Today, Andy, an employee of Garden Valley (our internet provider) came over to fix our computer debacle. Apparently, the problem was that Garden Valley is in the middle of switching to a new type of internet service, so our wi fi modem had to have the IP address transferred from our main computer to the wi fi modem.
This would have been impossible if not for Andy.
Within 20 minutes, all of our computers were wireless and ready to roll. As I type this, I'm sitting on the couch. No longer does anyone have to hole themselves up in the office to work on the computer.
In fact, Casey has quite the little set up in his room now. Not only does he have his father's computer, which is hooked up to the internet. But got a long DSL cable from Andy to run from our modum to his xbox for what is called xbox Live, where the game system is connected to the internet. With the use of a head set and mic, he can play against other players from around the world. Apparently, a few months ago Casey and some of his buddies were playing Medal of Honor (or some war game like that) against some kids in Germany. When they were setting the game up and chit chatting, the German kids spoke fluent English. However, once the bullets began to fly, they began to speak in German, so Casey and his friends couldn't understand their commands.
Basically, if Casey had a bathroom and a mini refrigerator in his room, we'd never see him.
What a different world exists for kids today than what I grew up in even fifteen years ago.
Casey now has a very good friend in England. They converse daily through MSN, xbox Live, and Facebook.
The most a kid from 15 years ago could have hoped for was maybe a pen pal. But the world is much different now.
Thanks to the internet, kids will spend a good share of their lives in cyberspace. Scary and intriguing all at the same time. Now before those staunch parents out there lament over this, think about what your grandparents told your parents about the advent of TV. The same holds true for what your parents probably told you about video games. And we've all managed to do okay, right?
And it's only going to change more rapidly.
Yesterday, Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, unveiled their new iphone 2.0. Not only has the price been reduced by half ($250 - which is what I paid from y 30gb ipod three years ago), but it is now more powerful than ever. The iphone, for those who don't know, is basically an ipod (an mp3 music and video player), cell phone, and computer.
Now, though, the iphone 2.0 has the ability to download vast number of new programs. One gripe about the previous version was that it was not compatible with a lot of other programs. But apple now has allowed tech geeks and programmers free reign to devise neat programs for the iphone. They can register them and download them right to their phones. By the way, apple markets them and then makes the programs available to other users, so they make a pretty penny out of the deal.
One of the new programs devises for the iphone allows you to link your iphone with your home security system. So say you and your wife are out having dinner. If you are like us, you might wonder if the dogs are sleeping on your new couches. Using your iphone, you could access your home security system and control video surveillance camera to check on your pets (or what your kids are doing or what the babysitter is doing). You could also find out what the temp is in your house, what has been watched on TV or surfed on the internet or even what temperature your house is set at.
Amazing.
Of course, this technology has its dark side. I read an article on yahoo news two days ago about a judge sentencing some boys to upload an apology to youtube for their violent acts against a fast food worker. Apparently, the boys would order food through the drive thru. Then when they pulled up to the window and received their large drinks, they would yell "fire in the hole!" and hurl the drinks back at the unsuspecting worker(s). All the while one of their buddies filmed the event. Then the boys decided to publish it on youtube (and this isn't an isolated incident, there have been several instances of teens filming violent acts and then publishing them on youtube).
Luckily, the girl who happened to have the drinks hurled at her, saw that the video was on youtube. Somehow she managed to trace the video back to the boy's Facebook page. Then, using a false identity, she befriended them and got them to admit what they did. She called one of the boy's mothers, who gave her the names of all the boys involved. Then she contacted the police and pressed charges.
The judge decided to make their punishment fit the crime, so he sentenced them to have to film an apology and upload it to youtube. Apparently, the apology shows the boys being arrested (face down on the cop car), in court, and apologizing for their actions.
Of course, this has me wondering what kinds of technology Kenzie will have available to her in 15 years.
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