Hey computer geeks....

[reefcam]

ok, I have to post this here. Here's my next article on MSDN - Microsoft Developer's Network. For those of you who are programmers or just curious on how to write an Instant Messaging application, here you go:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...l-timecomm.asp

Be kind on the rating, I'm a fellow reefer too. :dancing:

[ShirleyM]

WOW! I don't understand code, and can't do any of that, but I'm always impressed with those who can! (used to work K-12 Outreach for Dept of CS at PU and made many "code friends")

Awesome!

[reefcam]

Very cool Shirley. It's just plain ol' english. Speaking of education, my next article is kind of in-line with the current one. My next article will discuss the aspects of using Instant Messaging applications to use as a Distance Learning tool. With the decline of education funding, schools are being closed around Oregon. So the thought is to make available for parents who want to home school their kids to have material that will help them.

The concept can also be extended to enable class rooms across the nation to participate with each other. The concept is not new, but mainly taking an old idea and putting a new spin to this, but also make it an interactive education with the use of computers.

So where will schools get computers. Hopefully from companies who have no use for their old computers. I know Intel donates all our old computers (old meaning Pentium III and older Pentium 4 models) to schools each year. I also volunteer my time at schools to help get them some funding. Intel will match the hours we put into volunteering at schools.

[ShirleyM]

Cool!
I homeschooled my sons until they entered 2nd and 4th grades. I also provided tech support and instruction for teachers in a K-5 system for 4 yrs after my position with Purdue as K-12 Outreach Coordinator for the state. I can tell you now that even if you GIVE the schools all the h/w and s/w, they won't have a clue, sadly, how to connect it, keep it running, or use many of the s/w applications. Our school system has state of the art technology, but uses only a small %-age of the capabilities. Our tech coordinator was afraid to try anything new after Win '95 came out. He finally allowed upgrading to Win '98, but won't allow teachers to install or use IM. go figure. I no longer work there.

The teachers at Noblesville schools are much more savvy about technology, but have less of it to use. Still far from proficient.

I could go on.....very frustrating....

Shirley

[reefcam]

I understand your frustration. Being on the front-line and seeing new products come out, I can't say that it's going to be easy over night or in the next year or two, but efforts are under way to make life easier to setup what users used to consider difficult (i.e. setting up a printer or even home network). It still won't be easy as turning on your blender, but slowly. I still can't figure out how to use our new washer. My wife just laughs at me when it comes time to doing the laundry. Our old washer was easier. Dump clothes, put in detergent, push a button. Now it ask me how much detergent it should use and clean I want my clothes.

[ShirleyM]

Some people (teachers) learned and used the new technology very quickly, and some of these were the older ones, and others just wouldn't have a thing to do with it. Age and Male/Female didn't seem to be a factor at all. It was individual...some had a big wall up, others didn't.

I'm glad s/w is being written so things are way easier for new people than they used to be.

Now, how do we get the various AV programs to self-install, run 24/7, and scan incoming and outgoing email? I run into MORE people who say "but my computer came with xyz antivirus program. I CAN'T have a virus." (Well, it's not running!)....SO frustrating!

Shirley