Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Online education

As some of you fantastic people may know, I sort of got a new job...it is in the works but my name is going up on their web site so hopefully a paycheck will follow soon after :). They are raising funds so if any of you have about $500K to throw our way, give me a shout!

The company is called ScreenRetriever (www.screenretriever.com) and the basis of their technology is to help parents teach their kids responsible online behavior. I was really excited by the technology - as a product person at heart - but even more excited by their commitment to HELP and not just preach.

Sure, companies run off of revenue but this small group (you have more fingers than we have employees) is focused on spreading the word that kids need guidance online just as they do offline.

Think about it this way - as your kids gain independence you let them do things like play out in the yard by themselves, right? But all parents know that those first few days, weeks, months, years you still find yourself peeking out the window to make sure they are safe. The Internet is a billion times more crowded than your backyard so how could you just let them "go out to play" there without instilling some rules and guidelines - and we're not talking blocking sites you think are bad, or limiting them to 1 hour a day on the computer - I'm talking real guidelines - the kind you give them about interacting with others face to face in the playground or at school. Take for example:

  • Don't say things wouldn't want to be said to you - cyberbullying

  • Don't talk to strangers - online predators, cyberstalking

  • Let me know if someone touches you the wrong way - sexting

  • Pay attention in class and don't talk when the teacher is talking - online time management

  • Treat people with respect - online reputation


  • It is easy to transfer offline knowledge to online knowledge - its harder to play catch up when things get out of hand.  Technology IS NOT GOING AWAY.  Get educated. And stay tuned, I hope to share more of what I'm learning with you.

    1 comment:

    Nancy S. said...

    Congratulations on this new highly worthwhile adventure! I look forward to hearing updates and following your progress. I'm thinking that all of the media attention (not to mention Ellen Degeneres' attention) being paid to cyber-bullying right now makes for a good atmosphere in which to find funding for this. Good luck!