Give us a child until the age of seven and we will have it for life." From personal experience I can tell you the Jesuits are not always right about that; but clearly Microsoft, Research Machines and other computer companies are convinced. Capitalising on the heightened interest in the internet, fierce competition is developing in the schools market. Freebies galore are on offer. For the companies this is a good marketing strategy because it puts them in touch with the next generation of users and the current generation of parents. The educational benefits are undeniable, and the web browser or other software the child uses at school will become the obvious choice at home-then maybe at mummy's office as well.
But there are snags. An awful lot of the existing hardware in schools cannot run web browser software. This means that a lot of money needs to be spent acquiring machines which are up to the task. (Upgrading the existing stock is often not a viable option.) The costs of the telephone calls can be minimised thanks to a brilliant new scheme from BT called Campusworld, or by getting a good deal from the local cable company. But this still leaves the biggest problem of all. In most schools today, the PC is not a tool that a pupil can use as and when needed. With an average of 30 children per class, a child's access is limited to one hour per fortnight. Kids with computers at home are bound to get a considerable advantage. We need, if not one PC per student, at least something close to that.
A recent Financial Times report noted (apparently approvingly) that Nottingham University had 4,000 computers at the disposal of its 12,000-strong student body. The report claimed every student could have access to eight hours per day on a PC. Well, yes-but only if one third of the student body volunteers to do all its work between, say, 11pm and 7am, and another third agree to clock on at 7am sharp and stay there until 3pm before making way for the late shift. Things have changed since I left university, but surely not that much.
@
sad anoraks of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your telephone bills. It's official. IAD has arrived: internet addiction syndrome. But do not despair, help is also at hand-on the internet of course. The Sunday Times covered the story but gave the wrong address. Your intrepid reporter got you the right one. Go to http://www.cici.com/~ehresman/jokes/ianon.html (rather a worrying title that, but it seems to be genuine) and there you will be given instructions for joining Ivan Goldberg's on-line therapy group.
In seeking after truth for Prospect readers, I meandered through various highways and byways of cybertherapy. There's an awful lot. One therapist who resides in Mountain View, California, even provides a charming, reassuringly homely photograph of herself, together with a helpful synopsis of the sorts of psychodisorders she trades in. Nancy Wesson, PhD, also does IAS. Check her out at http://www.wespsych.com/interadd.html. And remember, if you sign-up for anything, let me know, as I'm sure I ought to get a commission of some sort.
@
a friend recently rang in a state of high excitement. He had received a letter from Nigeria asking if he would help move $30m to the UK. His reward was going to be 30 per cent of the total-a truly lotteryesque figure. I tried various soothing encomiums (don't be a jerk, it's got to be crooked), but the sheer volume of official-looking paper he kept receiving daily, and the telephone calls-ostensibly from bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Inland Revenue-convinced him that I was simply being a boring old pessimist. When he began telling me that he was getting a visa for Nigeria I became truly alarmed. As ever in times of crisis, I turned to the net. I punched "Nigeria" into a search engine.
Reykjavik may not spring to mind as a world centre for combating international fraud, but take a look at http://www.islandia.is/ ~njall/nig/nigeria.html. There you will find a fine collection of "Nigerian scam" letters and associated information. I downloaded several examples, printed them off and sent them to my now embarrassed friend. The Reykjavik site is run by an organisation called International Investigation Services-seemingly volunteers who work for "out of pocket expenses" and are looking for a sponsor. Perhaps the banks ought to step in. Judging by the continuing stream of stories they are being singularly unsuccessful in heading off threats by computer-literate criminals who convince them that they can invade and crash their systems, doing untold damage. How soon before a new card is introduced to Monopoly? "Cyber Terror in your favour. Collect ?400m?"
@
so farewell then Timothy Leary. I saw your latest health bulletin on http://www.leary.com:8081/health.html. It read "Pulse=0; blood pressure=0/0; but Tim says he's feeling great." I wondered how to make poetry out of it. I gave up. Don't forget to e-mail me to let me know how your last great trip went. We're all curious. If Jimi, Janis or John have heavenly web sites anywhere, knock three times. n
John Carr
