No Computer Until Your Work Is Done, Dad

Your kids may get a wireless computer before you do. Some schools have already started programs testing handheld computers for students. Staff Writer Gail Repsher Emery uncovered programs at the University of South Dakota, Oklahoma Christian University and secondary schools in Georgia and other states where students are using handheld computers, laptops and other wireless devices to do schoolwork, track assignments and communicate with their teachers. While it's still very early in the game ? many of the new school programs are just pilot projects ? wireless companies are seeing a marked increase in education-related demand. In the first six months of this year, IBM Corp.'s mobile computing sales, including wireless laptops and mobile computer labs, to education clients increased about 35 percent over last year. Palm Inc. has seen its sales to higher education clients nearly double since it entered the education market about a year ago."We're at the beginning of a trend," said Sean Rush, manager of the global education practice for computer maker IBM.I just hope my 9-year-old son gets a wireless computer in time to teach me how to use it.