Regulate Your Kids' Gaming With Time Scout

Posted by simoniker on Friday June 20, 2003 @05:10PM 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."

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Yet another way... by OneBarG · 2003-06-20 17:15 · Score: 0, Redundant

for parents to pass the buck to a machine. First they want an electronic device or two to raise their kids, then they want this thing to limit their access to the electronic devices.

Oh well, at least the average kid will probably be able to figure out that they can unplug their TV or whatever from this and plug it directly into the wall.

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I'm starting to think this isn't the best place to promote my Anti-Sig Campaign.
Can't finish a game! by DJayC · 2003-06-20 17:18 · Score: 1, Redundant

I can see it now.. a kid is too involved in a game and then *CLICK*, no power. "But I forgot to saaaaaaaaave".

As far as not arguing with "a box", I'm sure a kid is more inclined to hit the box than attempt to argue with it!