An Icon | | |
From Our | |
Sponsor | |
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Free computers with a | |
catch - that little ad in | |
the corner of the screen | |
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IT WAS A TEMPTING DEAL | |
for a school in constant | |
need of money: 15 new | |
computers, a powerful server, | |
on-location teacher training | | has put new PCs into about 70 | | Frank Vigil is not [id:3368]: |
and a speedy satellite | | schools and plans to be in 200 | | "There is a large gap between |
connection to the Internet, all | | by the end of the year. But the | | what the schools need and |
free. But Tom Wilson, the | | computers can be used only | | their resources. We are trying |
technology coordinator at | | with the ZapMe Netspace, a | | to provide a practical solu- |
Clayton Valley High School | | blue-bordered Web browser | | tion." He also points out that |
outside Oakland, knew there | | with tempting [id:3366] that | | students are going to find ads |
had to be a catch. There was! | | rotate in a two-by-four-inch | | all over the Web anyway. |
In return for all the valuable | | "dynamic billboard" in the | | And ZapMe isn't the only |
equipment, services and tech- | | lower left-hand corner of the | | company putting ads in |
nical support offered by the | | screen. ZapMe requires that | | classrooms, though it is the |
ZapMe Corporation of San | | the service be used by students | | most ambitious. Boston school |
Ramon, in California, the | | four hours a day in order to | | administrators considered it |
[id:3364] agreed to accept ads in | | reach its goal. [id:3367], on a | | and recently announced co- |
a corner of the screen. | | recent Monday morning at | | operation with other compa- |
Once upon a time, | | Clayton Valley High School, | | nies. Steve Gagg, technology |
the classroom was a [id:3365]. But | | students didn't even seem to | | adviser to Boston's mayor, |
that high principle may soon | | notice the ads from GTE and | | says the commercial aspect |
disappear as more and more | | Compaq. They were too busy | | still [id:3369] him. "We need to |
schools rush to get wired. | | e-mailing pen pals in Berlin. | | take a step back and ask, is |
Computers are big-ticket | | Still, Gary Ruskin, director | | this what we want for our |
items, and many districts are | | of the watchdog group | | students? Is there any way |
struggling just to provide the | | Commercial Alert, says: "I | | around it?" Without an easy |
basics: books and desks. | | think it's outrageous | | answer to that question, look |
That's where new businesses | | that parents should have this | | for more billboards among the |
like ZapMe come in. | | shoved down their kids' | | blackboards. |
ZapMe, which was official- | | throats." But ZapMe president | | |
ly launched last month, | | | | Brad Stone in'Newsweek' |
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