Back to School Supplies
ROSE Blog: Rikki's Open Source Exchange
It's been a quiet week on my blog, in part because it's that time of year again – the kids go back to school, and the parents do a lot of last-minute shopping and organizing.
On my way to work this morning, I dropped my daughter off for her first day of Junior High. Yep, they really do grow up so fast.
At her new school, the kids each get 9 weeks of computer classes. I'm still not sure what the curriculum will be, but I think some simple web design is part of it. Although 9 weeks a year might not sound like much computer training, it's 9 weeks more than she got at her previous school, so it's a start.
I can't help but wonder how much technology will change before Cleo graduates high school in 2014 and starts college.
The New York Times recently ran an article about some universities giving iPhones and Internet-capable iPods to incoming students. The article says:
"The always-on Internet devices raise some novel possibilities, like tracking where students congregate. With far less controversy, colleges could send messages about canceled classes, delayed buses, campus crises or just the cafeteria menu."
Of course the students will be delighted, Professors will be irritated by yet another distraction, and Apple will be capturing new consumers. I'm just jealous.
Here's the part where I start to sound a little bit like my Grandpa and his "when I was your age" stories:
When I graduated from high school, my father gave me my first electric typewriter. I felt so modern.
When I graduated from college, my father gave me my first computer. The Internet was still pretty novel then, and I only wrote one paper – my final semester – in the computer lab. I churned out every other paper on my trusty electric typewriter with a bottle of whiteout nearby.
When I started grad school, I was thrilled to enroll in classes online rather than on the phone or, even worse, standing in line to turn in my enrollment paperwork in person. When I bought my books, I treated myself to my first iPod and I swear they released the video iPods two weeks later. So when I graduated from grad school, I treated myself to my iPod Nano.
No doubt, iPods will be replaced by some other sexy, shiny gadget by the time Cleo heads off to college, and she'll need to buy an adapter for her new technology to work in my hand-me-down car. And when she grumbles about my out-of-date car with its obsolete CD player, I'm going to feel a little bit like my Grandpa again – my first car, believe it or not, only played 8-tracks.
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Lite 7.0 Officially Released
Based on Ubuntu 24.04 and kernel 6.8, Linux Lite version 7 now offers more options than ever.
-
KaOS Linux 2024.05 Adds Bcachfs Support and More
With updates all around, KaOS Linux now includes support for the bcachefs file system.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils New Iteration of the Stellaris Laptop Line
The Stellaris Slim 15 is the 6th generation and includes either an AMD or Intel CPU
-
KDE Releases Plasma 6.0.5
The latest release of the Plasma desktop has arrived with several improvements and the usual bug fixes.
-
Gnome OS Adopting systemd-sysupdate
Gnome OS is about to undergo a major under-the-hood change that promises enhanced security.
-
Endless OS 6 Now Available
After more than a year since the last update, the latest release of Endless OS is now available for general usage.
-
Fedora Asahi 40 Remix Available for Macs with Apple Silicon
If you've been anticipating KDE's Plasma 6 for your Apple Silicon-powered Mac, then you're in luck.
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.