Tech No Phobia - Episode 1.9
Tech No Phobia airs on 
every Tuesday at
5:30pm MST and repeats on Saturdays at 4:00pm MST.
- Quick-Tip: Ctrl-Mouse wheel to change web site fonts
- Internet Filtering Software
- Computer Telephony
- Super Geek Tip: How to tell if something was recently installed
- Privacy Bird
- D-link's Wi-Fi web cam
Resources
Quick-Tip: Use Ctrl-Mouse wheel to change web site fonts
On web sites that have not locked down their font size, you can change it by clicking on the View option in Internet Explorer, then on the Text Size option and select the desired change.
But, if you have one of the newer pointing devices that has a scroll wheel on it, you can simply hold down the Ctrl key then turn the wheel to change the fonts!
Parental Control Software
One of the biggest concerns facing parents today is how to manage access to the Internet for their kids without exposing them to objectionable material.
We always start by encouraging parents to have frank discussions with their kids and set boundaries on the Internet just like we do in the real world. But that just isn’t enough in most cases, so that’s where an Internet filtering program may be useful.
There are a number of programs on the market, but one of our favorites is called CyberPatrol because it seems to balance sophistication with ease of use for the non-technical parent.
You can give it a try with their 14-day trial version that allows you to try-it-before-you-buy-it!
Computer Telephony
This week's Totally Trivial Tech Term is all about using your computer to communicate.
Some of the more popular Internet based telephony products that allow you to use your computer to make a long distance call include DialPad and Net2Phone both of which are pay services.
A small startup called PhoneFree.com is attempting to do what DialPad and Net2Phone did in the beginning; offer a totally FREE service.
Another way to communicate on the Internet that is totally free is by using a program called 'NetMeeting' that is built-in to most Windows based system or available as a free download from Microsoft. Not only can you talk, but you can see each other if both parties have web cams!
How do I know if something was recently installed?
This question is often asked by computer tech support people when you need help with a problem. Check out this week's Super Geek Tip to know how to find out!
Concerned about your privacy on the web? Give 'em the 'Privacy Bird'!
How do you know what is going to happen to your personal information when you give it to a web site? Will they sell it, send you Spam or be good guys and do the right thing?
Most sites that ask for personal information have a privacy policy posted somewhere on the sight that will explain exactly what will be done with your information, but it's generally too technical to decipher, so that's where AT&T's Privacy Bird comes to the rescue!
Privacy Bird is a free program that will read a privacy policy at any web site and try to give you a summary of what it says.
Only sites that ask you for your personal information should be tested with Privacy Bird, because it doesn't matter at sites that don't have anything on you!
D-Link's cool wireless web cam!
Web cams are a great way to see things via the Internet, whether it's talking to grandma through NetMeeting or monitoring your home from work.
One of the limitations of standard web cams is that they must be connected to your computer by a cable that will allow it to transmit the images that it captures...that is until D-Link introduced the DCS-1000W Wi-Fi web cam.
It uses the 802.11b wireless standard to transmit images over the Internet and it can be accessed directly through a web based interface.
Now you can monitor virtually any location within a couple hundred feet of a wireless access point!
