FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY HOUR
ON KNTR’S SPEAK OUT
ON KNTR’S SPEAK OUT
By Nello Ruscitti, Frontier Communications
It is hard to believe but it’s back to school time! On this month’s Frontier Technology Hour on KNTR’s Speak Out, I shared with host Paul Lavoie various ways to help jump start your kids’ brains and get them back up to peak performance. Many websites offer educational games, activities and fun that allow your kids to have a blast while learning, and will get them up to speed before school starts. These sites are a great way to motivate your kids and even bond with them through shared laughter and learning. One site (school.discoveryeducation.com) even has a “Motivation Station” with creative and useful ideas for motivating your kids, and helpful tips on issues such as fitting in, teamwork, sibling rivalry and more. Just as an athlete has to get into shape for the sports season, kids have to be in shape to take on the challenges of a new school year.
These are some I like:
· FunBrain.com
· PlayKidsGames.com
· school.discoveryeducation.com
· 4teachers.org (classroom planning resource for teachers
Boater safety is something that is part of everyday life here in Lake Havasu, whee we're able to be on the lake year-round. Statistics show that educated boaters are 70 percent less likely to be involved in a boting accident. It used to be that boaters would have to take boater safety classes in a classroom. Now, I have no desire to go back to school (as I'm sure many of you don't either) so it's a good thing the Arizona Game and Fish Department now offers boater safety classes and safety certification on its website. Their website also allows for online watercraft registrations, which is a big time-saver. Go to www.azgfd.com or call 623-236-7235.
In terms of boating safety and applied technology, there’s a product I love called AutoTether. These are small wireless sensors worn by passengers and the captain. If someone wearing the sensor goes overboard, the motor shuts off within 1.5 seconds and an alarm sounds. It uses radio frequency technology to connect directly to the engine’s ignition kill switch! There have been some unfortunate incidents on the lake this summer where this technology could have come in handy. Another essential I never go on the water without is a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). They operate on the global search and rescue satellite communication system. These GPS devices are working faster than ever before, so users can rest assured a call for help will be acted upon quickly. Safe boating is fun boating.
Although being out on the lake is a great escape, there is often a need to keep in touch with the rest of the world. Of course, people usually don’t take computers on their boat, but with the rise of smart phones and PDAs, all it takes is a wireless connection to stay connected. You may not know that Frontier has installed our High-Speed Internet throughout the channel! And, if you’re surfing the web while on the water, there’s a good chance you’ll be on one of the ever-popular social networks, Facebook or Twitter. In fact, Nielsen recently released a report that found Americans spend 23 percent of their online time using a social networking site, which is up almost 16 percent from a year ago! The trend seems to be that people are replacing e-mail with social media, as the average American spends just 8.3 percent of their online time emailing – that’s down almost 30 percent from a year ago. Some innovative companies are harnessing the power of social media to streamline their inter-company communications by setting up private Facebook groups to communicate messages to all employees. They’re also using the power of these sites to share items such as company party photos and other fun items. As companies begin to develop their own internal social media networks, I think we’ll see the development of mobile applications for these networks, thus making it easier for employees to quickly and effectively communicate on the go. I’m going to keep watching this closely!
There is some exciting news in Needles, right across the river. A new renovation show called “School Pride” has apparently taken an interest in Needles High School. Word has it that the school will be completely renovated during a four-day mass build in August. We’re very excited for the crew to be coming to a community that Frontier serves, and even more excited for Frontier to join in the cause! I can’t wait for the ribbon cutting and unveiling on August 17th.
We will chat more on the next Frontier Technology Hour, scheduled for September 8. Until then, enjoy technology and enjoy listening to KNTR.
Nello Ruscitti’s Technology Segment
Second Wednesday of every month
Noon to 1p.m. on KNTR’s Speak Out.
Second Wednesday of every month
Noon to 1p.m. on KNTR’s Speak Out.
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