This month’s Technology Section of pelinks4u will focus on reflecting and reviewing your year. I will discuss things you may want to update, a new search engine, and some new hardware for biofeedback.

Michael Dumin
Technology Section Editor

...Using Technology

REVIEWING THE YEAR

I think a good place to start reviewing and planning would be to go to the PELINKS4U archives and check out the last year in technology and other areas of interest. What is it that you meant to do or try, and then got to busy too get done? Now that you have time you can get these out.

The last 12 months of technology (2004) included:

If you have a web page, look it over to see if you have new or better pictures that can show off your program. If you have digital pictures put them into a scrap book, and see if you can use some to make stations, or skill rubrics that can explain what you want students to learn. Look at other peoples web sites and see how you might improve your pages.

Check your virus and Spyware protection software to make sure you have the most recent protection. You might Google your name to see if there is information about you on the web that should not be there. If information is available about you that is private, contact the website and see if you can have it removed.

Check out your hardware and see if it is time to upgrade, or replace your current system with a more powerful system. Are you ready to update to a notebook or tablet? Check the advantages of new cameras, printers, or storage medium. If you haven’t used your defragmenter recently run it. You may speed up your system enough that you don’t feel the need to upgrade.

Google has released a search engine for academic journals - Google scholar. You will get results that are from scholarly literature, such as peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports. Articles are reported based on which ones have been cited most often, and what others have used. This may provide you with a quicker way to find relevant materials. You can use the cited feature to fine more articles that are related to your topic.

Interesting new programs: The Journey to wild Divine is an biofeedback program that uses your mind to cause action in the game. The imagery is lush and inviting. The activities are influenced by Eastern thought, but most find it not to be overtly religious. If you need a way to distress, this might be it.

Biofeedback Computer Games - They offer you computer game trainers to prevent chronic stress and its consequences by means of biofeedback. By playing our games you learn the skills of relaxation. - source: site

Games Program for Multi-Speech and CSL provides a rich graphical environment for engaging biofeedback to help motivate and stimulate children in speech therapy.

Fighting For Survival: Go shout this news to your parents, partner or colleagues immediately: video games can be good for you. They can also be a useful, healing therapy in treating chronic conditions. The proof is in the sick kids that are getting better. Read the rest of this article.

Anti-Pedophiles
Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure
From Australia, "a fun educational resource that teaches children basic personal awareness and safety rules.

"This interactive CD ROM adventure is a safe, non-confronting and fun medium for adults to help children learn to keep safe. It teaches children how to recognise potentially dangerous situations, and gives advice on how to deal with them. A parent guide gives additional information." (quoted from the site)

Asthma Management
Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus (Health)
A side-scrolling adventure game that helps children and teens with asthma improve their asthma self-management.

Bronkie and Trakie are dinosaurs with asthma who must save their planet from deadly dust clouds. Players must keep Bronkie and Trakie in top form by measuring and monitoring peak flow (breath strength), taking medications as needed, following a sick-day plan, using an inhaler correctly, and avoiding asthma triggers (pollen, etc) shot through the air by Sneezers.

Cancer
Ben's Game
When nine-year-old Ben Duskin, now in remission from Leukemia, came to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he wanted to create a video game in which the hero battle cancer cells through several levels. Ben felt that the game would be helpful for kids like him who have cancer by providing a way to fight back and relieve some of the pain and stress involved with treatment.

Child Predators
Missing
A game for 11-14 year old children created by LiveWires Design in Canada, and distributed in the US by Web Wise Kids.

"The computer game, on two discs, tells the story of a teenager who meets a predator online and decides to run away from home. In Missing 1 the player takes the role of a police officer, examining the chat room conversations between Zack and his new "friend."

In Missing 2, the "friend" has taken Zack to San Diego. The player must track them before Zack disappears. Based on a true story, the game points out tactics predators use to win the trust of vulnerable children."

The game comes with a guide for parents and teachers, in both a family and a school kit.

Diagnosis
Mystery of the Rash Outbreak
An online medical detective game based on the Osmosis Jones movie, in which the player takes the role of a white blood cell.

Site also includes three arcade-style health games.

Divorce Recovery for Kids
Earthquake in Zipland
"A 'psychological edutainment product,' in the guise of a full, fun adventure game."

Designed to help kids with divorced or separated parents deal with the emotional issues which arise as a result of the separation.

From Zipland Interactive Ltd., in Israel.

HIV/AIDS
Interactive Nights Out
An interactive movie game. In it, the viewer chooses to be a male or a female who encounters situations - parties, sports, offers of sex, drugs, and alcohol. The viewer decides whether or not to have the beer, wear a condom, or accept a drug. Topics addressed include definition of HIV, transmittal, risk factors and preventative measures. - by Will Interactive