KIDS*COMPUTERS*COMMUNITY
Dave McElroy spoke on how members of the SPCUG and the public at large can help provide computers to disadvantaged children and low-income communities. KCC is non-profit and their commitment is two-fold: they take donations of working (ideally), somewhat outdated computer equipment, refurbish it, then place the equipment in schools, housing common rooms, and community centers so that access to the Internet can become a reality, if possible, for those on the wrong side of the "digital divide."
KCC was created about three years ago by a group of individuals who initially just wanted to play around with computers as a hobby. McElroy got to thinking, what is happening to all these old computers? A call to Packard Bell was an interesting experience. He wanted to know what Packard Bell was doing with any equipment that would otherwise be sent to the dump. Would they let McElroy have it?
Initially getting the feeling of a brush-off, by the end of the conversation, McElroy realized he was talking to the Vice-President of Packard Bell. He introduced the idea and he said it wasn't something they were interested in. But, McElroy's name and number was asked for and a promise made that if anything were to come up, he would be contacted. An hour and a half later, the phone rang. The Vice President asked, "How many truckloads can you carry away?
McElroy and his brother (the current Technical Director) rented a U-Haul and paid a visit. Ironically, this was just three days before Packard Bell was to make the announcement that they were closing. The two went to collect the systems at the Packard Bell warehouse, and was literally overwhelmed at the box count.
McElroy swears there was 200,000 square feet of warehouse, boxes stacked five feet high all around the perimeter, and rows upon rows making their own aisleways. This was even after Packard Bell had all their give-aways to their employees, liquidations, auctions, etc. All that was there was going to cost Packard Bell to dispose of. Packard Bell wanted McElroy to take out as much as was humanly possible.
Forty-seven system boxes, various monitors and other parts were matched up for 28 complete computer systems. Earthday 2000 was their organization's birthday. Media coverage was provided by KCRA when these systems were given away to underprivileged families in the Sacramento area.
This concept is growing and is becoming very vital. McElroy's purpose at the SPCUG meeting is to promote our commitment, enlist the help of the SPCUG, and to give us some important information relevant to a situation that all of us will face in the near future-recycling. It is getting tougher every day on how to get rid of systems left behind after an upgrade.
KCC has received a grant that permitted them to move out of garages and move into leased space. Their approach is unique in that they will take anything and everything. The only thing that is an issue these days are monitors. As of August 2002, the EPA is enforcing laws that prohibit the disposal of monitors in landfills. A corporation or business will pay $20 per unit to the county transfer station. A couple of companies in the area will accept monitors: HMR charges 27.5 cents per pound and Federal Assets Recovery charges $15 per monitor.
The current thinking among the corporate world and the recycling industry is that any system less than a Pentium/200 isn't worthwhile. McElroy believes that this is absolutely incorrect. Of the computers being placed now, we have permission from Microsoft (on a limited basis) to install Windows 98SE and Word 97. That being the case, the systems we put together are entry-level Pentiums and some 486-class machines.
KCC helps non-profits assemble computer labs at their facility, work with schools to teach students how to build their own computer (after the eight-week class, they can take the system they built home), assemble small labs in low-income apartment complexes, churches, and anywhere that there is a need. KCC supports mentoring programs and has an ongoing experiment at Woodlake Elementary that strives to put a computer in the home of every 4th, 5th, and 6th grade student. The experiment will determine what difference that will make in the student's performance. Surveys indicate that homework assignments now require the use of a computer in as low as the 4th grade but on average, only 50% of those students have access to a computer.
Preliminary results at Woodlake show that attendance went up, moral went up, average grade levels went up, grade retention levels dropped dramatically. This program is being expanded to four other schools this year. The sad fact is that there are plenty of computers for this to happen. But we aren't finding them.
A four computer lab was placed in a low-income apartment complex on West Sacramento with a very high gang population. These young people were taking off their gang colors and lining up, waiting to take their turns using the computers. Instantly, violence and vandalism dropped by 60%. Any computer has a value. If a young person can do homework on a computer at home, it has a great value. That's why KCC takes anything.
The concept which makes us unique means that there are very few other organizations in the Unite States with similar philosophical orientations. Still, this organization differs in that the others take in the equipment, refurbish them, but then sell them at a discount.
KCC is 100% volunteer. This year, because KCC is getting too big, there will have to be a paid staff. The tech lab is manned by volunteers and interns. An agreement has been made with Heald Business College and Los Rios Community College District to provide Computer Studies students to work at rebuilding the systems.
KCC has expanded to San Francisco and Los Angeles. However, there is absolutely no reason why the Greater Sacramento Metropolitan Area cannot rally together to provide enough discontinued systems to those that need them-to be able to stand up and say that there is no digital divide in our community. All we need is the help and commitment of the community to help us do it.
Systems received are thoroughly scoured of all software and a fresh copy of Microsoft Windows 98SE and Word 97 is installed. Since the release of Windows XP, Microsoft has lifted much of their licensing restrictions on Win98 which permitted KCC to buy a limited site license. On the other hand, a if a perfectly functional machine comes in with "per machine" licensed software (such as other components of Microsoft Office), then with the donor's permission, the license will transfer to the recipient.
KIDS*COMPUTERS*COMMUNITY
9951 Horn Rd (just off of Bradshaw)
(currently, hours of operation is irregular and the entrance isn't well identified)
Rancho Cordova, CA 95827
KCC
9647 Folsom Blvd, PMB 291
Rancho Cordova, CA 95827
(916) 369-5232
comkids2000@yahoo.com
TuxPaint
Bill Kendrick of New Breed Software demonstrated "TuxPaint," a free drawing program geared towards children ages 2 1/2 and up. It's released as "Open Source" software, meaning it's freely redistributable, and the source code is available for examination and modification. TuxPaint runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It's been translated to nearly 20 written languages. Mr. Kendrick also talked about the Open Source philosophy.
Kendrick currently works for Worldcom in Sacramento (wish him luck) and writes free software in his spare time. He mostly writes game software but for the past seven months, he has been working on a drawing program for little kids called TuxPaint.
Because the software is "open source," those who are so inclined can change or enhance the functionality of the program. One can even take parts of TuxPaint to use in their own programs. Over the past few months, Bill has received assistance from about 30 other programmers who have suggested code improvements. Most of them are working on translating it to other languages. The code, developed on a Linux system, has been ported to Windows 95 and up, Mac OS, Amiga, Atari, and several flavors of Unix.
TuxPaint opens with an extremely simple user interface. Drawing actions are accompanied by sound effects (kids might enjoy them but the sounds will soon drive parents nuts) and tool selection is uncomplicated. Drawings are saved and opened without using any separate dialog windows.
Standard tools include brushes, lines, shapes, stamps, text, magic tools (special effects), a fixed palette of colors and has multiple levels of undo/redo. Additional stamps can be installed and any fonts on the system are available for text.
Kendrick's incentive for writing TuxPaint was based on a comment from a friend. A particular distribution of Linux, Debian, popular among the more tech-savvy Linux users, also has a sub-project within that distribution called Debian Jr. It is a collection of educational and entertainment programs for kids. One of the programs included, the only solution for painting and drawing, is The GIMP, a very difficult Photoshop alternative with a steep learning curve. Kendrick's friend was disappointed that there wasn't an appropriate drawing program for kids. Now there is.
