Game parlours address violence

LA to address online gaming violence

The city of Los Angeles will this week enforce an ordinance mandating that Internet gaming parlours pay for in-store surveillance cameras and implement a curfew for minors.

Associated Press reports that there are several other restrictions, including how many computers each business can operate and the prohibition of dark window coverings.

"This is going to cost an outpour of money that we were not necessarily going to spend," says Blue Screen owner Lisa Woo-Rogers.

Several shootings near cyber caf'es in 2002, two of them fatal, prompted the ordinance that was passed last month.

An LA police analysis has found that 86% of the 134 people arrested at cyber caf'es were minors, most for curfew and truancy violations.

Teenagers will soon get a PC specifically designed for them, reports Associated Press.

The hip-e PC, designed by Digital Lifestyles Group, will sell for $1 699 and will serve as a hub for all of a teenager`s digital interactions.

For an extra $100 it will come with an MP3 player/keychain data-storage drive, or a cellphone that can be synchronised with data on the computer. The PC has a 120GB hard drive, a TV tuner and connections for video game consoles.

Speakers attached to the bottom of the display stand can be removed and turned into a portable beatbox.

Design software developer Autodesk says it is losing $367 million in potential revenues each year because of software piracy in India.

Associated Press reports the company has six million legal users of its software globally, but there are 20 million to 30 million people using it illegally.

"For every two companies that buy our software here, there are eight who steal," says Andre Pravaz, VP of Autodesk`s Asia-Pacific operations.