User guide

PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 11

The PC Moderator displays the setup screen by generating keystrokes to the text editor

application. If you enable the setup operation while another application is enabled (as the

foreground application), the keystrokes will be fed to that application or to the Windows

Operating system with unpredictable results. This is why pop up screens or applications

such as AIM should not be enabled while setting up the PC Moderator. Note that the mouse

cannot be used to operate the setup program.. Press the <Scroll Lock> key at any time to

abort the setup process.

Setup Suggestions

During first time setup, passwords must be created for Setup, Parent User and the F1-

F8 users. These passwords should not be obvious. The Setup password is most critical

to remember as Setup provides access of all User passwords. Memorize it and keep a

written copy away from the home. Note that if you forget the Setup Password, you will

need to remove the Setup jumper inside the PC Moderator and then run the setup

program as described in the section that follows “If You Forget the Setup Password”.

Choose passwords for your children that they will be able to remember but not obvious

(i.e. their name) unless there will be only one child using the computer.

Choosing the time limits for computer use should be done with care. In general,

drastically reducing the available computer time abruptly will result in distress for both

you and your child (regardless of what you think is fair and even what they verbally

agree to). Depending on how defiant your child is they may resort to unpleasant

manipulation or device tampering in an attempt to get their way. Remember that

installing the PC Moderator gives you a great deal of power and control over what may

be your child’s most cherished past time. Don’t be tempted to simply set your will

immediately or you will find the power struggle shifting to other areas of the child’s

life.

We recommend that you initially establish a time amount that will cover virtually

unlimited usage (i.e. 10 hours/day) but with time range limits such that they can’t use it

after a certain time in the evening (i.e. 9:30pm bedtime). You can also create a

restricted time range, say between 5 and 6pm for homework, dinner or chores. Let the

PC Moderator monitor use over several weeks. Then you can generate a usage report

for that user over that period to see how much the computer was actually used each day

and on average. (see Setup Menu).

If you then feel the computer is being used too much, each week manually change the

amount of time available for use each day by lowering the amount of time by 10

minutes. Do this for weekday, weekend settings and/or day of week settings until you

reach your target levels. This gives you and your child time to adjust to the change.

Keep an open mind and compromise with your child. You can even reward better

school grades by increasing the time allowed. Keep in mind that by taking unlimited

access to the computer away they will need to fill recovered time with other activities.