PROTECTION
WEB POLICE
The World Wide Web's doors have been wide open to anyone, including children, who want to play violent shoot'em-up games or sneak-a-peak at XXX adults-only websites. But not anymore. Cyber Patrol is the Internet's latest version of an electronic nanny. The software is designed to block access to websites, particularly those which promote violence, pornography, gambling or extremist politics. Installed on a personal computer or an Internet server, it manages Internet access, provides ChatGard¨ which prevents children from divulging personal information online and has an option to limit the total time spent on the Web. Some US libraries have begun installing Cyber Patrol (www.cyber.patrol.com/) after receiving reports of patrons using library computers to view sexually explicit, graphical material on the Web. Cyber Patrol maintains two databases: a CyberYes list of 40,000 researched sites containing only appropriate material for children, and the CyberNot list of nine categories of 15,000 websites deemed by its review committee to have potentially offensive material. One category–Satanic/Cults–unfortunately includes websites of recognized religions and legitimate (but non-Christian) alternative spiritual communities. Appeals are possible, and one such banned group, AvatarSearch (AvatarSearch.com), has developed the AvatarPatrol software which checks if your URL has been mistakenly banned by Cyber Patrol's censors.
DATA
WEB STATS
The people at Webside Story are now offering a free web page statistics service that provides a simple, easy way to monitor the outreach of your website. Here you can view hourly, daily and weekly visitor statistics on yours and over 8,900 website links in thirty-eight categories, ranging from advertising to Web resources. We were surprised to find that the religion section, touted to be the top 1,000, doesn't represent the world's major religions. Christian sites are predominant, and a Hindu presence is conspicuously absent. Among the 252 home pages not one Hindu website was listed. Undaunted, we added Hinduism Today to the list, and several days later HT was ranking near the top, #20 in the average number of daily visitors–just one above Vatican.org. Have your Hindu website counted among religion's best at wss5.websidestory.com/world.html
BUSINESS
INDIA'S CYBERSKOOLS
In conjunction with the national council of Science Museums, Intel established in 1996 two state-of-the-art multimedia labs called Intel Cyberskool in New Delhi and Mumbai. The labs give school children, teachers and parents easy access to Pentium-processor based multimedia computers, educational software and the Internet. The Intel Cyberskool at the National Science Centre, New Delhi, has provided over 25,000 students with hands-on exposure to multimedia computers. Intel is also working with the JIVA Institute, ERNET (Education Research Netware) and other organizations to help schools purchase total computing solutions at subsidized prices.
TRUTH
CYBER ASHRAM
Come one foot towards me. I will come a thousand feet towards you" beckons Sri Karunamayi's new home page. A few minutes at Amma's web-ashram immediately transports you into a mood of cyber-pilgrimage as you follow her biographical history of intense sadhana and service. Sri Karunamayi is truly one of Hinduism's Web missionaries. Her site is a virtual mini-catechism with inspired talks on character building, meditation and the do's and don'ts of Hinduism. Amma's quotations are some of the Web's best, and devotees can subscribe to her quarterly magazine and download her photos. Back in the real world, follow Amma on her world tours using online calendars and maps. (globeworks.com/karunamayi/karuna2.htm)