The route to good kids?

Food, recipes, fashion, sport, education, exercise, sexuality, travel.
Post Reply
User avatar
Gob
Posts: 33646
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:40 am

The route to good kids?

Post by Gob »

A router that only allows internet access after household chores have been completed is being developed in the US.

Image

Kudoso allows parents to set a list of tasks that unlock minutes to be used online.

The device's makers hope to eventually incorporate fitness apps into the system to reward children who regularly exercise.

One parenting expert told the BBC she thought the technology "seems a bit over the top".

Parenting author Judy Reith, who runs parentingpeople.co.uk, said concern was growing about internet use.

"I've interviewed a lot of parents," she said.

"The number one worry is technology, and that's not going to go away any time soon."

But she added: "The business of this special router doing that for you seems a bit over the top for me.

"A parent's voice does carry a lot of power even if the parents don't feel it does. They should set up firm but fair rules about all kind of things, including internet usage."

Mrs Reith said as well as monitoring children's internet use, it was important parents considered their own as well.


Developer Rob Irizarry is trying to raise money on crowdfunding site Kickstarter to support the project, which has been in development for 18 months.

"Parents today are faced with a dilemma about how to manage the amount of time their kids spend on the internet and the content they are exposed to," the Kickstarter appeal page says.

"Kudoso lets your children earn points - by doing chores, studying or even exercising - that allow them to access the internet sites you approve for blocks of time that you define."

By carrying out the chores, children will earn currency that can be "spent" accessing websites.

Parents can set which websites are more "expensive". For example, the same amount of currency could allow for 30 minutes on an educational site, but only 10 minutes on an entertainment page.

Mr Irizarry said his technology was more effective than current projects on the market due to the fact it blocked internet access into the home completely, rather than just using software that must be installed on each device - and could be circumvented by particularly enterprising children.

As well as being sold as a pre-installed router, Kudoso will also be available as software to be installed on a range of routers from other manufacturers.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”

User avatar
Long Run
Posts: 6723
Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:47 pm

Re: The route to good kids?

Post by Long Run »

Does it work equally well to provide incentives for adults?

rubato
Posts: 14245
Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 10:14 pm

Re: The route to good kids?

Post by rubato »

Skinner!


Image


Who put the pigeon in the pelican?



yrs,
rubato

Post Reply