The future of computers in our homes and schools

29
(c) David Strom Inc. 1999 1 The future of computers in our homes and schools David Strom (revised 4/13) [email protected] Port parent, author, Internet consultant

description

The future of computers in our homes and schools. David Strom (revised 4/13) [email protected] Port parent, author, Internet consultant. Who am I?. Port parent, Daly 4th grader Co-chair Citizens Technology Cmte (‘94) Consultant to many computer companies - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of The future of computers in our homes and schools

Page 1: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

1

The future of computers in our homes and schools

David Strom (revised 4/13)

[email protected]

Port parent, author,

Internet consultant

Page 2: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

2

Who am I?

• Port parent, Daly 4th grader

• Co-chair Citizens Technology Cmte (‘94)

• Consultant to many computer companies

• Write frequently on Internet and networking topics (former magazine editor-in-chief)

• Test lots of cool new stuff

Page 3: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

3

Agenda

• Some predictions for the future

• State of our -- and other -- schools

• Everyone has a web site these days

• Going beyond AOL for home access

• What does this all mean for the average parent

Page 4: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

4

My vision for 2002

• Laptops for kids

• Internet access everywhere: homes, classrooms, coffee bars, stores, hotels

• Everyone is their own publisher

• Multiple email addresses for everyone

• Portable wireless contact devices: super-pagers

Page 5: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

5

One no-brainer: PCs get [still] cheaper!

• Dell, HP for $999

• eMachines for $399!

• How low can they go?

Page 6: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

6

Key applications to watch

• Music and home audio/theater

• Wireless gizmos

• Email and the web intersections

Page 7: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

7

The next frontier: Music

• Goal: one set of speakers to play everything

• CDs

• MP3s

• DVD, Nintendo TV

• PC games

Page 8: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

8

Where is wireless going?

• Metricom looking to expand to LI (Internet access)

• Now have six different cell systems to choose from

• Two-way pagers are just becoming popular

• Wireless Palm Pilots

Page 9: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

9

Wireless obstacles

• Can’t build [enough] towers

• Still slower than wired connections

• Too many things to manage and integrate

• Too expensive

• Batteries never last long enough

Page 10: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

10

Look ma, no laptop!

• Haven’t owned one in years

• Use cybercafes, libraries for Internet access

• Everything I need is on the Internet now

Page 11: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

11

What about email and the web?

• Set up various services using web forms

• Then send notifications via email

• Useful for network-based storage, calendars, document distribution

Page 12: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

12

Examples of email/web applications

• eGroups.com mailing and discussion groups

• my.yahoo.com calendar and stock quotes

• Amazon.com new book notification

Page 13: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

13

Future computers

• Lighter, faster, cheaper

• Oodles of memory and disk

• Remember the typical PC 5 years ago (486/50 w/ 4/300 MB) ?

• Home networks won’t be easy -- STILL!

Page 14: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

14

State of Port schools technology

• 3 PCs/classroom K thru 5

• Labs, Internet access in all school buildings

• Weber to be wired + 1 PC/core classroom this summer

Page 15: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

15

The future of our schools’ technology

• Five years for universal gr. 3-12 laptops

• Two years for well-integrated curriculum

• Two years for >90% teaching training

Page 16: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

16

School technology report card

• Training the teachers: B

• Improving the infrastructure: B-

• Computer curriculum: B-

Page 17: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

17

How do we stack up?

• Neighboring communities

• Neighboring colleges

• Rest of the world

Page 18: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

18

Examples

• CAD lab at HS with NY Tech’s lab

• Manhasset

• Hilton Head High

• Intel’s Lesson Plans on the web

• Georgia “Write an Engineer” site

• Oregon State’s Virtual Student Desktop

Page 19: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

19

Port Schools web site

• Portnet: www.portnet.k12.ny.us

• School closing notification

• School newspapers, student web pages

• Class field trip pix

• Board of Ed. meeting agendas

• Contact info, calendars, etc.

Page 20: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

20

Port Washington web sampler

• Library (pwpl.org)• Fire department (pwfd.com)• Town of North Hempstead (northhempstead.com)• Village of Sands Point (sandspoint.org) etc.• Business Improvement Dist. (portwashington.org)• Soccer Club (pwsoccer.com)• Many, many others (including strom.com!)

Page 21: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

21

Typical home Internet situation today

• AOL with 33 Kbps dial-up modem

• a few multi-PC homes, non-networked

• Biggest uses: Chat, email, word processing

Page 22: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

22

What’s changing?

• Continuous Internet access

• Networks in the homes

• Applications moving towards the web

Page 23: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

23

Beyond AOL for home Internet access

• DSL (ISP + Bell Atlantic)

• CableVision

• ISDN

Page 24: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

24

Advantages for high-speed access

• Always-on connections

• Free up phones for voice calls

• Avoid connection busy signals

Page 25: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

25

The Internet is always on in my house

• Wife and child now use it daily (28 MM active users in a third US homes?)

• Search movie times in local theaters

• Calendar on Yahoo

• AOL buddy lists always available

Page 26: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

26

The notion of information on-demand

• Search online encyclopedias (Comptons)

• Download software when we need it (Shareware.com)

• Download music when we want to listen to it (Mp3.com)

• Download books when we want to read them (ToExcel, Xlibris)

Page 27: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

27

Implications

• Newspapers and TV become less important

• Networks become more compelling

• Finding stuff via the web is still too hard

• Buying stuff via the web is sometimes too much of an impulse

• New applications for web use (taxes, shopping)

Page 28: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

28

So what’s the average parent to do?

• Make sure you don’t over or under buy technology

• Consider continuous access soon

• Understand and monitor your child’s computer use

• Take a course, pick an application (email) to get started

• Surf with care: misinformation (Tunisia), hate sites, and porn

Page 29: The future of computers in our homes and schools

(c) David Strom Inc. 1999

29

Questions?

Copies of this presentation, along with links to the sites mentioned, are available at: www.portnet.k12.ny.us/techconference