Friday, April 5, 2013

Android-Powered PC Lets Parents Monitor Kids' Online Activities

2013-03-29 22:07:21 UTC

When it comes to digitally-inclined children, a parent's biggest concern is safety. Kids' constant connection makes it difficult to keep track of how much time they're spending online or what content they're coming across — but one Kickstarter project is giving parents back the control.

MiiPC, a compact personal computing device, connects with most computer monitors or TV screens and lets parents track use from a mobile app. The device runs on Android's OS and each family member can utilize a separate desktop account. Check out the video, above, for more.

If your child is playing Angry Birds instead of researching a book report, you can keep them on course by specifying which apps and websites they can access. You can even log them out remotely or prevent future logins. Parents can also review a history of users' online use, and each account is personalized and can be controlled in real-time.

The idea is to provide a simple and effective way for families to take back control of online experiences, MiiPC's creators explain on the site. The PC reached its $50,000 funding goal in less than 24 hours and had raised nearly $100,000 at time of writing.

MiiPC is available for $99 with estimated shipping in August.

What do you think of MiiPC? Are there any devices or tools you use to monitor your kids online? Let us know in the comments.

Images courtesy of miiPC

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