I am referring to the virtual reality-based definition of typing a conversation into a chat box  (SMS, IM, Twitter, etc.) versus the audible engagement of speaking to a person face to face (I would accept speaking on the phone in this category) and it is getting frightening close to a split-decision about the time I spend communicating with each method. As an adult, I am not worried how this might be affecting my personality development because I think I have established a pretty secure sense of self.

But then I start wondering about all those tweens and teens out there who are spending even more time online than I do these days and I think about how it has to be impacting them on some level that will affect their communication and social interaction skills in the future. There’s a great social shift happening beneath the current of technological trends in the communication arena which goes way beyond the evolution of generational jargon.

Just remember that technology is a tool…

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How parents handle the integration of technology into the home varies greatly. Some eagerly provide access to technology while others chain it down behind closed doors offering little access beyond school related activities. So what is the right approach?

“Studies of child development offer some middle ground. Long before the invention of the first microprocessor, the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget identified four stages of cognitive development by watching his own children. His theories bring some logic to the debate about how to support your child’s growth with the latest technology.”

The roles technology can play in different stages of a child’s development:

AGES 0-2 Babies and toddlers cannot use a mouse so in order to work at this age, technology products must act like a busy-box, with lights or sounds that respond to a child’s actions.

AGES 3-5 Preschoolers today are growing up in a digital world. They like to play with pretend gadgets as if it were the real thing. This pretend-play is when children first understand that they can control the events on a flat screen. This is an age when they can take real pictures with cameras, can explore interactive versions of their favorite TV shows, and manipulate age-appropriate gaming systems and software.

AGES 6-11 At the age a child can ride a bicycle comes the ability to search the Web, and the whole digital world starts to open up. Parents are reminded that electronic devices should be used to “supplement rather than replace real experiences,”. By age 10, many children can start editing videos, program with software, and can handle being introduced to the notion of chatting and the online stand-ins known as avatars.

AGES 12 AND UP Middle and high-school students are reaching the cognitive functioning of an adult. They are able to juggle synchronous streams of information from phones, MP3 players and laptops.

Perhaps the best advice for parents of a young child, is that everything — whether it has batteries or not — is a discovery waiting to happen - and that toys work best when they are matched to a child’s level of development.

Read More: So Young, and So GadgetedSimilar Posts:

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I spent about a decade checking my change on a regular basis looking for those elusive ‘wheat pennies’ and pre-1964 silver nickles that would round out a complete collection. I can still remember the sticky feeling on my fingers after spending hours counting, stacking and rolling coins so I could deposit them in my very own passport blue book savings account. I used to love writing my account number on the rolls and watching the ink-stamped total of my savings grow in that little gold-eagle embossed book.

As I passed into adulthood, the pure joy I felt as a kid for coin collecting faded, the sticky fingers and rolling became a slight nuisance until evolving to battery-powered coin sorters. Holding onto a bucket-load of coins for a ‘rainy day’ must have been a habit instilled in my family because we all still have humongous reservoirs for holding our change until it can’t hold another cent. Probably more out of procrastination than any other reason, but I like to think we had the foresight to envision a future when a company like Coinstar would free us from our penny rolling ways.

Coinstar was founded in 1991, and their first coin counting machines were installed in 1992 in the San Francisco Bay area. Since then they have continually expanded throughout the U.S. and beyond to become the global company they are today which is… prepare yourself… a 1.2 billion dollar company with machines in 140 countries worldwide.

Their plan was simple: provide a service for people that transformed a task that most would consider a time-wasting nuisance into one that was a time-saving convenience. And Wala! A global 600 coins per minute sorting powerhouse was born. The service isn’t free if you want to simply turn your change into cash. Coinstar charges a fee of 8.9% for their standard ‘Coins to Cash’ service. But you aren’t limited to that option. Many of their machines offer the ability to load the value of your sorted coins onto a gift card or eCertificate at no charge. Here are some of the more well known brands: Amazon.com, AMC Theaters, Borders, CVS Pharmacy, iTunes, JCPenny, Lowes, Old Navy, Overstock.com, and Starbucks among others.

In addition ‘Coins for Cash’ and Gift Cards or eCerts, Coinstar provides many more options about what you can do with the change dumped into their machines. One of the other convenient methods of obtaining the funds is having them deposited directly into a bank account with ‘Direct Coin Deposit’. After your coins are tallied, swipe your debit card and enter your PIN. The coin value, less any fees charged by your bank/credit union, will be deposited automatically into your primary account. This is usually only two or three dollars and depending on the value of your deposit is cheaper than the 8.9% fee while still getting immediate access to your money.

You can also get airtime on many wireless and Long Distance Cards, have your funds loaded onto a Prepaid Debit/Cash Cards, as well as a way to donate to charity through their ‘Coins that Count’ program which is a partnership among Coinstar, non-profit organizations, and their retail partners. The Coins that Count donation feature allows customers to donate their spare change to a participating non-profit organization and immediately receive a tax-deductible receipt for the full value of their donation.

That pretty much covers what Coinstar is all about (at least related to coins. They also recently purchased outright ownership of redbox, those $1 per night DVD rental vending machines you see outside almost any Walmart).

On their site in the upper right corner you can locate a Coinstar machine nearest you and discover what services are provided by that machine such as applying funds to Gift Cards, Debit Cards, etc.

Source: Coinstar, redboxSimilar Posts:

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And that’s it!

At the end of April, a winner for the $50 AMC Theaters Gift Card will be selected at random from those that participate so be sure to leave a valid email address with your comment (email addresses are not visible to the public and will only be used for the purpose of this contest). Making more than one comment may stimulate exciting conversations with fellow visitors but will only provide one entry into the contest. For additional entries, try one of the following methods:

1. Become a new follower on Twitter +1
2. Tweet this contest +1
3. Become a new member of the FTR Facebook Group +1
4. Write about or link to contest on your blog/site +3
5. Submit an article for FTR +5

**Please leave a comment stating if you have completed additional entries so all entries can be tallied correctly. Thanks and Good Luck!

Contest will end Thursday, April 30th at 11:59 PM.

The randomly selected winner will be notified by email and posted on The Family Tech Report site.

Thanks for participating!

In addition to great monthly prizes that your family can enjoy, The Family Tech Report provides helpful resources and information for parents on integrating technology into their family, home, and lifestyle - so be sure to come back and check us out!

Subscribe to RSS feed for the easiest way to stay informed of updates.Similar Posts:

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MagCloud ‘Print On Demand’ Service Targets Magazine Industry -

I have always wanted to be a magazine publisher. Something about being in control over the production of a final product that involves so much work by so many hands. The creativity, the organization of information, the tactile feel of paper in hand as the pages turn has always drawn me to the printed page (remember, my brother and I had a comic cook company back in the mid-nineties and the same passion applied). My favorite projects as a designer have always been anything that remotely feels like a magazine. Even a 16-page catalog for the non-glamorous jewelry envelope manufacturing industry was a joy to create from cover to cover.

Well, not too long ago an online service called MagCloud pulled themselves out of private invitation-only beta and opened their doors to the masses allowing anyone the capability to become a magazine publisher by simply uploading a properly formatted PDF. Templates are available for many of the most popular word processing and desktop publishing applications.

It couldn’t get any easier than the following steps:

1. Create the full-color content in page multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12 etc.) up to a maximum of 60 pages using any software  that can output to PDF (final page trim size is 8.25″ x 10.75″ and you can take advantage of a 1/8″ full-bleed. For best results artwork preferred at 300 dpi and remember to leave enough room on the back for a shipping label)
2. Upload PDF to MagCloud site
3. Set $ markup (if any)
4. Hit ‘Publish It!’ button

MagCloud handles everything from printing and shipping to providing a gateway for sales through a unique URL (http://username.magcloud.com) and an RSS feed that links directly to a webpage showcasing your magazine. Anyone can buy your magazine via PayPal or credit card and the beauty of this streamlined print-on-demand service is that pricing is totally up to you!

The cost of your issue to end users will be the production cost ($0.20 per page), plus shipping, plus your own publisher markup (if you specified one). MagCloud will pay you the markup for each copy that is purchased. For example, a 20-page magazine would have a production cost of only $4.00, you put a markup of $1.00 on the issue then the reader pays the cost of shipping the magazine above the $5.00 purchase price. From my research it looks like a 36-page magazine had a total cost of $7.95 so shipping seemed fairly priced and wasn’t viewed by MagCloud as a substantial revenue generator, if at all. Currently, they ship only to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, but are working to add more countries as soon as they can.

One of the other cool aspects of MagCloud is that their proofing process offers you, as the publisher, a printed proof at no cost other than shipping so that you can get a hands-on issue for an up close and personal review of the commercial-grade 80# glossy paper rather than relying on an online prooof approval process only (although that is available as an option, too).

From the NY Times:

“Charging 20 cents a page, paid only when a customer orders a copy, H.P. dreams of turning MagCloud into vanity publishing’s equivalent of YouTube. The company, a leading maker of computers and printers, envisions people using their PCs to develop quick magazines commemorating their daughter’s volleyball season or chronicling the intricacies of the Arizona cactus business.” The New York Times 03/29/09

There has been an ongoing debate for decades about the future of print publishing beyond the infusion of the Internet into mainstream society. I believe a service like MagCloud, in the same vein as Lulu, iUniverse, CafePress among many others in the on-demand printing & manufacturing arenas, not only opens doors but blows them off their hinges creating opportunities for creative expression to flourish within the framework of capitalism. I look forward to watching their current catalog of 300 magazines expand, and hopefully soon they will branch into offering mainstream distribution methods like ISSNs to allow availability to web commerce portals like amazon.com, etc.

End of article teaser: Be on the lookout for a Family Tech Report magazine coming this summer!

Source: MagCloud, NY Times
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Personally, I think it’s hitting tiny buttons and making the little infrared light go off that gets her excited but now I’m catching her mimicking us by pointing it directly at the TV. My first reaction is “Awww… how cute” then my brain shifts gears and wonders exactly how much television are we watching? We really don’t expose her too much but I think it’s become a by-product of bedtime bottle feedings while in the living room when the TV is on.

It sure doesn’t take much before their sponge of a brain catches on to your habits. Makes me keenly aware about some of the other things I do so I think my soda drinking, chip-noshing days are numbered…

Here are the remotes I’ve used during the past week:

• Tivo HD
• Apple TV
• DVD Player
• Car Entry
• Garage Door

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The EPA estimates that the number of obsolete consumer electronics sold between 1980 and 2007 is 235 million; a total weight of 2.25 million tons. 18% of these products were collected for recycling; the rest are, unfortunately, sitting in landfills posing serious health and environmental risks. The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that Americans own 24 electronic products per household.

If you can’t repair, refurbish, or reuse your electronics - or you must own the latest version - then the next best thing is to recycle them. There are many recycling options to choose from:

• a product’s manufacturer
  
• your local electronics store
• an online trade-in program that offers a cash reward or gift card

So how can you reduce your environmental impact and properly dispose of electronic waste?

PCMag.com researched all of the major electronics manufacturers from A to Z to find out what kinds of recycling programs they offer, if they charge a recycling fee, whether or not you get cash in return, and which geographical regions they service. Next, PCMag compiled a list of six retailers, including Best Buy and Staples, to reveal their recycling efforts. Lastly, you’ll know exactly where to get cash back or gift cards for your recycled electronics by visiting the recommended seven cash-back Web sites. Keep in mind that all regions have different recycling practices, so please adhere to your local laws.

Company: Acer
What can be recycled: Computer systems, monitors (LCD or CRT), and laptops that are manufactured by Acer.
Recycling program(s) offered: Use Acer’s automated online recycling service to check if a recycling program is available in your state. If so, select the type, size, and quantity of the product you wish to recycle. Type in your address and select your payment method (if any).
Fee(s): Acer may charge shipping and handling fees, which can range from $15 to $40 per item, depending upon the type and quantity of the hardware to be returned. In other cases, depending on where you reside, the shipping and handling may be waived.
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Apple
What can be recycled: Macs, iPods, iPhones, as well as other cell phones, computers, and monitors—regardless of manufacturer.
Recycling program(s) offered: Through the Apple Recycling Program, you can purchase any qualifying Apple computer or monitor from the Apple retail store or Apple.com, and receive free recycling of your old computer and monitor. Apple also offers iPod and cell phone recycling; simply fill in the form with your name and address to receive a prepaid mailing label, and send them your worn-out iPod or cell phone.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: For every iPod recycled, you’ll receive 10 percent off the purchase of a new iPod.
Participating region(s): U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific, Japan

Company: ASUS
What can be recycled: Any old ASUS-branded products, including laptops, displays, and PDAs, as well as other-branded tech products.
Recycling program(s) offered: ASUS works with recycling vendor GRX (Guaranteed Recycling Xperts) to offer the ASUS Takeback program. Fill out your information on the online form, and a shipping label will be mailed to you within 5 business days. Attach the shipping label to the box your ASUS product is in, and drop it off at your nearest FedEx/Kinko’s location.
Fee(s): Free for ASUS products; other branded products require a fee.
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): North America, Europe, Taiwan

Company: Canon
What can be recycled: Canon-branded binoculars, camcorders, cameras (digital/film), projectors, fax machines, printers, scanners, ink, toner, paper
Recycling program(s) offered: With Canon’s Customer Products Recycling Program, select the type of Canon product you want to recycle, select the model number, and enter the serial number. Under Canon’s Toner Cartridge Return Program, consumers can print out free shipping labels for returning printer cartridges.
Fee(s): The Customer Products Recycling Program does charge a fee, depending on the type of product, ranging from $6 to $12 for each item; the Toner Cartridge Program is free.
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia

Company: Creative Labs
Recycling program(s) offered: All Creative Labs-branded products.
How to get started: Creative offers a Rechargeable Battery Recycling Program. Send any Creative product or Creative rechargeable battery to the address provided on its Web site.
Fee(s): Standard postal service mailing/packaging rates apply.
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Dell
What can be recycled: Dell-branded products, including notebooks, desktops, and monitors, as well as printers, ink, and toner from other manufacturers.
Recycling program(s) offered: Dell offers several options for recycling. First, you can recycle any of your unused Dell products at any time; just visit the Dell Product Recycling page. Second, if you buy a new Dell desktop or notebook and select the free recycling option at the time of purchase, the company will recycle your old PC and monitor (including other manufacturers). Staples formed an in-store recycling program for Dell’s customers: bring in your old Dell-branded computer, printer, or other item, and Staples will recycle it for you. In addition, Dell’s Reconnect recycling program in conjunction with Goodwill Industries is offered in a total of 18 states, letting you drop off any brand of used equipment at participating Goodwill stores.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: Get a free Dell gift card through Dell Exchange. Simply select an item category, enter the required information, accept the trade-in value of your used electronic (from Dell or other manufacturers), print a prepaid shipping label, and ship your item to Dell’s trade-in warehouse. Once received and accepted, you will get a Dell gift card by mail in about 2 to 3 weeks.
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Epson
What can be recycled: Epson printers, scanners, projectors, accessories, ink cartridges, toner
Recycling program(s) offered: Through the Epson Recycle Program, ten used Epson products can be returned at a time. Once you’ve provided all the necessary information and your order is completed, you will receive a prepaid FedEx shipping label through the mail in order to send your products. Once sent, used products are shredded at a licensed facility and separated into ferrous and non-ferrous components.
Fee(s): $10 per item for shipping and recycling costs.
Cash back/rewards: Receive a $5 coupon per item recycled for use at the Epson Online Store.
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Fujitsu
What can be recycled: Fujitsu laptops and tablets only.
Recycling program(s) offered: Fujitsu’s Recycling Program includes two services: individual recycling and bulk recycling. Select the product name, model number, part number, and quantity of items; provide your contact information; print your shipping label; and take your package to the UPS store closest to you to have it shipped. Once received, Fujitsu sends your old laptop or tablet to a recycling facility, where it’s recycled and refurbished, then sold for reuse.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Gateway
What can be recycled: Any pre-owned products from various manufacturers listed in Gateway’s drop-down menu, including monitors, servers, and gaming systems.
Recycling program(s) offered: Gateway offers two programs: the Gateway Trade-In Program and the Gateway Recycle Program. The former lets you trade in pre-owned products—regardless of manufacturer. Use the Trade-In Estimator to see what it’s valued at; then register for an account, and pack and ship your items to Gateway’s warehouse. The latter lets you recycle your used item; enter the product category and shipping weight.
Fee(s): Charged a recycling fee (based on item) for each item; trade-ins are free.
Cash back/rewards: Earn money for each trade-in. We’ve seen as much as $140.
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Hewlett-Packard
What can be recycled: Both HP and non-HP products, including monitors, digital cameras, and printers.
Recycling program(s) offered: HP offers four great programs. The first is the Trade-In Program for both HP and non-HP products. Second, HP Financial Services will pay your company for unwanted computer equipment through the Return for Cash program. Recycle HP inkjet and laserjet cartridges and any brand of computer hardware and rechargeable batteries through the Recycle program. Or if you’re in a giving mood, donate your products to the National Cristina Foundation.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: Cash back from both the Trade-In and Return for Cash Programs.
Participating region(s): Global

Company: Lenovo
What can be recycled: Lenovo products as well as other-branded products listed on the site.
Recycling program(s) offered: Trade in your used electronics through Lenovo’s ECO Take Back program. Simply select your state, choose your device (desktop, phone, laptop, monitor, music player), and fill in the necessary information to get the estimated value of your trade-in. Lenovo has a zero landfill policy; the company claims your device will either be reused in whole or properly recycled in the U.S.
Fee(s): Free shipping for all Lenovo and select IBM products; fee for non-Lenovo products.
Cash back/rewards: Receive an ECO International Visa Prepaid Card with the trade-in value of your product.
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: LG Electronics
What can be recycled: LG, Zenith, and GoldStar brands of televisions, monitors, audio equipment, video cassette players and recorders, DVD players and recorders, combination TV/VCR and TV/DVD units, set-top boxes; non-LG products are also accepted.
Recycling program(s) offered: Through a partnership with Waste Management Inc., the LG Electronics Recycling Program provides recycling of used, unwanted, obsolete, or damaged LG products. You can drop off your products at one of the 160 designated Waste Management sites across the U.S. Consumers may drop off up to five LG-branded items at a time. Cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs are covered by a separate LG recycling program dubbed the LG Eco-Mobilization Program; you can print a postage-free mailing label to send to LG’s recycling partner or drop it off at a center nearest you.
Fee(s): None, but a fee may be charged by Waste Management for non-LG brands.
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Motorola
What can be recycled: Motorola-branded phones, modems, routers
Recycling program(s) offered: If participating in Motorola’s Mobile Phone Recycling program, here’s how to get started: ensure that your phone’s battery is discharged first. Then place your phone in a packaging box and print the prepaid postage label and affix to the package. Drop the package into the mail. That’s it! The same can be done when recycling any Motorola modem or router.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): Global

Company: Nokia
What can be recycled: Nokia phones
Recycling program(s) offered: To recycle your unwanted Nokia phone, fill in the online form, and Nokia will populate a postage-paid return label for you. Or drop off your old Nokia phone at its flagship stores in Chicago or New York.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Olympus
What can be recycled: Olympus’s rechargeable camera batteries
Recycling program(s) offered: Olympus is working with Call2Recycle to offer rechargeable battery recycling. Drop off any Olympus rechargeable batteries (including Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium Ion) at participating retail stores or collection sites, including The Home Depot, Sears, and Target. Or use Call2Recyle’s site locator to find the retail collection site nearest you.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Samsung
What can be recycled: Both Samsung-branded and non-Samsung products, including TVs, phones, and toner.
Recycling program(s) offered: Samsung works directly with e-waste recyclers like Eco International and CRT Processing to offer its various recycling programs. Available in all 50 states, Samsung’s Recycling Direct program lets you recycle your Samsung-branded electronics by bringing them to any of the designated drop-off centers. Just enter your zip code to find a Samsung Recycling Direct location near you. With Samsung’s Takeback And Recycling Program, all returned cartridges are said to be recycled back into useful materials to become new products again; simply register, request a packing label, and leave at a FedEx location. For mobile phone users, you can recycle your old phone through the Samsung Mobile Take-Back Program by printing out a shipping label and mailing your package through the post office.
Fee(s): There is no recycling fee for Samsung-branded products; but there is a fee for other-branded products.
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Sharp
What can be recycled: TVs, DVD players, copiers, appliances, and more—regardless of manufacturer.
Recycling program(s) offered: In 2007, Sharp teamed up with both Panasonic and Toshiba to form the Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM) in the U.S., which sets up recycling locations and tracks where recycled materials travel. Consumers can find an MRM drop-off center in their home state. Most MRM drop-off sites accept all types and brands of consumer electronics for recycling. The Sharp Toner Recycling Program is for recycling Sharp copier toner products only; complete the online form and bring your package to any UPS store.
Fee(s): MRM centers accept Panasonic-, Sharp-, and Toshiba-branded TVs and other consumer electronics at no charge. However, there may be a charge for recycling other brands or products.
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Sony
What can be recycled: Sony-branded gaming consoles, MP3 players, TVs, and more.
Recycling program(s) offered: Sony partnered with Waste Management to provide the Sony National Take Back Recycling Program for the safe disposal of your Sony electronics. Bring your unwanted electronics to any participating Waste Management eCycling drop-off location. Waste Management will then collect, store, track inventory, and dismantle the products in raw materials. If you need to dispose of an old Sony rechargeable battery, drop it off at a Sony Style store near you.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Toshiba
What can be recycled: Laptops, monitors, home audio receivers, GPS navigation systems, and other consumer electronics—regardless of manufacturer.
Recycling program(s) offered: Recycle any brand of electronics through Toshiba’s Trade-In Program. Use the online trade-in estimator to see how much you’d get for your item; items with no trade-in value will have an option to recycle for free. Print a prepaid shipping label and ship your item to the trade-in warehouse.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: You’ll receive a check in the mail (based on the trade-in value of your returned product).
Participating region(s): U.S.

Company: Xerox
What can be recycled: Cartridges from Xerox-branded office printers (Phaser, DocuPrint N Series, and WorkCentre C2424), multifunction, copiers, production printers, and fax machines.
Recycling program(s) offered: Through the Xerox Green World Alliance Recycling Program, you can recycle your ink cartridges by printing a prepaid UPS return label, packaging your cartridges, and shipping them through UPS.
Fee(s): None
Cash back/rewards: None
Participating region(s): Global

RETAILERS

Company: Best Buy
What can be recycled: Most consumer electronics purchased from Best Buy and other stores. However, the following items are currently not accepted in Best Buy stores: TVs and monitors larger than 32 inches; electronics containing Freon (air conditioners, dehumidifiers and mini-fridges); and appliances. Best Buy will remove an old or obsolete television and appliance at no charge from a consumers’ home when a new product from Best Buy is purchased and is being delivered.
How to get started: Best Buy works with many e-waste recyclers, including Regency Technologies, Recellular, and Electronics Recyclers International (ERI), to offer in-store recycling. Go to any Best Buy store location to drop off your used electronics. The store accepts up to two items per household per day.
Fee(s): There’s no fee for recycling most consumer electronics, but there is a recycling fee of $10 for TVs, CRTs, monitors, and laptops, which is offset with a $10 Best Buy gift card.

Company: Office Depot
What can be recycled: Monitors, fax machines, desktops, laptops, printers, peripherals, digital cameras, video cameras, DVD players, MP3 players, small televisions, and cords & cables; cracked monitors, appliances, and items containing Freon or radioactive materials will not be accepted.
How to get started: Office Depot offers a convenient Tech Recycling Service. Head to your local Office Depot store and ask an associate for a tech recycling box (three sizes available). Then stuff the box with as many acceptable items as you can. Bring the box to an associate to be shipped. All recycling will occur in the U.S.
Fee(s): You will be charged $5, $10, or $15 for this service to cover the costs of the box, shipment, and recycling.

Company: RadioShack
What can be recycled: Most consumer electronics purchased from RadioShack and other stores.
How to get started: Through RadioShack’s Trade-In Program, you can trade in your item and get a RadioShack gift card in return for its value. Go to RadioShack.com to have your item appraised. Then print out a prepaid shipping label and mail your package. If your item is proven to be in the condition you indicated, you will be sent a RadioShack gift card within 14 days.
Fee(s): None

Company: Staples
What can be recycled: Used computers, monitors, laptops, desktop printers, faxes, and all-in-ones; ink and toner cartridges
How to get started: Bring in your electronics to any U.S. Staples store. Your stuff will be bagged and sealed, then picked up and delivered to Staples’s recycling provider, Eco International. When returning HP, Lexmark, or Dell ink and toner cartridges, Staples will give you $3 in Staples Rewards toward a future purchase of ink or toner.
Fee(s): No recycling charge for smaller computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and speakers; a recycling fee of $10 will be charged for larger equipment to cover handling, transport, product disassembly, and recycling.

Company: TigerDirect.com
What can be recycled: You can trade in used, working technology products in exchange for a TigerDirect.com gift card.
How to get started: To participate in TigerDirect.com’s Trade-In Program, follow these four steps: register for a trade-in account; select a category to use the trade-in estimator and receive an instant estimate; print a prepaid shipping label; and ship your item to the trade-in warehouse. You’ll receive a TigerDirect.com Gift Card in the mail, based on the trade-in value of your item.
Fee(s): None

Company: Wal-Mart
What can be recycled: Cell phones
How to get started: Recycle your old cell phones through Walmart.com. Print the free shipping label and affix to package. Drop it in the mail. Proceeds from recycled phones will help support United Way, a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that help communities.
Fee(s): None

CASH-BACK WEB SITES
BuyMyTronics.com
www.buymytronics.com
This site currently purchases iPods and iPhones, cell phones/PDAs, Microsoft Zunes, and game consoles. You don’t have to worry about the condition of your gadget, either; BuyMyTronics.com will still buy it from you. Once you provide info about your gadget, you will receive an instant price quote. Then ship them your gadget and provide your e-mail address or physical address where you would like your payment sent via Paypal or check.

Cell For Cash
www.cellforcash.com
Get cash back for sending in your old cell phone to be recycled. Accepts phones from HP, Motorola, Nokia, and more. If your cell phone is not on the site’s buy back list, you can choose to donate it to CellPhoneBank.org to provide communication for someone in need.

CollectiveGood
http://collectivegood.tradeups.com
Receive cash for your preowned tech products (monitors, laptops, desktops, game consoles, digital cameras, printers, MP3 players, phones), or donate your cash to charity. To begin, get a trade-in quote for your product. Describe its condition, package it, and choose your preferred payment method. All payments will be issued approximately 45 days after your product is inspected, whether it’s in the form of a check to you or a check to charity.

Flipswap
www.flipswap.com
Get cash for your cell phone or iPod, or donate it to charity on Flipswap.com. Find your cell phone or iPod on the list and state its condition to receive a trade-in value. Pack your cell phone or iPod in a padded envelope or small box, and ship it to Flipswap for free. If your gadget is in working condition or can be repaired, the company sends it to a place where it can be reused. But it’s broken beyond repair, it will be recycled. Best of all, Flipswap’s reLeaf project plants a tree for every phone recycled. You or your chosen charity will get a check in the mail.

Gazelle
www.gazelle.com
Gazelle accepts phones, digital cameras, MP3 players, computers, external hard drives, and more. On average, Gazelle pays its customers $115 for its recycled gadgets. Enter the make and model of your gadget, and its condition, to receive a monetary offer. Gazelle pays for the shipping of your item and will even send you a box.

MyBoneYard
http://myboneyard.com
Recycle your desktop, phone, laptop/tablet, monitor, or digital music player here, and MyBoneYard will pay you for it. Input all of the necessary information to get your estimated reward. You’ll receive payment in the form of a Visa Prepaid Card.

TechForward
www.techforward.com
TechForward believes it’s best to plan beforehand what you will do with your electronics once they’re old or unwanted. The site lets you purchase a Guaranteed Buyback plan for your current device to ensure that when you’re ready to upgrade, your item will still have a cash value. All you have to do is keep your item in good condition. When TechForward receives your used device, the company will resell it to someone who needs it, or if it can’t be resold, it will recycle your item. You will receive a check or gift card within 60 days of postmarking your device. Plan prices range from $19.99 to $249.99, depending on your item.

YouRenew
www.yourenew.com
YouRenew is pioneering a field called “ReCommerce” and wants you to get paid for being good to the environment and pays you to recycle your old electronic devices. If the device doesn’t have any value, they’ll pay for you to ship it to them to recycle. An added eco-friendly bonus is that for every device they take in, they’ll plant a tree.

I’d like this list to be as complete as possible so if you come across a resource that has yet to be included, please feel free to mention it in the comments and I’ll also add it to the post. - Thanks!

Source: PCMag.com, EPA, Consumer Electronics AssociationSimilar Posts:

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The story of Little Red Riding Hood is a classic fairytale, if not one of the classics of all time, and to see it interpreted in such a way that is so laden with technological perspectives is both jarring and appealing to the eye and mind. Don’t get me wrong, I think the creative work presented in this video is spectacular but it opens the door into a gestalt style of visual storytelling rarely explored beyond employee manuals and flight safety cards.

I will revisit this topic once I wrap my brain around it more… until then, the video:

According to the creator of the Red Riding Hood video above, he was inspired by the video embedded below called “Remind me” by Royksopp which won the 2002 MTV Europe Music Award for best music video. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Royksopp must certainly be blushing.

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Now as an adult looking back, I marvel at the memories that include him because his pure joy of life superseded all things and he refused to let the constant physical challenges he faced deter his ability to smile or crack a slurring joke at our expense. We always found a way to include him in many of the games we played both inside the house and out in the yard and through the eyes of these childhood memories we rarely, if at all, viewed him as challenged. These labels came later after the ‘child’ had been worn from my face and as a teenager watched the gap between our commonly shared activities widen after entering high school. Writing this post solidifies, yet again as I engage my forties, the cliche that “times change”.

A hypothetical game I like to play sometimes is blending those changes, rubbing the edges off them a little by applying the technological wonders of our current age into those childhood memories. One of my favorites is to imagine if the Internet had existed in the 70’s. Well, we can go in all sorts of directions now but my focus is on a Scandinavian organization called Lekotek that began as two parents of children with disabilities who sought ways to help their children during their formative years. Lekotek now has over 30 learning centers in the U.S. nationwide as well as many other community programs available for participation.

From their website:

Lekotek makes the world of play accessible to children with all types of disabilities through special play and learning centers where they can have fun with traditional toys, adapted toys, books and computers. And while they are playing, Lekotek kids are learning new skills that build the base for literacy, mathematical reasoning and computer use.

Learning about an organization like Lekotek makes me wonder, just a little bit, what might be different today if my cousin had been able to share in the benefits of exploring and expanding his capabilities through organized play utilizing toys and games that were designed for his special needs.

AblePlay^TM is a website developed by National Lekotek Center which provides parents of children with special needs and the professionals who work with them a unique search tool to match AblePlay-Rated toys to disability categories. AblePlay evaluates the toys and their appropriateness within four disability categories — physical, communicative, sensory and cognitive, taking the guesswork out of toy shopping for children with special needs.

If you need help selecting a toy for a child with disabilities, here are the questions that the play experts at the National Lekotek Center ask when choosing developmentally appropriate toys for differently-abled kids:

1. Multi-sensory appeal
   Does the toy respond with lights, sounds, or movement to engage the child? Are there contrasting colors? Does it have a scent? Is there texture?
2. Method of activation
   Will the toy provide a challenge without frustration? What is the force required to activate? What are the number and complexity of steps required to activate?
3. Places the toy will be used
   Will the toy be easy to store? Is there space in the home? Can the toy be used in a variety of positions such as side-lying or on a wheelchair tray?
4. Opportunities for success
   Can play be open-ended with no definite right or wrong way? Is it adaptable to the child’s individual style, ability, and pace?
5. Current popularity
   Is it a toy that will help the child with disabilities feel like “any other kid?” Does it tie in with other activities like books and art sets that promote other forms of play?
6. Self-expression
   Does the toy allow for creativity, uniqueness, and making choices? Will it give the child experience with a variety of media?
7. Adjustability
   Does it have adjustable height, sound volume, speed, and level of difficulty?
8. Child’s individual abilities
   Does the toy provide activities that reflect both developmental and chronological ages? Does it reflect the child’s interests and age?
9. Safety and Durability
   Does the toy fit with the child’s size and strength? Does it have moisture resistance? Is the toy and its parts sized appropriately? Can it be washed and cleaned?
10. Potential for interaction
    Will the child be an active participant during use? Will the toy encourage social engagement with others?

Source: National Lekotek Center, AblePlay™
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It was easy to recognize, even over a dozen years ago, the attraction the Internet had on me as well as millions of others around the world. I have been connected ever since and as the relevance of the Internet has grown, so have the methods of how I connect. I still remember the first time I used my Palm Treo to go online and thought how ‘ahead of the curve’ I was when showing off the painfully slow loading text-link based “Information Super Highway’ to my friends.

Time marches on and at last count I have the following devices (in no particular order) currently in my possession that can connect to the Web:

• iPhone
• MacBook Pro
• MacBook
• Acer Netbook
• Tivo HD
• Tivo Series 2
• PowerMac G3
• Apple TV

OK, so my total is 8.

When I do this type of a list I always feel like I’m forgetting something… Oh. I’m not counting routers or modems since I’m looking for results that are less of the conduits themselves and normally have some sort of user interface that allows you to access/manipulate info on the Internet. In order to analyze for better comparison and discussion, feel free to add your list of devices to the comments below.

Your turn…

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