New device puts schools in control of internet

A Hawke's Bay firm has created a computer product designed to allow schools to manage and control the internet content their students can access.

Safenet Solutions, a subsidiary of Link Technologies Ltd, Napier, has spent the past three years developing Safenet and plans to launch it nationwide.

Safenet is a box that sits between the internet and the schools' computer network.

It controls internet access by using a reference bank of predetermined website addresses that have been checked and approved by the school.

Students are unaware of it until they try to access a restricted website.

The idea behind the project came from Link managing director Phil Green, who was concerned that school children had direct, and to a great extent, unsupervised, access to the internet at school.

"Many schools are unwilling to use the Internet as a resource as they are aware how easily students could access objectionable material," Mr Green said.

Safenet product manager John Marryatt said the technology freed up teachers' time and meant students could use school computer resources more often, as Safenet did not require constant teacher supervision.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY