Program/Project
Description
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BASCOM develops software solutions for the K-12 education community, while licensing its technology to ISPs serving family consumers.
The Access Management Engine (AME)TM is a software system enabling K-12 schools and parents to provide Internet content that supports their individual educational or parenting goals. The AME focuses children's Internet usage on Web sites, e-mail recipients, and Internet services selected by their parents / teachers using simple, password-protected management screens.
AME Web Management: Adults use simple, browser-based screens to create Web site "Allowed Lists" for their students or children. Lists are entered into a simple text box and can be augmented or changed quickly on a task-specific basis. Along with the ability to make their own selections, customers receive access to a comprehensive library of educational Web sites, selected and reviewed under the supervision of an Education Advisory Board. Serving as the default or suggested Allowed List, this Internet starting point is completely modifiable according to individual user needs. During Web usage, children receive a friendly "not allowed" page when they request sites that have not been selected by teachers / parents, or are not part of whichever default sites adults have chosen to use. Adults can allow the site quickly if desired with the use of a password.
AME E-Mail and Services Management: Adults are afforded complete management of Internet features that enable interaction with individuals outside of the home or school environment, including e-mail, Usenet newsgroups, chat, AOL, and FTP. AME e-mail management in particular allows adults to choose addresses to which children can send e-mail, as well as choose addresses from which e-mail can be received. E-mail communication can also be suspended.
Internet Communications Server (ICS): ICS is a K-12 Internet connectivity appliance including a pre-configured firewall along with the AME software system. The ICS firewall prevents outsiders from accessing students' personal information (along with any other information stored on the school network) by protecting internal workstations behind a secure LAN segment. A third LAN segment option enables schools to employ their own public Web, e-mail, FTP, and Usenet news servers without compromising the security of their protected network.
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Key Highlights/
Milestones
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By focusing children's access on content chosen by their parents or teachers, users surpass limitations in flexibility and security that may be posed by a third-party "key word" or "block list" approach.
In a K-12 setting, the AME mimics the traditional method of resource selection, in which all available sources of information are selected by educators according to their curriculum. In this way the system provides an exceptional level of safety and security by way of its approach to curriculum-based management. Teachers' ability to select sites relating to each of their lesson plans adds a task-specific focus to these levels of safety, security, and educational value.
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