LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Someone has way too much time on their hands, but I rolled on the floor with
this one!
Julie
Julie Anderson, Librarian
Liberty High School, Renton, WA 425.837.4901
andersonj@issaquah.wednet.edu
"Fiction is a lie about the truth." Jane Chambers
---------------------
THE TOUGHEST DECISION: SHOULD MY LOVED ONE BE PLACED IN AN ASSISTED
COMPUTING FACILITY?
For family members, it is often the most difficult and painful
decision they will face: to accept that a loved one - a parent, a
spouse, perhaps a sibling - is technologically impaired and should no
longer be allowed to live independently, or come near a computer or
electronic device without direct supervision. The time has come to
place that loved one into the care of an Assisted Computing Facility.
But you have questions. So many questions.
We at Silicon Pines want to help.
WHAT EXACTLY IS AN "ASSISTED COMPUTING FACILITY"?
Sometimes referred to as "Homes for the Technologically Infirm,"
"Technical Invalid Care Centers," or "Homes for the Technically
Challenged," Assisted Computing Facilities (ACFs) are modeled on
assisted living facilities, and provide a safe, structured
residential environment for those unable to handle even the most
common, everyday multitasks. Most fully accredited ACFs, like Silicon
Pines, are an oasis of hope and encouragement that allow residents to
lead productive, technologically relevant lives without the fear and
anxiety associated with actually having to understand or execute the
technologies themselves.
WHO SHOULD BE IN AN ACF?
Sadly, technology is advancing at such a dramatic rate that many
millions, of all ages, will never truly be able to understand it,
putting an undue burden on those friends and family members who must
explain it to them. But unless the loved one is suffering from a
truly debilitating affliction, such as Reinstallzheimers, the
decision to commit is entirely personal. You must ask yourself:
"How frustrated am I that my parent/sibling/spouse is unable to open
an email attachment?"
"How much of my time should be taken up explaining how RAM is
different from hard drive memory?"
"How many times can I bear to hear my dad say, 'Hey, can I replace
the motherboard with a fatherboard? Ha ha ha!'"
To make things easier, we have prepared a list of Warning Signs which
we encourage you to return to often, or, if you can't figure out how
to bookmark it, print out. Also, please take a moment to read "I'm
Glad I'm in Here! - A Resident's Story."
MUST IT BE FAMILY, OR CAN I PLACE ANYONE IN AN ACF?
Several corporations have sought permission to have certain
employees, or at times entire sales departments, committed to ACFs.
At present, however, individuals can be committed only by direct
family or self-internment. The reason is simple: there are not nearly
enough ACFs in the world to accommodate all the technologically
challenged. For example, there are currently only 860,000 beds
available in ACFs, but there are 29 million AOL users.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
ACF rents range from free up to $12,500 per month. The disparity is
currently a point of contention in the ACF industry. Many residents
are covered through government programs such as Compucaid or
Compucare, but reimbursement rates are low and only cover a portion
of the fees.
Exacerbating the situation are the HMOs (HelpDesk Maintenance
Organizations), which often deny coverage, forcing residents to pay
out of pocket or turn to expensive private techcare insurers such as
BlueCache/BlueScreen.
Offsetting the costs are technology companies themselves, many of
which subsidize ACFs. Firms such as Microsoft, Dell, Qualcomm, and
America Online will pay up to 100 percent of a resident's monthly
bill, but there is a catch. ISPs, for instance, require residents to
sign service contracts lasting a year or more. Microsoft, meanwhile,
prohibits the installation of any competitive software, while
Priceline requires that residents buy shares of its stock, which
seems onerous but saves residents on lavatory tissue.
HOW OLD MUST I BE TO HAVE SOMEONE COMMITTED?
Until very recently, you had to be 18 or older to legally commit a
family member. However, the now famous British court case Frazier vs.
Frazier and Frazier has cleared the way for minors to commit their
parents. In that case, 15-year-old Bradley Frazier of Leicester had
his 37-year-old parents committed to an ACF in Bournemouth after a
judge ruled Ian and Janet Frazier were a "danger to themselves and
the community." According to court records, Bradley told his parents
about the I LoveYou virus and warned them not to click attachments,
then the next day his parents received an I LoveYou email and clicked
on the attachment because, they explained, "it came from someone we
know."
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN ACF? First, make sure it's a genuine
Assisted Computing Facility, and not an Assisted Living Facility. To
tell the difference, observe the residents. If they look rather old
and tend to openly discuss bowel movements, this is probably
'assisted living.' On the other hand, if they vary in age and say
things like, "I'm supposed to figure that out? I'm not Bill Gates you
know!," this is probably 'assisted computing.'
Also, at a well-run ACF, residents should lead full, independent
lives, and should be allowed the use of many technology devices,
including telephones, electric toothbrushes, and alarm clocks.
However, only a facility's Licensed Techcare Professionals (LTPs)
should perform computational or technological tasks such as
installing programs or saving email attachments. And LTPs should
NEVER answer residents' questions because studies have shown that
answering user questions inevitably makes things worse. Instead,
residents should simply have things done for them, relieving them of
the pressure to "learn" or "improve."
CAN A RESIDENT EVER GET OUT?
No.
OK, THIS SOUNDS PROMISING. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?
For your enlightenment, we offer extensive information on Silicon
Pines and the ACF lifestyle, which can be found by clicking one of
the links in the navigation bars found at both the top and bottom of
this page. But whatever you decide, keep in mind that due to demand,
ACFs now have long waiting lists. WebTV & AOL users alone will take
years to absorb.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Mailing List Home