Setting Limits, Not Controls Installation and User Guide Model PCM-1 www.pcmoderator.com © Copyright 2007 Woog Laboratories, Inc.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Contraindications Some mental health professionals believe that for certain individuals, excessive computer use that causes problems in academic, occupational or social functioning may be symptomatic of more serious mental health problems such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety or depression (Woog, 2004).
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 3 PC Moderator™ PCM-1 Installation and User Guide Thank you for purchasing the PC Moderator™ from Woog Labs™. You have made an important investment toward reclaiming valuable time that your child would otherwise have lost due to excessive computer use. Installation of the PC Moderator™ is easy. Just follow the Quick Installation Guide. The only tool required is a small Phillips screwdriver. Setup is also easy.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Copyright © 2007, Woog Laboratories, Inc.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 5 Table of Contents Before Using the PC Moderator....................................................................... 6 Talking To Your Children about the PC Moderator .................................. 6 PC Moderator Operation.................................................................................. 7 Keyboard Operation ....................................................................................... 7 System Power Up...........................
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Before Using the PC Moderator Some mental health professionals believe that for certain individuals, excessive computer use that causes problems in academic, occupational or social functioning may be symptomatic of more serious mental health problems such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety or depression (Woog, 2004).
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 7 PC Moderator Operation Keyboard Operation The term Hotkey is used throughout this manual to describe the key on your keyboard or keypad that, when pressed twice, signals the PC Moderator’s attention. During the initial setup of the PC Moderator, you were instructed to press this key followed by either [Enter] or the [+] key on the keypad to start the first time setup program.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Logging In Once the Login Prompt graphic is displayed, the user may “log in” and assuming time is available for that user, the PC Moderator will enable the display and the keyboard attached to the PC Moderator. To log in from the Login Prompt: 1. Select a user number by pressing a number key 1–8 (User), 9 (Parent) or 0 (Setup). If you select a valid user number that has been setup, a red screen with a steady solid purple bar at the top will be displayed.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 9 Manual Logging Off the PC Moderator 1. Press the Hotkey twice. 2. When the screen turns a dim purple, press the [-] key on the keypad. The Login Prompt will be immediately displayed and another user may log in. If User 1 has Auto Login enabled and the current time is available according to the settings for User 1, the Login Prompt will be displayed for less than 1 minute before User 1 is automatically logged in again.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Display Prompt Summary State Display Powerup Blinking blue or waiting red (1) pattern getting smaller from top of screen What to do next Wait for Login Prompt (40 seconds).
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 11 User 1 – 8 Operation While a user is logged in, the amount of time used for that day and the current time are continually being monitored against the limits and range settings for the user for that day of the week and available allowance and bonus time (if enabled). In order to provide warning that time is running out, the display will flash in various ways.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide To invoke this graphic display while logged in and running any application: 1. Press the Hotkey twice. 2. When the screen turns a dim purple, press the Hotkey again. The bar chart graphic of remaining time will now be displayed. This display consists of red and blue bars with a dimmed view of the current display in the background. The graphic is the full width of the display starting at the bottom and extending upwards like a bar chart.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 13 Display Dim If the time reaches the point where the display is dimmed (if enabled), the display will dim and remain dimmed for that user until any new login the next the morning. The colors are not dimmed equally. Blue is dimmed approximately 90% while green and red are dimmed approximately 50%. The intended purpose of dimming the display is to reduce the effects of delayed sleep cycles caused by late night computer use.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Setup Login and Menu Operation If no users have been setup, the PC Moderator will automatically run the First Time Setup program when the Setup User (0) enters setup. Otherwise, logging in as the Setup User (0) allows the option of either 1) entering the Setup Menu to manually configure the time/date, user settings and various preferences OR 2) make quick changes such as enabling/disabling Vacation mode without the inconvenience of running Setup.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 15 power to the keyboard and mouse when shut down. The next person to power the computer (i.e. your child) will have full access to setup. Temporary User (8) You can create a temporary user 8 so that you can provide additional time when you are not home (i.e. working late). This might be useful if you have your child on a manual daily enable setting and you have to stay late at the office.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Bonus time When a parent wants to add time for a user at that moment, such as a late school project or as a special privilege, they can add Bonus Time. Rather than making permanent setting changes, bonus time between 10 and 90 minutes can be added by: 1. At the login prompt, press the numeric key of the user (1-8). 2. At the password input screen, press a single numeric (1-9) key corresponding to the amount of time to add.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 17 Bonus time does not reduce available allowance time and balances are maintained to the nearest minute. There is a great deal of flexibility on how allowance can be given. Allowance time can be fixed where parents clear any remaining balance and add a fixed number of hours to be used during the week or allowance can be earned with tokens, points or upon meeting certain responsibilities. The current allowance balance can be obtained using the User Status Report.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Computer Usage Reports The PC Moderator allows parents to find out exactly how much time their children spend on the computer and help their children to make effective changes to their computing habits. The computer usage reports are available from the Setup Menu. Enter the setup menu and press “6” for Computer Usage Reports. Select a single user or “all users“ and enter the date range for the reports.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 19 dim purple, press the [Enter] key. The setup menu should run automatically. Note: If you are not running a Windows OS, you will need to run a text editor, press the Hotkey twice, followed by the [+] key. Now you may view and change the Setup Password and any settings. Then exit setup, press “0” at any menu, power down the computer, disconnect the power cord, replace the blue jumper, reinstall the cover, lock and AC power cord.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide Battles With Your Children Regarding the PC Moderator It is likely that your children will not be happy about the setting of limits on their computer use. There is little you can say to convince them that this product is helpful to them except for research suggesting negative biological effects due to nighttime computer use. Getting into an argument about the PC Moderator will not be useful.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 21 will have all the defaults reset and all users and user data cleared. Proceed with Steps 6, 7 and then follow the instructions on page 9 for “PC Moderator First Time Setup”. 6. Shutdown the computer, remove the PC Moderator cover and replace the blue jumper. 7. Install the case cover and again lock the PC Moderator using the padlock.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide model) to ensure compatibility and security. The upgrade kit includes a DVI to VGA Shield allowing the PC Moderator to connect to and securely lock to a DVI to VGA adapter plug. The DVI Cover Lock locks access to DVI ports on the computer or video adapter to prevent users from using alternative port connections. Refer to www.pcmoderator.com for product and compatibility information. 3.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 23 6. Slide the cover of the PC Moderator™ back on the base as far as it will go. The hole on the cover should line up perfectly with the hole on the base. If the cover does not slide on easily, make sure the internal wires do not interfere with the case cover. If the cover has been removed completely, the cables will need to be fed through the slit in the bottom of the cover. 7. Attach the monitor’s cable to the VGA cable of the PC Moderator.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide PC Moderator First Time Setup Once the PC Moderator™ has been installed on the PC, it must be configured: 1. Power up the computer. The computer should display a red, normal, tinted screen and then blue and red screens before the display alternates between normal and dim/yellow (indicates Setup login). If blinking color bars are displayed followed by a blinking red or purple bar at the top of the screen, the PC Moderator has previously been setup.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 25 and reading some of the text might be difficult. The Wordpad and Notepad applications are found under the Accessories folder. To run Wordpad, click on the the Windows “Start” button, then click “Programs” or “All Programs”, then “Accessories”, then “Wordpad” (or if not available, “Notepad”). While in the text editor, press the Hotkey twice. The screen should turn a dim purple. Now press the [+] key (keypad).
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide choose Automatic Login for User 1 during first time setup. This sets a blank password (same as pressing [Enter] when prompted for the user’s password in the Setup program) for User 1. If time is available for User 1, User 1 is automatically logged in when the computer is powered. When time is unavailable, they are logged out and when time is again available (i.e. next day, outside of lock out period) they are again automatically logged in.
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide 27 Troubleshooting The following is a list of common problems and possible solutions. For more information and the latest troubleshooting hints, please visit our web site at www.pcmoderator.com. Note: Hotkey is [Scroll Lock] unless PC Moderator is used with USB Upgrade Kit ([Num Lock]). Problem Answer Get 3 flashing red patterned screen when attempting to log in my child, then returns to Login Prompt (flashing red/blue).
PC Moderator ™ Installation and User Guide References Higuchi, S., Motohashi, Y., Yang, L. Ahara, M., Kaneko, Y. (2003). Effects of VDT tasks with a bright display at night on melatonin, core temperature, heart rate and sleepiness. Journal of Applied Physiology. Pauly, S. (2004). Lighting for the human circadian clock; recent research indicates that lighting has become a public health issue. Medical Hypothesis. Woog, K.
