Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Regulate Your Kids' Gaming With Time Scout

Posted by simoniker on from the thunderstorms-and-natural-disasters-also-work dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a PC World/Yahoo story discussing the Time-Scout Monitor, a device "which tracks and enforces usage limits on electronic products, and cuts the power when time runs out." It's aimed at kids who may watch TV or, particularly, play game consoles for too long, and uses an ATM-like card to allott time on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. According to the man behind it, Kent Hansen, "You get home and the kid is playing Nintendo or the computer when they're supposed to be doing homework. Then you're facing arguments and negotiations that make you the bad guy. With this product, there's no argument, because you can't argue with a box."

4 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. drawback? by orangesquid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Kid: Mom, what happens when I unplug the Nintendo from that funny-looking box and plug it into a normal socket?
    Mom: Shit.

    --
    --TheOrangeSquid Is it any wonder things seem so awry? We swim in a sea of confusion and don't have to think to survive
    1. Re:drawback? by Sparr0 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Mom: You get grounded.

      duh

  2. You can't argue with a box by djNocturne · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's true, I've tried.

    "What the f--"

    "I pushed left, you squirrely piece of shit ... left ! God and BABY Jesus, I am not playing that entire level again!"

    Storm out of the room. Wait at least two minutes (you do have your pride), then slink back in and play that entire level again.

    I also recommend a wireless controller. Preferrably one of the more expensive models. Trust me, you're much less tempted to throw a $50 miracle of modern technology into the wall ... unless, of course, you decide that it's to blame for the "glitch."

    --
    /* Pleurez, pleurez, mes yeux, et fondez vous en eau! La moitie de ma vie a mis l'autre au tombeau. - Corneille */
  3. Re:Glad we didn't have this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yeah, limited your child's access to technology is perfect. I mean, just think - if only my parents had done a better job of preventing me from using their computer so much, I wouldn't be wasting my life making a six figure salary from home with all of the knowledge I gained almost entirely from that stolen time on the computer that I wasn't supposed to be on.

    Yeah.. Boy... That awful computer!