleboro. Donations accepted. (802) 258-2402. Know Media.

Mary L. Rothschild, Director
Healthy Media Choices
www.healthymediachoices.org
Brooklyn, New York
Brattleboro, Vermont
Host: The Healthy Media Choices Hour
Tuesdays 1pm ET
Streaming at www.wvew.org

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The Origami is also made of 90% recycled materials and features daytime running lights, a pedometer and an onboard LCD to provide status information. And it could be yours for just $650.

I’m all for using technology where it makes sense and I really like the fact that it’s made mostly from recycled materials. And I know that there other similarly-priced high-end strollers. However, I don’t think that’s enough to justify $650 just to avoid opening and closing the stroller. I can think of a lot of other things I would buy with that money.

Would you buy it? Some videos to help you decide:

[Geekbrief.tv]

Of special note: this bargain-priced MP3 player features a shake feature to select a random song—just like Apple’s new iPod Nano.

First Impressions
Picture your average remote: it’s probably black or silver and has a ton of little buttons on it, right? Ok, the weemote DV looks nothing like that. Instead, like the weemote 3, it features a colorful, rounded body and brightly colored buttons. However, it also has a soft rubber ring around its edge that makes it easy to grasp. Finally, there are only nine buttons (Play, Pause, Stop, Ok, Up, Down, Left, Right and (M)enu) on the weemote DV. Removing a screw on the bottom allows you to change batteries and access the three programming buttons.

Setup
Setting up the weemote DV is very simple. Just find your DVD player manufacturer in the instruction manual and enter the matching codes until you find the one that controls your player. If for some reason, you can’t find one that works, don’t worry: unlike the weemote 3, the weemote DV is a true learning remote so you can use your current remote to teach the weemote DV commands for any of its nine buttons. The learning feature also lets you use the weemote DV with devices other than DVD players. For example, you could program it to control a CD player and use the “Up” and “Down” keys for volume.

Testing
I tested the remote with our Sony DVD player. Unfortunately, the first weemote DV we received had a defective LED, making it impossible to program the remote using the codes from the manual. A quick e-mail to Fobis Technologies and a new remote was on the way. In the meantime I was able to use the learning feature (which uses a different LED) to program the weemote using my original Sony remote control. Programming was done by pointing the remotes at each other and following a simple sequence for each button.

Once programmed, the weemote DV worked perfectly. I didn’t notice any difference in performance between it, the factory remote, or our much more expensive universal remote. Next I reprogrammed the remote to work with our cable box and it did a great job controlling on-demand titles or programs recorded with the built-in DVR. However, this setup permitted access to all the cable channels, so I’d still recommend the weemote 3 for TV viewing.

After receiving the replacement remote, I entered the DVD player code from the manual and tried the tests again. This was easier than using the learning feature and I would recommend using this method first as there’s no difference in the weemote DV’s performance when it is programmed using the provided codes versus learning from the original remote.

But how did the weemote DV do with its target audience? My two-year-old took to the weemote DV as quickly as she did the weemote 3. However, because the weemote DV’s buttons send a single command rather than the macros used on some of the weemote 3 buttons, she was able to use it more effectively without having to keep it pointed at the DVD player after each button was released. Finally, she ran the remote through her battery of “drop and step” tests and it handled them all without problem. The weemote DV’s rubber ring seemed to make it easier for her to hold and may have provided a bit of cushioning during the drop tests (I would love to see a similar feature added to the weemote 3).

Once again, my daughter’s testing also pointed out a way to improve the way I had programmed the weemote DV. This time it was the “Stop” button that was causing trouble because it took her out of the DVD menus, requiring me to press “Play” or “Enter” to restart the disc and sit through the FBI warning before I could get her back to her movie. Disabling this button kept her within the DVD menu structure.

Final Thoughts
The weemote DV, like the weemote 3, is a welcome addition to the family room, particularly given it’s $25 suggested price. More and more children’s DVDs are including interactive games and puzzles and this remote is a great way to let your children control their discs without overwhelming them with complex remotes or risking them accidentally changing your player’s settings. And although it really shines with a DVD player, as long as you only need nine buttons, it should work well with other remote-controlled electronics.

It was the headline that prompted me to write: Pelham police bust ‘Myspace’ [sic] drinking party

Yes, the party was advertised on the host’s MySpace account, but this wasn’t a ‘MySpace’ party any more than a party advertised via e-mail is an ‘e-mail’ party. Instead, the headline s is simply an attempt to draw in readers by using a buzzword. And since it got me to read it, I guess it worked. But honestly, I’d be surprised if the majority of social activities, including illegal drinking, involving 14-20 year-olds weren’t organized using social media. Why? Because that’s how teens are talking to each other. And if you think that’s not the case, then you haven’t been paying attention.

Look, teens are teens. They do stupid things. I know I did when I was young and I’m sure you did too. And that’s what this story is about: teens who did something stupid. But because of the very minor roll MySpace played in it, this story could also be another reason for some parents to say, “that’s it, no MySpace in my house!”

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be concerned about how our children use social media, in fact quite the opposite. However, if you’re considering a household ban as a solution, I urge you to look at other options. Forbidding things outright isn’t going to solve the problem. I remember how well it worked when I was a teen and I don’t think technology has improved anything. Back in my day (insert old man voice), we organized parties by phone. Prohibiting phone use back then was a lot easier than it is today, but we still got around it. How are you going to control things that can be accessed from just about any computer?

Myspace..Facebook..Twitter..instant messaging, e-mail, blogs…your children have a number of new communication channels available to them. And yes, some of them could put them at risk in ways that we could never have imagined when we were their age. But we’re not their age anymore and it’s now up to us to help them understand the risks, and opportunities, involved with new media, particularly social media. These technologies aren’t inherently bad or good, so rather than freaking out over possible problems, let’s help our kids understand the world they live in and what we expect of them. Let’s give them the tools to make smart choices, even when we’re not around. Hopefully, we’ll be able to help them see why being among 25 minors drinking in a group of “approximately 100 people in the basement of a home” is probably something they should avoid.

To learn more about how kids are using social media, I suggest watching Frontline: Growing Up Online. Not only can you watch the full program online, but you’ll also find additional related information. Of course, you could also simply ask your kids what they’re doing online. No really, you might just learn something. And finally, remember that social media also offers you and your children new ways of communicating with each other.
Of course, I’m sure some of you might think I’m out of line for writing about this when my own daughter is only 2. Don’t worry, my time will come. After all, 12 years ago we could never have imagined the options for communicating that are available today. And who knows what the next 12 years will bring. The only thing I can be sure of is that when my daughter is 14, I’ll be looking back enviously on the days when all parents had to deal with were things like Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

So how are you dealing with your children’s online lives?

What’s Street View?

The Street View feature puts you “in” the map. You can move up and down streets and see things as if you were driving down the street in real life. Just search for an address on Google Maps as normal. If the address is in a Street View area you’ll see a “Street View” button. Click this and then click the little person on the map to start your virtual trip. You can click the photo to move up and down the street as well as pan around 360 the images

So What Good is It?

Once you get past the “golly gee” factor, you may start thinking of ways to use this. Here are a few I came up with while playing with it:

1. “See” a New Destination Before You Actually Go There
   Visit local destinations from your computer and find landmarks to make it easier to find them when you’re surrounded by the distractions of driving.
2. House Hunting
   It’s a buyer’s market right now. Check out the neighborhood around potential houses before you visit the house.
3. Remember Summer
   The Street View images currently being used were taken this past summer (the Telegraph article linked below pinpoints some of the Nashua photos to August 2). Ok, this may be another “golly gee,” but on a snowy day like today, it’s just nice to see images of New Hampshire in the summer. So even though it’s snowing right now, you can “stroll” around without bundling up.

What About Privacy Issues?

Ok this is where things get interesting. To create Street View, Google drove around taking pictures of local streets, and the property all around them. In doing this, did they capture anything that couldn’t be seen by any one else driving or walking on those same streets? It’s unlikely. Of course, if you or your family were visible from your street when it was mapped, you’re part of the site for everyone to see. And that’s where things could get interesting. There are already sites that catalog interesting Street View images, for example streetviewr. So what if Google saw something you’d rather they hadn’t? No problem: Google provides a link to report inappropriate images on the “Street View Help” link. But is that enough?

Let us know what you think: Is Street View a great feature or an invasion of privacy?

February 17 Nashua Telegraph Article
Feburary 14 Union Leader Article

I asked that question about a year ago in a post titled “Say Hello to Generation We.” What I didn’t know then was that it wouldn’t be the TV she was going to be interested in this early, but the remote itself. Since writing that my daughter has developed a keen interest in “daddy’s remote,” a.k.a our universal remote. We tried giving her the remote from an old VCR, but she wasn’t fooled.

Fortunately, Fobis Technologies has solutions for parents looking to give their children a level of control, but still keep them, and your AV equipment, safe. In this post we’ll look at the weemote 3 which can simplify control of a TV and set-top box (cable or satellite). Fobis also sells the weemote Sr. which is functionally identical to the weemote, but features a more sedated color scheme and some tweaks to the default settings to make it friendlier for seniors. We’ll review the weemote dV, which controls DVRs and DVD players, in an upcoming post.

First Impressions

At first glance the weemote looks like a toy, but I mean that in a good way. The rounded shape and bright colors wouldn’t look out of place in a Fisher-Price catalog. And like most toys, the weemote can stand up to the abuse that kids can dish out. During our review it survived being stepped on, dropped onto hardwood floors, and even being licked. Needless to say, I wasn’t willing to subject “daddy’s remote” to those tests. And I certainly wouldn’t recommend trying the last one on any remote.

Ten bright buttons (Mute, Power, Volume Up/Down, Channel Up/Down, and five “Favorite Buttons”) and an LED poke through the weemote’s shell. The Favorite Buttons are each shaped differently (a square, triangle, pentagon, circle, and star) to allow younger children to use the remote, e.g. “press the star to watch Disney”. At the bottom of the remote is a plastic door that protects the six programming buttons.

Basic Setup

Like other aftermarket remotes, the weemote must be programmed to control your TV and, if you have one, set-top box. This is done by entering a code or two from the Quickstart booklet. I had to try a couple different codes for our Sony TV, but our Comcast cable box worked on the first code. Once this is done, you enter up to ten favorite channels. The first five will be accessed using the weemote’s Favorite Buttons and the second will be accessible using the channel up/down buttons.

One important thing to note: If the device you use to change channels (TV or set-top box) is not listed in the Quickstart booklet, you will not be able to use the weemote to change channels, greatly reducing it’s usefulness. Fortunately, the weemote is pre-programmed with codes for a wide range of products. However, you may want to check the list in the booklet (available online) if you’re using unusual equipment.

Advanced Setup

Here’s where I get to geek out a bit. As I mentioned, the weemote is very easy to set up, but beneath that bight plastic are a powerful set of options that can help you tweak the way it works to fine tune it to your preferences. For example, you can do any (or all) of the following:

• Disable volume controls
• Limit channel up/down to favorite channels or allow it to access all available channels
• Tune to Favorite Channel #1 at start up
• Auto-program children’s channels for users with DIRECTV Total Choice or Total Choice Plus
• Adjust the speed of the remote signals
• Adjust the delay of the keypad
• Adjust power options (disable/enable TV and/or cable/satellite box power)
• Select a TV input to tune to at start up (limited)
• Learn commands from your existing remote(s) to the Mute, Volume/Up Down, and Favorite Channel buttons

Testing

In our home, all audio and video goes into our receiver and then to the TV. This means we have to use our universal remote to turn everything on and select the proper input on the receiver. This is something the weemote can’t do, and honestly wasn’t designed to do. Because of this, my wife or I will turn on the TV, set the volume, and then let our daughter control the channels using the weemote. So, our weemote was programmed as follows:

• Power – Disabled
• Volume – Disabled*
• Channel Up/Down – Favorites Only
• Fav. Buttons 1-5 were each programmed with a kid-friendly channel

*I did use the learning feature to have the weemote control the receiver’s volume, but I disabled this feature before handing the remote over to my daughter. This proved wise as she is a big fan of the volume button. With it disabled, I don’t have to worry about her damaging her hearing (or the speakers).

Changing channels was just as fast as entering the numbers on the original remote. I flipped between the channels a bit and then handed the remote to our daughter. She quickly mashed the buttons and managed to change the channel several times before stopping on a show she recognized (and giving the weemote the previously mentioned “lick” test). Ok, not the most scientific of tests, but the weemote did what it was supposed to do. And she did find one issue: Like all infrared remotes, the weemote must be pointed at the TV or set-top box to control it. This may seem obvious, but when sending a series of commands (e.g. 2-1-8 for channel 218) with a single button press, the weemote must be aimed correctly until the last signal is received, not just until the button is released. This means that it’s possible for partial commands to be received, for example “2-1″ instead of “2-1-8.” This isn’t a flaw with the weemote, and is something that also affects our much more expensive universal remote. It didn’t happen too often though, and should be less of an issue with a bit of practice

Conclusion

The weemote delivers on the company’s promise to make “TV safer for your kids.” But if this was all it did, I wouldn’t recommend it. Most set-top boxes accomplish the same thing by allowing you to set access codes for specific channels and/or program ratings. The weemote is not a substitute for these features. In fact, your children can always bypass the weemote’s pre-defined channels by using the buttons on your set-top box or TV to change channels. Enabling your set-top box’s access controls will prevent your children from viewing channels and programs you consider inappropriate, no matter which remote you use.

I also wouldn’t recommend the weemote if all it did was eliminate the remote clutter in your living room. Cable and satellite service generally includes a remote that does this quite well. Local stores also carry a wide range of aftermarket universal remotes that do the same thing.

What sets the weemote apart from the other solutions is that it makes TV safer by not only limiting the channels, but also by greatly simplifying the remote itself. This means that not only can your kids not get to unapproved channels using the weemote, but they also can’t accidentally purchase a pay-per-view title or change your TV’s setup menus to a foreign language (am I the only one who has had this happen?). Add a durable, kid-friendly design to the package and the weemote is definitely a winner.

PlayStation 3. XBox 360. Nintendo Wii.

There’s no doubt that video games are big business and it’s not always easy to tell which ones are appropriate for your children. And with the wide range of games available, not to mention the amount of advertising dollars being spent to promote them, it’s a safe bet that you know at least one child who will be asking for a game this holiday season.

I’ve written about video games ratings and review sites in the past. The best way to make educated decisions about video games is to read about them before you go into the store. But what if you don’t do that? Or what if you decide to buy a game at the last minute? In short: what do you do if you’re already in the store?

Video game store Game Crazy (a division of Hollywood Entertainment, along with Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery) has put together a Parents’ Guide to Game Buying (781K PDF). It doesn’t go into specific titles or try to answer every question. Instead, it encourages parents to talk with the store’s employees and ask questions before buying games. Whether you shop at Game Crazy or another store, this is something you should definitely do. If the game package doesn’t answer your questions, ask an employee.

The brochure also includes a handy summary of the ESRB rating system for video games, something every parent should have memorized or have access to when buying games. If you only read one page of the brochure, read that one. In fact, cut it out and keep a copy in your purse or wallet.

I’ve never shopped at a Game Crazy store (the nearest location is in Arlington, MA), but it looks like they’re taking steps to help parents make educated videogame purchases. Their “Try Before You Buy” program lets you see or play a game before you bring it into your house. As the brochure says, “You’re Parent Experts. We’re Game Experts.”

Have you had any experience with Game Crazy or similar stores?

Just visit www.goodsearch.com and enter an organization name to see matches. A large number of New Hampshire nonprofits are already in their system or you can browse the complete list of registered nonprofits to pick one before you search. Of course you can choose to support your favorite national organization.

Once you’ve selected your organization, just enter your search topic and you’ll see your results (GoodSearch is powered by Yahoo!, you should get the same results). And since your choice is stored on your computer, you’ll only have to enter it again if you decide to support another nonprofit. There are also toolbars and browser plugins available to make it even easier to use GoodSearch.

That sounds pretty good, but compare that to the other countries mentioned in the article:

• Japan: 61 mbps
• South Korea: 45 mbps
• France: 17 mbps
• Canada: 7 mbps

Pretty sad, huh? While I’d like to congratulate NH for this ranking, the truth is we’re near the top of a pretty sad list.

The truth is, NH, like the US in general, is suffering a split identity when it comes to Internet access. Like other well-populated areas in the country, Southern NH is doing fairly well. We often have a number of choices when it comes to accessing the Internet. I love my Verizon FiOS service, but if Verizon leaves NH, I can (hopefully) go with something similar from FairPoint or switch my voice and data plans to the cable company.

However, you don’t have to go to far north of the MA border to find people who don’t have any broadband options. Often, the only choice is dial-up. This may just be an inconvenience right now. After all, being able to view YouTube videos easily certainly isn’t high on the list of life’s necessities. But as businesses push more and more services online, reliable and fast Internet access will become less of a convenience and more of a requirement. And right now, there’s very little sign of improvement any time soon.

But there is some good news. New Hampshire did score well compared to the other New England states mentioned:

• Massachusetts (5th): 3.0 mbps
• Vermont (21st): 2.0 mbps
• Maine (35th): 1.5 mbps

To learn more about the importance of Internet access speeds and what you can do to help urge our government, state and federal, to fix the situation, please visit speedmatters.org.

Watch for a full review soon, but so far the Sansa Shaker looks like a winner if you’re looking for an inexpensive, kid-friendly MP3 player.

After you’re up and running with RSS, be sure to subscribe to the SNHParents RSS feed.

Read the article at SNHParents.

Or maybe I’ll just use Jott, another one of those “why didn’t I think of that” ideas. Just call an 800 number (ok, 877) from your cell phone and leave your reminder as a message. Because you’re making a regular voice call, Jott works with any cell phone, so you don’t need the latest “Superchocolate Slvr.” After you’ve left your message, Jott employees (yes, real people) transcribe your message and e-mail the transcription to you. Of course, since real people do the transcribing, the time it takes to receive your e-mails can vary (10-30 minutes so far) and you probably don’t want to use Jott for any top secret messages (”remember to hide the bodies”). You do have the option of disabling the transcription feature so Jott will simply e-mail a link to a recording of your original message. But why wouldn’t you just call your home answering machine instead?

If you’re still with me after learning about the human transcribers, I’m betting that you’re seeing how Jott can help you. Make a quick call and you’ll be able to remember to “bring extra clothes to daycare” or “find a babysitter for Saturday.” You can also specify that your messages go to other people, so you can send reminders to your spouse. The Jott website also offers tools for managing and searching your messages.

By now you’re probably wondering how much Jott costs, right? And the magic number is 0. Yes, other than the wireless minutes you use, Jott is free. Of course, I’m sure Jott has a plan for making money, perhaps with a monthly fee for extra services or by adding ads in the e-mails, but for right now it’s free. In fact, my only question about Jott is why the cell phone companies don’t offer a service like this?

Now that I’ve posted this, I have to find a babysitter for Saturday…

Now what does this mean for us as parents? Well, for me it confirms something that my wife and I have already seen: technology will be a huge part of our daughter’s life. She’s not quite eleven-months-old yet, but she’s already banging on the keyboard while Babysplat decorates the screen and plays sounds. And she’s been taking part in webcams with distant relatives pretty much since birth. And while these are fairly trivial examples, she’s not even one-year-old! I’m sure parents of older members of Generation We can share many other examples of how communication and interactive technologies play a role in their family life.

As parents we can take advantage of these technologies and use them to help us be better parents. Like anything we let into our home, they can have both positive and negative effects. It’s our job to help our children understand the difference. For example, when my daughter asks why the sky is blue, instead of stumbling through an explanation of light scattering through the atmosphere, I’ll be able to show her, complete with animations and video. Together we’ll be able to find additional information on related topics. Think I’m kidding? Try Googling “why is the sky blue.”

But will I turn her loose on the computer without supervision? No way! And what about TV? Am I going to hand her the remote so she can access 100+ channels of digital TV by herself? Again, not a chance. Of course, I’m sure there will be a day when my kids will know more about the devices in our home than I do, and perhaps are even able to get around the safeguards their parents put in place. I just hope on that day that our children understand what we expect of them and that we’ve given them the tools they need to make the right choices.

But on a positive note, our kids won’t argue over which show to watch during the critical 8:00–9:00 timeslot like her parents did. Instead, thanks to OnDemand and Tivo, we’re pretty much guaranteed to have something appropriate to watch when we want to watch some television together. Of course, she won’t know why her parents always talk about “taping” a show…

So here’s to Generation We!

[News.com]

The entire post is worth reading, but in short, Brian Krebs at the Washington Post reports that IE had known security issues for 284 days in 2006. That’s over 75% of last year! By comparison, Krebs reports that Firefox had just one nine day period (just over 2% of the year) during which the program had a known security flaw.

Ok, so 75% vs. 2%. That really puts things in perspective. To be fair to Microsoft, these flaws were in IE 6 and earlier versions and not the most recent version, IE 7, released in November and pushed out to everyone who has Windows XP. But still, how much faith would you put in a company with a product that was only secure 25% of last year? And it’s not a record Microsoft disputes according to Krebs, who writes that he shared the data with Microsoft and “the company raised no objections that would materially affect the results…” Makes you feel nice and secure, doesn’t it?

Look, if you use Microsoft Windows, IE is a fact of life because some things, like Windows Updates, require it. But that doesn’t mean you should use it for all your web browsing. So why not give Firefox a try? You can install and run it alongside IE without any problems. Firefox will even copy your bookmarks so you can continue to access all your favorite websites, making the switch as easy as possible. Heck, I’ll even give you the link:

Download Firefox

[Washington Post Security Fix Blog via Download Squad]

The online lessons are supplemented by printed materials which can be downloaded in PDF format, also for free. If you prefer, you can also order pre-printed materials through the Starfall online store, where you’ll also find additional printed materials which echo the lessons learned online. All in all, it looks like a great tool to help children discover reading.

[via Kevin Kelly Cool Tools]

Of course, in the years since I volunteered, filtering software has mproved, but it is not, and never will be, a replacement for being involved in your child’s online activities. However, I’ll admit that they can be part of an overall strategy. But I still believe that the best thing you can do is be aware of what your child is doing online. But what does that mean? Take a look at this list of ideas to help supervise your children online at Cool Cat Teacher Blog. A lot of the items are common sense, but it’s useful to have the list as a reminder.

I also recommend taking a look at NetSmartz.org, a website created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. And if your child is using MySpace, you might want to take a look at Decoding MySpace from the September 18, 2006 issue of USNews & World Report.

Have other ideas that you’d like to share? Post them in the comments section or to the SNHParents Kids and Computers message board.

[Cool Cat Teacher Blog via Lifehacker]

Now before you read any further, it’s only fair to point out that I haven’t tried Presto and this post isn’t about the system itself, just the concept. Of course if HP wants to send me a demo unit, I’ll be happy to try it out and share my experiences.

Presto consists of two parts: a $10/month (or $100/year) internet service and the $150 HP Printing Mailbox, basically a specialized HP printer. Simply connect the printer to your phone line and it automatically prints a copy of any messages sent to your Presto e-mail address. Now I know what you’re thinking: What about SPAM? Don’t worry, HP’s got you covered. The Printing Mailbox will only print messages from people you select (and free content from the Presto service if you chose).

Presto sounds like a good idea at first but it’s not one without problems, despite HP’s claim that it “eliminates the cost and hassle of a computer and Internet account.” Ok, where to begin. First let’s examine the cost. True $150 up front and $100-120/year doesn’t sound too bad. But look what that gets you: a printer. Want to reply to an e-mail you’ve received. Sorry, you’re out of luck: this is strictly one-way. All it does is print what others send you. And let’s not forget the ink: The HP Printing Mailbox uses “standard HP print cartridges.” Cha-ching! Those babies add up.

But what about the hassles of owning a computer? Things like spyware, viruses and system updates are problems for all users, not just the tech-challenged. Surely Presto wins there, right? Well, sort of. It’s unlikely that the printer will fall victim to spyware or viruses and I’m sure Presto will handle any updates automatically. But what happens when the printer runs out of ink. If you don’t want to deal with the hassles of owning a computer, are you likely to be comfortable replacing ink cartridges? And let’s not forget managing the account settings for things like adding an e-mail address to the approved list? No problem, that’s done on the Presto website. So just go there and…oh wait, you’ll need a computer to do that. But I’m sure you have someone you can call for help…maybe a relative? =)

Really, I think the one saving grace of Presto is sharing digital photos. But photos look best when printed on inkjet photo paper. No problem: just load the Printing Mailbox with photo paper when you’re ready to print a photo and…oh right, it prints everything sent to it. So you either print everything on expensive paper or deal with reduced quality on your photos. Ok, I guess I can’t think of a saving grace.

So Presto doesn’t appear to be that special. Honestly, if you can think of someone who might be able to use Presto, then you can probably also think of several reasons why they shouldn’t (if not, feel free to use some of mine). But as I mentioned above, there are other options.

First, it is possible to set up your relatives with an inexpensive computer for safe, basic internet use. For about $300 you can get a computer that not only does e-mail (send AND receive), but can also play audio and video. Add dial-up internet access for $10/month and you’re set. Yes, this will cost more than the HP Printing Mailbox, but it’s much, much more useful. Of course, this will take a bit of work on your part and you will probably be called upon for tech support.

Second, if you just want to send photos, there are Internet-enabled picture frames that automatically update their display from pictures sent to a specific account (yes, also with a monthly fee). This might be a good option for people who really, really don’t like computers.

Finally, there’s the tried-and-true way to share messages and pictures: just mail them. Sure it requires a bit more work on your part, but it’s probably safe to say that even the most tech-challenged relatives know how to use the mailbox.
[Presto via Gizmodo]

Babysplat displays colorful shapes and plays sounds with each key press. Yes, it’s that simple. But like most simple things, it just works. When this program is full-screen our daughter can bang away at the keyboard with abandon. The only key that appears to still cause trouble is the Windows key: pushing it shrinks Babysplat down to a normal window. This isn’t a problem on my pre-Windows 95 IBM “clackey” keyboard since it doesn’t have a Windows key, but it something to be aware of on modern keyboards. It’s not a big deal because a simple click on the “maximize button” returns it to full-screen, but I’d prefer if there was a key combination to control the window. Of course then our daughter would figure it out.

There’s a similar program, AlphaBaby available for Mac OS X. Unlike Babysplat’s simple geometric shapes, AlphaBaby speaks the letters as they are pressed and can be customized with your own sounds and pictures.

These aren’t the only programs available, but they’re small, simple and free. Yes, I know we could also solve the problem by not letting her play with the keyboard, but where’s the fun in that?

[Lifehacker]

However, I also believe that there are some video games that aren’t appropriate for children. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Video games are just like other forms of entertainment. I think we can all agree that there are movies, television shows, books and music that aren’t appropriate for children. Why the controversy over video games?

Although our daughter is not quite five-months-old, my wife and I already find ourselves looking differently at media of all types. And I know it’s going to be a challenge to limit her exposure to things we feel are inappropriate, particularly when she’s older. But you know what…that’s what parents do. It’s not the role of government to tell us how to raise our children. I may be jaded, but I believe the current congressional flap over violent video games is nothing more than pre-election posturing by candidates afraid to go on record with views on important topics. Parents already have resources available to help them that don’t require new laws. Could they be better? Sure. But broad, fear-inspired legislation is not what we need right now.

I cringe when the news shows parents complaining that their child shouldn’t have had access to violent video games. Often the parents speaking out are the ones who actually purchased the game for their child. And yet they still complain that it’s not their fault. I’m sorry, if you buy a game for your child, you ARE responsible. Now I do believe that children themselves should not be able to purchase games rated beyond their age. But this is no different than keeping children out of R-rated movies. Yes, not all theaters do it, but that’s an issue to address with the theater owners, not the movie industry. Similarly, if you feel that a store has sold an inappropriate game to your child, take it up with the manager. If you’re not satisfied with the response you get, take your money elsewhere. But do it yourself. This is not an issue we want politicians to legislate.

I mentioned earlier that there are resources available for parents. Below are some websites that feature information to help you make educated choices about video games. I’ll post these links to the Video Games Message Board and I encourage you to use them and share your experiences with other parents.

Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
The ESRB has created a system of six ratings for video games. Similar to movie ratings, these provide information on games and help consumers make informed choices about video games. These ratings appear on the cover of the game box. If your teenager ask for a game that’s rated M (Mature 17+) or AO (Adults Only), it’s up to you to take a look at it.

The ESRB system isn’t perfect, but it does provide a quick and easy indication of a game’s content when you’re in a store. I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the ESRB Game Ratings & Descriptor Guide.

But ESRB ratings don’t tell the whole story. I also recommend reading game reviews before the actual trip to the store. The two sites below make it easy to do this.

GamerDad
This site reviews video games from the point of view of parents. Games are given one of five seals, similar to the ESRB ratings. However, because these seals are based on actually playing the game (as opposed to simply watching videos as the ESRB does), these tend to be more accurate. Each review also includes a “Kid Factor” section that details elements that led to a game’s seal. Like the ESRB, Gamer Dad also includes a thorough explanation of their rating system.

Metacritic Game Reviews
Metacritic makes it easy to find out what reviewers thought of a game. The site provides links to individual reviews and, more importantly, an average of all the reviews linked. However, a good game isn’t necessarily good for children. Unlike GamerDad, the reviews on Metacritic don’t always look at games with a parent’s eyes. For that reason, I suggest using it only as a general guide to the quality of a game, not whether or not it’s appropriate for your children.

This looks like another good effort by Amazon to own online shopping. However, despite Amazon’s claim of carrying more toys and baby products than ever before, I didn’t see a difference in selection or inventory in my quick look (they still only have one color of the Bumbo seat we were looking for last month), but it will be interesting to see how this does. If anything, it’ll make holiday shopping that much easier.

Apparently I could learn a lot from the five-year-old in this video. As kids today say, “he’s got mad skillz.” (do they still say that?)

I look forward to the day when my daughter is old enough to play games like this, or the Sony EyeToy games, with her dad. Of course, as I get older, maybe one of those “old fashioned” video games that just use gamepads will be all I can handle.

Picasa Web Album features include:

• One-click uploading directly from Picasa
• Easy sharing of albums
• One-click downloading of friend’s shared albums
• 250MB of free storage (approximately 1000 photos) with the option to buy 6GB for $25/year

Picasa Web Albums are currently in public testing. All you need to take part is a free Gmail account. Learn more about Picasa Web Albums or support SNHParents by downloading the latest version of Picasa for free using the link on our Resources page.

[Google via Pocket-lint]

If you’re not really getting into your movies, despite the huge HDTV and 7.1 channel sound, you need the Armed Chair from Sybaris. Basically it’s an amusement park motion simulator in your living room that reacts to the plot of the movie your watching. And not just action titles. You know how easily you can be startled watching a good thriller? Yep, you guessed it: this chair can do that too, with effects “ranging from subtly detectable to extremely dynamic.” This baby is preprogrammed to move in response to almost 500 popular DVD movies. Of course, at a starting price of $12,000 (yes, you read that right) it’s probably more expensive than most home theater set-ups. Of course, Father’s Day is coming up, and I’m sure this chair would be the perfect setting for a late night feeding…

[Sybaris (via Gizmodo]

With the success of the Baby Einstein products like the DVD I played this morning, was there any doubt that someone would start an “all baby, all the time” channel?. Of course not. And now BabyFirstTV will be available to DirectTV customers for $10 a month (check channel 293 for a free preview until May 31st).

I think having access to age-appropriate content, whether on DVD or via something like BabyFirstTV, is a good thing. Of course, I’m not advocating parking your child in front of a TV all day–too much of anything isn’t good for children of any age. And I’ll admit I did have second thoughts about firing up the DVD this morning, but only for a second. The DVD wasn’t acting as a surrogate parent; it was just something on the TV while my daughter and I played.

Like the Baby Einstein products, BabyFirstTV is just another tool parents can use to help their children grow. And it’s up to us to make sure we use them properly.

[New York Times via daddytypes.com]

[CNN Headline News]

It’s definitely worth checking out. Now I know why our daughter likes white shirts.

[daddytypes.com]