Digital Devices

A greater share of back-to-school spending is expected to go toward electronics, as parents outfit kids with tablets, e-readers, cellphones and wearable gadgets and sign them up for e-learning program subscriptions to keep them from falling behind after last year's disruptions. Families are on track to spend $37.1 billion on back-to-school, up 9.4% from last year, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

University of Arizona researchers can test saliva samples for COVID-19 using microscopes linked to smartphones. The scientists hope to train others to conduct the 10-minute tests once they get approval from a review board at the university. There really may be an app for that!

While the article 5 Ways to Remotely Support Students with Dyslexia is written with teachers in mind, it can also be helpful to parents of dyslexic children. Particularly helpful in the article is a section on how to help students who are struggling to speak up – sometimes a very hard thing to do online.

Many school districts across the country don't have formal on-or-off camera policies for remote students due to issues such as bullying concerns, mental health issues and background distractions (like one Mom who flashed her child’s class by accident). Some teachers ask students to display a photo of themselves, and others say they only ask students to show their work, so the focus remains on academics. It can be hard on teachers, though, looking at a sea of black boxes.

Can artificial intelligence help children participate with, and not just consume, media? And can AI conversations between online digital hosts and kids make shows more educational, especially for those kids least likely to have a grown-up watching with them? That’s what experts at the Digital Learning Lab and PBS hope to find out—with help from the animated bunny who hosts, on digital devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones, an experimental PBS program called "Elinor Wonders Why." The science themed program uses artificial intelligence to tailor the rabbit's responses to what children reply to the character’s questions and, so far in the study, this verbal exchange seems to improve learning. Researchers say, the AI capabilities -- similar to virtual assistants such as Alexa and Siri -- have helped children learn, improve engagement and provided other benefits.

Children that had reported high touchscreen technology use were quicker to look at objects when they appeared, and were less able to ignore distractions compared with those who were considered to be low users, researchers reported in Scientific Reports. The findings were based on data involving 38 children. "The first few years of life are critical for children to learn how to control their attention and ignore distraction, early skills that are known to be important for later academic achievement," said Smith, a professor at the University of London's Birkbeck's Center for Brain and Cognitive Development.

Education-technology experts expect President Joe Biden's administration to prioritize expanding Internet access for students -- many who continue to learn at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. Biden already has signaled his commitment via an executive order to increase connectivity for students and by appointing an acting Federal Communications Commission commissioner, who has advocated for the issue and the expansion of E-rate.

You probably have thought about this before, and even more so since the pandemic, but what are some things you can do to get a conversation about screen time with your kids started, and more importantly, keep it going? Many of us are familiar with the negative effects of excessive screen time, from sleep problems to behavioral issues. But it’s not all bad; some experts say that with moderation, active screen time use comes with benefits such as increasing children’s creativity and imagination and improving motor, coordination, and communication skills. So how do you find that balance?

First, kids and parents need to remember that not all screen time content is created equally. You need to ask yourself, why are they in front of the screen? Is it for education or entertainment? Does it encourage your child or student to create or consume? Will it require them to socialize with others? There is no one type of content that is good for your children. Sometimes pure entertainment is a good thing, but that is not the only kind of content you want you kids to consume. You also need to know what you kids are playing, what apps they are using, and what kind of content creators they are manipulating. Use the tools and apps they are using, and start the conversation by talking about them.

Of course, you probably will need a plan for screen time limits and there are plenty of tools out there to do just that. But remember to monitor your plan depending on how they react to the guidelines. For example, how might they react when you ask them to turn off their device or unplug after 30 minutes of screen time? What about after two hours of screen time? Do the answers change depending on what type of content they are engaging with? Consider the answers to these questions as you assess your family plan.

Finally, model the behavior you want to see from your kids when it comes to technology. Think about the bad tech habits you have fallen into. Are you glued to your computer, tablet or phone screen more than nine hours a day? Do you act like it is ok for you to talk on the phone when at meals or in the car? Whatever it is, remember that your child will copy your behavior. Be mindful of your habits and set a good example next time you pick up your device.

Lastly, remember that the conversations with your child about digital device usage is also crucial to striking a balance. Prioritize time before and after your child is on their device to discuss what they plan on doing on it and what they just finished doing. Other points to talk about include how screen time might differ from at-home or personal screen time, as well as how excessive use can impact how they or their friends behave or interact with each other.

Google is trying to cut down the time mobile users need to view and understand its search results. Modifications include changes to the search page's layout, colors and placement of white space, as well as a more consistent use of the specialized Sans font that has become Google's signature. Basically, it is a more purposeful use of typeface and color to help you find what you are looking for quickly.

Almost everyone agrees that more control is needed on how our private data is used, and a new California law may lead the way. When it comes to apps, up until now our choice has been to either use the app and trust that the vaguely worded privacy agreement really does (fingers crossed) protect our data, or not use the app at all. Of course, there are numerous examples of how that trust has been broken time after time. Now a California law is taking aim at controlling personal data use by companies. Under the law, state residents — and in some cases, all Americans — can demand that large companies show people what data they have about you and with whom they’ve shared it. People will also have the right to request the companies delete and not “sell” the data they have about you.

It is not perfect and it can be a bit complicated. People must go to each company that might have their data in order to delete or restrict what it can do with it. But the California law also envisions the possibility of “authorized agents” that would exercise data rights on our behalf. Instead of you filling out 100 forms to ask 100 companies to delete your data, you would pick a privacy assistant to do it for you. Consumer Reports last month started offering privacy assistant services as a test project.

Interestingly enough, the privacy assistant might just be a web browser where you check a box once and each site you visit then gets an automated notice to prohibit the personal information collected there from being shared or sold. Think of it as a version of the telemarketer “Do Not Call” list. More details about this prospect will emerge as it gets tested and developed.