Another Google feature

I just got an e-mail about another feature that Google has added to their tool bag. Google Mail has responded to a problem that confronts many of their users ... sending that email when you aren't quite fully awake (or sober). An optional feature has been added that requires the user to complete a math problem before they can send an email during late hours. Check out this new feature at: wired.com

What is google up to?

Just doing some surfing tonight as I was listening to the radio, and came across this new project from Google for a new search engine. Check out this website.

Expanding our globe right in our own home

If you are looking for a way to expand your world, take a look at this website AFS . AFS is a wonderful exchange program that allows high school age children to experience living life in the home of a family from a different country. We currently have a student from Finland living in our home. It is amazing how small the world is becoming with the use of technology.

When AFS started 90 years ago, children that came to live in host families in the US had very limited contact with their birth families. Those children looked to their host families for everything because they were the people that would be able to assist them in meeting their needs. This year, our student has an e-mail account, a facebook page,Skye and a cell phone to name a few of his "connected toys". He can literally talk to someone from back home every day if he chooses.

I see technology having a huge impact on the experience of these kids, both positive and negative. They may not be as homesick due to the readily avaiable communication - yet it can get in the way of their "bonding" as quickly with the host family. Children will sometimes turn to their birth family to help them through their struggles in the host family community when it may be more effective to ask thier host parents.

We have grown as a family already and look toward seeing how technology will impact us as our student settles in and than when he leaves..... what I do know is that he is making friends and taking up valuable computer time for the rest of us!

Decoding text messages

A source that I found to have more abbreviations than I will ever use is decoding messages

Texting

The other thing that I have been giving more thought is text messaging. We have a high school exchange student staying with us this year and at times I think he and I are on the same page with texting.
My kids fairly fly over the keys as they text their friends. I have now finally learned how to use the T9 feature on my cellphone which makes the technique much easier but it does not help me with what the abbreviations stand for.
Our exchange student has the same issues. He is asking one of my children what kids are saying to him in the text messages. I came across a site that listed several tips for "decoding text messages" that I have decided to use. I also found some programs that I can text my kids phones from the computer for free! I am liking that...much easier to use the computer keyboard with bifocals than my tiny little cellphone keypad!

An amazing feature

Ok, I was just "wondering" around in the new Office 2007 Microsoft word that I had installed last weekend. I found this amazing feature where you can click on a new document, create it and have it published on your blog. Wow, so exciting.

I see this making the idea of blogging to be even more user friendly for me. I am still getting into the habit of thinking about things that I want to blog about. I find myself thinking of it when I am doing something else so now I can be working on something and if I have an idea, all I have to do is click on this feature, type my thoughts and it posts on my blog.

Man, technology is so COOL!!

I am testing this out from my new office 2007. I found this feature.