I see plenty of examples of younger people not automatically and immediately understanding technology. Many computers I work on have viruses and spyware that came from a teenager downloading music or movies off a peer 2 peer file sharing network and not understand the risks of doing so.

On the other hand, we're seeing plenty of examples of the explosion of the older generation and their use of technology. An article from Cnet shows that the percentage of Twitter users between age 55 and 64 is the same as the percentage between 18 and 24, and most of its users are 35 and older. Facebook is seeing some of its largest growth in users between the age of 35 and 44.

As I've seen time and again while on-site helping my clients, once they get over the intimidation of new technology, they pick it up just as easy as anyone else, regardless of age.

Don't forget though, even if you do get a little intimidated, Geek Squad is available online or in your local Best Buy to help you get the confidence to overcome that new technology and allow you to use it to improve your everyday life.

If you have a pre-school aged child in the house, PBS Kids and Noggin are good places to start. They have plenty of activities to do with your kids and even link to videos appropriate for your children.
 
If your child is a bit older and in kindergarten through fifth, Webkinz, ABC ya!, or their favorite cartoon character’s Web sites are also great places to go. There are many other education sites out there with fun and interactive games for your child to play.

If your child is a bit older and in grades 6-8, you will want to feed their curiosity and help them continue to learn. Sites like Instructables or even YouTube are great resources to research how-to-guides for projects that you can do with your child. There are sometimes even contests on Instructables that you can help your child participate in, like a science project. The main thing is getting and staying involved in what your child likes to do on the Web.

Once your child hits High School, it’s time to start thinking about where they want to go for college. Researching that college they want to go to together and finding careers or degrees that your child will be interested in pursuing is also a great way to spend some time online together. You’ll also find that study guides for the ACT and SAT classes are available online and you can use Google to find one that’s affordable and useful for your child. A few sites to try in your search for colleges include College Board and Colleges.com.

Those are just some initial ideas on how to use the computer and the Internet to spend some good quality time with your kids. But remember, nothing is a substitute for just talking to your child, or going outside with them—especially when the weather is nice!
 

The release of a Blu-ray 25th anniversary edition of the film last week is like welcoming an old friend back in shiny, new HD duds.  As soon as the movie starts up again, I'm instantly transported to the first time I saw this classic as a kid in the theaters, and it is wonderful!

Ghostbusters fans are doubly blessed this year with the release of the Ghostbusters video game for most platforms, including the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.  The game is often referred to as the "3rd movie" as the original actors are reunited to voice their on-screen characters.  It's a must-have for fans that will instantly draw you in the first time Dan Aykroyd as Dr Raymond Stantz casually reminds you that it's a bad thing to "cross the streams.”

I have to admit, that while I wish I had my own proton pack, driving down the street in my black and white Geekmobile while Ray Parker Jr sings the Ghostbusters theme via my iPod is the next best thing to having my own Ecto-1.

Agent Gregg Walrod and I were also fortunate enough to meet some “local” Ghostbusters at New York Comic-Con last year. Check out the video:

To add insult to injury, add in a paper printout map – you not only have misery refined, you have a very good possibility of ending up in a ditch. (Or somewhere worse).

Times like this, GPS is seen for what it truly is: a Godsend. But not everyone wants to drop the cash for a unitasker GPS unit from Magellan, Tom Tom, or other companies well-known for making quality GPS units. The good news is that, for basic GPS functionality, you may not really need extra equipment -- because it may be as close as the smartphone in your pocket.

More and more smartphones are coming with GPS receivers as standard components, which can really save your bacon in a situation like that listed above. And while such phones usually come with a GPS application installed, they sometimes leave much to be desired.

As a traveling Geek Squad trainer over the past 4 years, I've logged a lot of miles on the road, in places I've never been before. With my trusty WIndows Mobile phone (and later a Blackberry), I've tested the following GPS applications:

Google Maps for Mobile (free)
Another in the neverending list of software apps that Google seems to be so good at, Google Maps -- the web-based application we've used for years to print out directions -- is also Mobile-based as well. Its My Location feature allows you to see where you are on the map, even without a GPS, and with integrated business listings, you can search for that all-night sub shop, and get turn-by-turn directions to it. A handy feature -- transit & walking directions -- gives you routes and schedules by public transportation as well. And with Google Latitude turned on, your friends can know EXACTLY where you are at any moment (on second thought, that could come off as slightly creepy.)

Windows Live Search Mobile (free)
Similar in functionality to Google Maps for Mobile, Live Search Mobile has a slew of helpful options for the road warrior on the go, with traffic, weather, directions, map and categories as only a few of the options available. Built by Microsoft, its integration with GPS makes it a very handy way to find pizza, hotels, public venues, and the like on the go.

Both apps include traffic updates (really handy to avoid that 2.5 hour parking lot known as the 405), and are truly handy for traveling. The lack of auto-recalculating of directions (for when you accidently missed the freeway exit) and voice turn-by-turn directions makes these slightly less of a solution than standalone GPS units by TomTom, Magellan, and the like, but for the traveler looking to save a buck and not have to carry around extra equipment, These solutions will save your bacon -- whether around town, or across the country.

The DTV transition only affects over-the-air broadcasts received through a regular rooftop or set-top ("rabbit ears") antennas. If you get your television service through satellite or cable providers, you will not be affected. If your TV lists itself as having a DTV (or ATSC) tuner, you are ready, on the other hand, just because the TV says "digital" somewhere on the front does not mean the system is ready.

If none of the above applies, you will need a converter box available at your local Best Buy. If you're setting your converter box up today, one of the first things it will do as part of the setup is scan for digital channels. Do not interrupt or turn the unit off until the scan is complete. If you setup your converter box prior to today, it's a good idea to access the setup menu on the box and re-run the scan as some channels may change during the transition.

If your converter box coupons have expired, or you never received your coupons, you can contact the FCC a 1-888 CALL FCC (1-888-225-5322) for replacements, as well as general DTV questions or concerns. In most cases the coupon will cover most, if not all, of the cost of the converter boxes, and generally take 7 to 14 days for arrival.

You may also qualify for free Geek Squad service to help with your DTV questions. To learn more, check out my previous blog post.

With innovations like this, it begs the question: are personal computers going to become obsolete?

The answer is “no.” But, as technology advances, we may not be as tethered to our personal computers, because we will have other devices to help us stay connected.

Microsoft’s goal is to make the XBOX360 an extension of your personal computer. They want consumers to be able to access music, movies and pictures on their television sets – all using the gaming console as the entertainment hub. And if you have access to all your entertainment content, you probably want access to your social networks. Instead of huddling around a small computer monitor trying to see what your friends posted, you will be able sit back on the couch with your controller and update your status or write a Tweet while playing your favorite games.

Of course, this means your game console is a bit more complicated. No more putting in a single cartridge and turning it on. (Or, when that fails, taking it out, blowing on it, and putting it back in. Tech support is a bit more complicated than that these days.)

So as your game console gets smarter, getting it to work 100% of the time can be difficult. If you’re having trouble accessing the Internet on it, or setting up parental controls, luckily Geek Squad offers up a service to help you. You can learn more about it here.