Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2013 January 14

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

January 14

Google Chrome search box

When I type Control F in Google Chrome, rather than adding a search window outside my text, it puts it over the top of my text, which is annoying, particularly as it covers where I need to pick to get to my Wikipedia Watchlist. Furthermore, if the text is found under the search box, then the search box moves. Having it jump around like this is also annoying. Is there a way to have Google Chrome searches behave like other browsers ? StuRat (talk) 00:53, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

Can I hotlink wikimedia images?

If yes, How?EatIcecream2 (talk) 18:27, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

See commons:COM:HOTLINK. PrimeHunter (talk) 20:15, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

Facebook photo albums

Facebook tells me I have 45 photo albums. I know this, because I have created as many. But try as I might, it will only show me 42 albums. This seems to be constant - every time I create a new album, an old one drops out. Facebook seems to choose which album to drop out at random. Facebook never told me it had an upper limit on the number of albums to display. Is this happening to anyone else? Is there anything I can do to fix it? JIP | Talk 21:25, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

Recommended computer software for children

My 4-year-old daughter recently started using our old computer. I would appreciate if anyone could recommend:

• A parental control software, through which my daughter would be able to access only parent-authorized applications, without being able to make damage to the operating system (a software similar to this one). Is there any such thing for the PC?
• I am looking for good free educational software for children in her age. Meanwhile I have only installed Tux paint. 24.1.7.5 (talk) 21:42, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

If you're running Linux, you can install the free software KDE Educational packages, which include educational games and learning software that are safe and suitable for students of various ages. There are word-games, geography, trivia, conventional and unconventional math and puzzle softwares, and simple educational programming packages.

If you're concerned about preventing "damage" to the computer, create a separate user account that does not have administrative privilege. You can do that on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, or almost any other reasonable desktop system. Nimur (talk) 23:50, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

At that age, I wouldn't recommend using the real computer, yet. Just the risk of her spilling her juice on it or having the monitor fall on her is enough. They make portable "computers" which are just for children that age, with a number of educational games. LeapFrog makes some, for instance: [1]. She is less likely to be harmed or harm this device, and, even if she does, it costs less to replace. Wait a few more years before she moves on to the real computer. StuRat (talk) 05:47, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Horrible answer. I first messed around on computers when I was about 3 or 4. You can secure monitors, and use a cheap keyboard. And since it's an old computer, the OP probably would rather have the kid benefit in some way than an unused computer. Similar to Nimur said, you can try Linux. Something like an Ubuntu live USB drive would not, by default, touch your internal hard drive, and you can add all sorts of free educational software. You can also try Edubuntu, though I have never tried it. --Wirbelwind(ヴィルヴェルヴィント) 19:40, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

It's not just the keyboard where they can spill their juice. The vent holes in computer are always a tempting target. And what little kid can resist putting a slice of bologna in the CD tray ? StuRat (talk) 22:17, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

A niece put her toast in there. HiLo48 (talk) 23:55, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

It's not a horrible answer, especially since some adults easily forget how 4 year olds think, or don't think. Though I agree that extra precautions should be taken to kid-proof the hardware as much as possible -- probably more hassle than some parents want, so the recommendation to wait a bit longer is a good one. My 3yo niece got a leapfrog but grew tired of it pretty quick, especially when mommy got a new iPad and let her use it. I cringed, despite the mother's warnings to her that its not a toy. Kids don't usually understand the difference. El duderino ^(abides) 05:53, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

CD trays can be made to not open. Spillage can be avoided by not letting the kid have food or drinks while at the computer, or a leak-proof cup. Both of them can be avoided if the tower itself is out of reach, or in some sort of enclosure. And a 4 year old computer is probably still worth much less than a new iPad, and possibly even less than a Leappad. But like I said before, 4 isn't too young to play with computers. For all we know, OP already secured the physical aspects, and just wants the software aspects protected. --Wirbelwind(ヴィルヴェルヴィント) 20:41, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Although the question wasn't about hardware, the solution to some of the problems raised above might be to get a Raspberry Pi. If it's put in a case, there are no holes to get juice into, or CD trays to put sandwiches in. As for software, you have complete control over what is on the system (i.e. if something is installed it's available, if it isn't, it's not), and I'm sure there's some way in Linux (the Pi runs a form of Debian as standard) to lock down the ability to install programs and visit certain websites. Also, it is almost impossible to 'break' the Pi, since if anything goes wrong it's only a 5-minute job to completely reinstall the OS by wiping the SD card.

Since the Pi was designed with education in mind, there are lots of great ideas for getting kids interested in using and programming it, and a good starting point is the forum at http://raspberrypi.org.

Finally, the question reminded me of a blogpost I read recently about a father who introduced his 2- and 5-year-old sons to Linux through the command line (i.e. on a system with no GUI). It might be a little like overkill, but some of the ideas in the post might spark further reading. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 12:46, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

My son first started playing FPS games with us at age 3 and by age 4 or 5 was able to compete at a decent level despite many tearful occasions. Starting them early gives them a headstart in this techo-world, but there are dangers like age-restricted internet content and these have to be monitored carefully. Also beware of the possible effects of wireless radiation on young children. There are many online (including free) educational sites, but something like Moshi Monsters will keep them occupied and teach them online social skills. Of course there is no substitute for real toys and human playmates :) Sandman30s (talk) 11:37, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

I really hope you didn't let your 3-year old son play First Person Shooter games (the usual expansion of "FPS"). Many such games contain pretty graphic violence, blood and guts and adult situations. Parents can use ratings such as those provided by PEGI to pick a game with age-appropriate content for their child. Astronaut (talk) 16:03, 16 January 2013 (UTC)