jwcolby
jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com
Mon Jul 18 05:52:37 CDT 2011
I already have him learning Access! He loves learning what dad does. John W. Colby www.ColbyConsulting.com On 7/17/2011 10:31 PM, Doug Steele wrote: > John's doing it right, in my opinion. If Robbie wants more time, he's > going to be forced to learn to hack John's program. Then, before he > knows it, no more computer games, just huge SQL databases to maintain > while John enjoys his retirement... > > Doug > > On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 6:09 PM, Jim Dettman<jimdettman at verizon.net> wrote: >> >> Check your router too...a lot of routers know have bandwidth monitoring, >> parental controls, and the ability to filter (by Mac address) based on a >> schedule. >> >> I've got mine set to cut out all internet access from 2:00 - 6:00 am. >> >> Jim. >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Lawrence >> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 03:24 PM >> To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' >> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Child computer Game timer >> >> Hi John: >> >> You could just get something like the KidLogger. >> >> http://kidlogger.net/download.html >> >> Jim >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby >> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 11:23 AM >> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving >> Subject: [AccessD] Child computer Game timer >> >> I have designed a game timer for my son which I am making available to list >> members if they want it. >> >> This timer is designed for children who are old enough to play >> "unsupervised" and I want them to >> have a set time that they can play per session. I want to record when they >> start and stop and have >> a display of how long they have been playing. I used to have Robbie "write >> it down" and set a timer >> on the stove. Both of which he "forgot" more often than not. >> >> This is not a "dishonest teenager" control mechanism, I am not getting into >> trying to outsmart a >> teenager here. It is merely meant to allow me to see how much time my son >> is playing. I removed >> all of the shortcuts from the desktop etc so that the way he opens his games >> is through this >> database. I actually copied one of the shortcuts into the startup directory >> for one game that >> required a shortcut. >> >> I then informed him that there are consequences if he is playing without >> going through the timer. >> >> The timer is an Access form which has a game combo and a child id combo. In >> my case only my son >> uses it at the moment, though I will probably have my daughter use it as >> well. It is FE/BE. >> >> The form consists of: >> >> 1) A game combo >> 2) A child combo >> 3) A start time >> 4) A stop time >> 5) The minutes they are allowed to play, fixed ATM though it could be >> included in the child record. >> >> Status controls are: >> >> 1) Last Play elapsed time >> 2) Last play time stopped >> >> At the very bottom of the form is an elapsed time. >> >> So the child selects the game they will play. The game has the stuff >> required to actually open the >> game, usually the filespec for the game (path and file name) but it can also >> use a shortcut file if >> the game requires starting directory etc. >> >> Selecting the game starts a timer which shows up on the "Elapsed time" at >> the bottom, and records >> the start time. There is a button which enters the stopped time and moves >> to a new record. Once a >> record is "stopped" it can no longer be edited. No records can be deleted >> (through the form). >> >> When the time is up, my son often does the "I need to do this one small >> thing before I quit" >> routine. In order to allow that but still encourage him to get off, i built >> in an annoyance timer. >> The database does not (yet) shut down the game automatically (though I >> might go there) but it does >> beep a series of beeps when time is up, and then starts beeping at him every >> N seconds. N decreases >> over time until it is beeping every second. This is truly annoying (to >> anyone in the room) and >> encourages him to finish up and get off. It also alerts any adult near by >> that "time is up". In >> fact it is so annoying that he was turning down the speaker when it beeped. >> I had to inform him >> that there would be consequences for that. ;) >> >> The system is working fine so far. I am finally getting his times logged >> regularly and getting him >> off when his time is up. We shall have to see how it works long term. >> Adolescents can be sneaky. >> Total loss of gaming privileges for breaking the rules is the consequence of >> being sneaky. >> >> Possible enhancements: >> >> 1) Times of day allowed to play >> 2) Total time allowed to play >> 3) Play time allowed per child >> etc. >> >> -- >> John W. Colby >> www.ColbyConsulting.com >> -- >> AccessD mailing list >> AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >> -- >> AccessD mailing list >> AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >> -- >> AccessD mailing list >> AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >