MS Megabyte factsheets
What's new in the world of websites

Conceived by four Brisbane brothers, www.youthealth.com is a site that encourages children to think about their health. Using Doc and his gang, you go on a journey of discovery into the world of health, and exploring inside the human body through games, animation and interaction.

One of the brothers, Dr Viner, is a specialist paediatrician and adolescent physician with an international reputation in child and adolescent health.

Although it's a great site, the one thing it could do without is the advertising - I'm not a big fan of exposing kids as young as 6 to advertisements, so if you feel the same, look into an ad-filtering program to run on your web browser. (go to www.shareware.com and do a search for ad filtering).

www.create.net.au is a site devoted to kids who live in care. It aims to connect young people and children together as an online community. The CyberZone in "Create your zone" is a free online club which has pictures, poems, stories, music and more, that you can add to yourself.

A site in desperate need of support from the powers that be, is DepressioNet. At www.depressionet.com.au - it is a support service for those suffering depression or caring for those with depression. It has been listed as Australia's No. 1 health site, and was a finalist in the AFR Internet Awards last year, but is struggling for funds. There is a message board, chat rooms and other resources vital for help. It has been personally funded by Leanne Pethick, with just a few staff available to answer the 24hr support queries that come through.

ReachOut is a fantastic site that helps young people through hard times. It was developed by the Inspire Foundation as a youth suicide prevention resource, and has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. At www.reachout.com.au, you'll find information on emergency help, a help kit, issues, the Chill Cafe with an e-gallery to send e-cards to friends, a paint gallery where you can submit your own computer art and spotlights on how all sorts of people have coped with hard times in the past.

The First Computer Mouse book is a fantastic, colourful new book about the development of computers and the first computer mouse - an actual rodent. The book was created by the Melbourne Museum's curator of IT, David Demant and inspired by CSIRAC - Australia's first computer which is on display at the museum. ISBN 0-9311-8421-1. $14.95 and available from the Melbourne Museum Shop or by phone order: 03 8341 7574.

For my fact sheet archive, visit http://www.getmega.com/getmega/todayshow.html

The best selling 'PCs for Dummies' book has been adapted for the first time for Australia by yours truly, me! Click on the book image to order the book now!