Internet Express Makes Whistle-Stop
A latter-day version of the circus train, a sort of Internet express, rolled through Los Angeles this month, replete with press hoopla and a big-top-style extravaganza at the L.A. Convention Center.
The most enthusiastic promoters on these information-highway bandwagons were Vice President Al Gore, Gail Wilson (wife of Gov. Wilson) and Van Nuys software entrepreneur Jay Alan Samit, who has become a sort of ringmaster for computer-literacy efforts.
Gore, who appeared at the Biltmore last Thursday via electronic hookup, thanked Samit for organizing the National Education Technology Initiative. Money from the fund-raising campaign--from computer executives and companies--will buy computers for schools. The goal, as Gore put it, is “a computer for all our children.”
Samit, president of Jasmine Multimedia Publishing, based in the San Fernando Valley since 1981, serves as volunteer national director of the fund-raising effort. The Biltmore event was timed to coincide with E-3, the major software trade show that drew 50,000 people to the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Gail Wilson promoted another computer-and-kids effort Tuesday at the Century Plaza Hotel, the first of six such events she’s hosting around the state. Coordinated statewide by the Detwiler Foundation, the idea is to get businesses that are installing new computers to donate their old machines to schools. The Detwiler Foundation has the computers refurbished and provides free maintenance for a year.
As is the case surrounding every circus, not everyone approves of everything on display--and we’re not talking about Little Egypt’s Dance Show. Today there is concern--rather more serious--about the kind of material children might encounter when they surf the Internet.
Among the new offerings this season are programs that sort out Internet offerings by age-appropriateness and according to individual family values. On-line and software companies have developed several types of protection to aid parents in controlling what their kids get their eyes on.
One product is a $29 software program parents can load on their home computers that will, in one fell swoop, block out unwanted material from the Internet and also limit the amount of time and charges kids rack up. The product combines the Surf Watch program, which has been out for a few months, with the new Time’s Up program.
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Internet service providers, too, have started to provide information on how to protect kids from undesirable material. Soon, parents and teachers will be able to download various filtering programs specifically suited for educational and family values. Project OPEN--which stands for Online Public Education Network--now provides a hotline with information on how to do this.
Also, each of the major Internet providers--AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe, MSN and Netscape--announced new family-oriented and educational programming at the recent E-3 convention.
On the brighter side--and more in keeping with the spirit of what Gore, Gail Wilson and Samit are promoting--is the availability of new Internet sites such as the visually luscious National Geographic Online, which was announced at the convention. According to National Geographic spokeswoman Joanne Held at the company’s Studio City facility, the World Wide Web page will become available June 20.
F.Y.I.
* The National Education Technology Initiative raises funds for school purchases of computers and software. Call (818) 780-3344.
* Project OPEN--the Online Public Education Network--provides information about programming and advice for families and schools connected to the Internet. Call (800) 466-OPEN or https://www.isa.net/project-open.
* The Detwiler Foundation arranges for corporate donations of used computer equipment to schools. Call (619) 456-9045.
* National Geographic Online premieres June 20 at https://www.nationalgeographic.com.
