On Wednesday, August 18th, Facebook announced it’s latest addition to the family: Facebook Places. As a parent concerned with the internet safety of your children, this is definitely something you should know about and make a determination if you need to have your child’s privacy settings for this feature turned off…now! We’re going to make it clear what Places is all about and help you make an informed decision. » Read more: Facebook Places, What Parents Need To Know
When we hold the “Parent Watch” portion of our seminars, Chatroulette and related services are one of the items we bring up and talk to parents about. If you don’t already know what Chatroulette.com is, it is a webcam site which allows its users to be randomly paired with an individual from anywhere in the world for a webcam chat. It’s interface is very simple, the focus here being on the random experience. As you can see from the screenshot, it’s nothing more than a white page and two windows, nothing fancy here it is all about function and “fun.” One of the interface features is the ability to “next” a user you’re not interested in chatting with. That is, you can click the “Next” button and you will draw another random stranger. What’s wrong with that you ask? Statistically, the site produces a male holding/fondling his nether regions 1 in 8 “nexts,” even though they have a disclaimer right on their homepage which states that people who abuse the site will be reported to the proper authorities and according to their terms of service, repeat offenders will be banned eventually (my paraphrase). The problem is that, well, young hormonally driven guys are young hormonally driven guys and they’re not complaining if a gal is showing off her body parts. And that is the majority of those who frequent the site…guys. » Read more: Chatroulette: Location Awareness for Perverts
Convergence. It’s a notion I often prepare parents for when speaking to them at PTA meetings, schools or wherever I may find myself. I make it a point to tell them about Windows Phone 7 and how it will allow the Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE experiences to become increasingly mobile, taking advantage of something as ubiquitous as the cellphone. I tell them about Netflix access through their children’s Wii or PS3. I tell them about the future and how IPTV (Traditional TV programming delivered through you broadband internet connection) will eventually see their children’s gaming consoles become, for all intents and purposes, “cable boxes.” This isn’t to scare them, or make them fearful that Skynet is after their kids through their gaming consoles but to inform them that video games aren’t the only thing they need to consider when deciding when is the right time to get their children their first system (if dad doesn’t already have one in the house). » Read more: TV On Your Xbox 360 Today! Kind Of
Long overdue, today we’re putting out our video review of one of our favorite cellphone parental control and monitoring applications, SMobile Systems’ Security Shield with Parental Controls and Monitoring app suite. Will it prevent sexting? The short answer is yes and no. “Yes,” because perceived threat is often a great deterrent and when your children know that it’s possible for mom or dad to see everything that goes through their cellphones – even if you’re not monitoring every jot and tittle – they’re less likely to engage in risky behaviors. “No” because it won’t necessarily stop people from sending lewd images to your children, though your children will be more likely to tell their friends, “Hey, don’t send that kind of stuff to my phone. There’s a chance the ‘rents could see it!” The great thing about this software is that if by chance your child is an unwitting recipient of a sext message, you can actually delete that photo on the phone directly from the web interface itself, then have a chat with your child about the ramifications of having such media on his or her phone. So, check out our video review below and then read on for a few more bullet points on the software, as well as a coupon code below. We connected with this company and asked them to offer our viewers a discount and they were nice enough to do so, so give them a try and see if you like the software. We’re getting nothing from the discount, no kick-backs, nada….just good software we think you should be aware of! » Read more: Sexting Prevention? DS Reviews// SMobile Parental Controls for Cellphones
Let me start this blog post off by saying that I’m not a gamer in the traditional sense, I only play now and then with my sons who are young gamers. The last time I did a serious stint of gaming was with Dragonball Z: Budokai. I beat the game, of course but I just don’t find much time in my daily, or weekend routine to invest in beating games. In the business that I’m in, I read a lot of blogs and visit trade shows so I stay abreast of the latest gadgets and often times, they don’t live completely up to the hype. I even find myself underwhelmed more than I’d like. In the case of Microsoft’s Project Natal, which was released to the public as Xbox Kinect, I’m giddy.
I got a chance to see it first hand at the E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center last week. I can completely see myself throwing down on some Dance Central with the family. One of the most impressive things I watched the system do is take a full body scan of individuals and give their measurements. Arm length, inseams, waist, hips…the whole deal. It was very cool! In addition to the titles I saw demo’d, there are other titles that I’m excited to see make their debut like Kinectimals and more Gym/Sports titles. The Kinect itself is a black “T” shaped piece that Microsoft has placed at the retail price point of $150.
Here are the videos I took of the product at E3. I edited them into one 2:30 piece so you’ll see Dance Central first, then Kinect Adventures! and then a little yoga for your high stress lives. Enjoy!
Recently I sat down for a Skype chat with the head of a new company offering something very promising in the parental control/family management software segment, Hanan Lavy of United Parents Online. A friend had forwarded an article about his company and I found myself intrigued by what was written so I figured I’d get in touch with them through their UnitedParents.com portal and get some more information. What we spoke about could prove to be the future of child monitoring software and I must admit that the geek in me is giddy with anticipation, provided it fully delivers.
So, what is it that United Parents Online is offering? Through UnitedParents.com they’re offering what I can best describe as an early warning system for parents. This is not software which alerts you to inappropriate contact alone, though it does do that. This is not software that is reactive, though it does offer parental notifications via email or sms if there is a problem with inappopriate online interactions, or even “iffy” ones. This is, however, software which utilizes up to 30 parameters of analysis to digitally fingerprint individuals who are attempting what is deemed by the parent (and other system conditions), to be inappropriate contact before the contact has become overtly problematic. To put this in english, imagine having the FBI’s Cyber Crimes detectives at your beck and call, monitoring your child’s interactions with people online. They are monitoring your child’s conversations, but most importantly, they’re monitoring what is being said by the person interacting with your child. Someone asking too many times for a picture of your child? A red flag is sent up. Someone asking persistently about meeting your child offline or for your child’s address? Another red flag is sent up. Your child lies about their age and is conversing with someone quite a bit their senior? Red flag. That’s UnitedParents.com.
How does UnitedParents’ software know how to flag individuals? When using the software, parents are greeted with configuration settings which allow them to input various information including the childs age. The system used by UnitedParents.com begins creating a logical fingerprint, which is a fancy way to say, a profile of the individual and their M.O. and sends this information across it’s network to stop this individual from having any further contact with any children using software or services that has the United Parents’ software solution integrated into it. The idea here is that the software will be integrated into Instant Messaging applications and social networking sites so that when there are “persons of interest,” there will be quite a broad network of users protected. The initial release of the beta software from UnitedParents is targeted at business who provide the instant messaging services and social networking sites, followed up a few months later by a software offering for personal use.
One thing you may wonder is if someone who is actually your child’s age is contacting your child and asking to share a picture, maybe a well known school friend or trusted relative like a cousin, how does the software handle that? In the case of gray areas, the parental notification features kick in and parents are notified as a cautionary measure. Though not available to the public yet, we here at Digital Shepherds will be keeping a close eye on the developments with United Parents Online to see what develops for the personal user in the future, as well as how they fare with getting businesses to pick up their product and integrate into highly trafficked social messaging destinations. When we’re able, we’ll bring you a full review of the personal product.
According to a recent interview, video game trailblazer Shigeru Miyamoto says that the Nintendo DS system will begin its roll out in junior high and elementary schools in Japan in the new school year. They’re already being used in Japanese museums, galleries and aquariums. In case you are wondering why this guy’s words carry any weight, he’s just the creator of classic games like “Mario,” has design credits on Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong and he’s also the man behind one of the most popular gaming consoles, the Nintendo Wii. Matter of fact, Miyamoto also stated that he’s devoting most of his energy to turning Nintendo Co.’s DS handhelds into tour guides and educational aids.
Writing’s on the wall parents. Already, many doctors are utilizing video games to help aid them in honing their skills for various surgical techniques and it’s just a matter of time before your son or daughter is using something video game related to do homework.
This is both exciting and something to be on the lookout for at the same time. Much has been written lately about Microsoft’s new mobile OS, Windows Phone 7 Series, and while the industry response has been very warm, a little tidbit that must have many young (and older) gamers giddy is the ability to take games on the go with you via your smartphone. That’s right, your child’s (or your own) gamer scores can be receiving some love even at school. How it works is that gamer scores, the bragging rights/mark of achievement of gaming enthusiasts everywhere, transfer from the XBOX360 via the Windows Phone 7 Series’ ability to play those same (or similar) games right on the phone itself. So, levels beaten, trophies achieved, enemies wiped out, bosses bludgeoned can all be mobile. That’s the upside….and the downside. That’s the gotcha! As much as I’m very excited, parents just need to be aware that by the end of the year your children won’t only be potentially distracted at home but they can take their distractions with them. Consider yourselves forewarned (for the better or worse, depending on whether you’re the parent or the player or both).
Check out vids of a prototype Windows Phone 7 Series device running a game, here: Microsoft Shows Off Windows Phone Gaming
[via Gizmodo]
We told you back in December about the enTourage eDGe and how excited we were to visit them in Vegas and get some hands on time. Today we have a video demo we did, straight from their booth at the Consumer Electronics Show. Check it out and tell us what you think. Did we call it right? Is this the future of homework?
The image above, courtesy the New York Times, is from Xbox Live’s interactive adaptation of NBC’s now defunct gameshow “1 vs. 100.” An article published in the New York Times today outlines Microsoft’s focus on providing more content like that – and more- through it’s Xbox Live service. This content however, isn’t just interactive video game adaptations. According to the article, they’re working with various media outlets -including Disney- to bring more film and television content to your living rooms through your broadband/Xbox connection. Xbox already allows users to download Netflix content for a fee, interact with Facebook and browse Xbox’s online mall of movies and TV episodes. Basically, it’s looking like they’d like to take on cable at some point which I see as a natural progression of things. At some point in the future the attempt will be made, however successful, to integrate all of your entertainment media into one deliver system. Pardon my geekiness, but “Several services and one box to rule them all…”
Of note are some numbers from the article:
“Nearly 60 percent of American homes now have at least one console, according to the consulting firm Deloitte, up from 44 percent three years ago….Microsoft said this month that it had sold 39 million Xbox 360 consoles around the world. About half sign into Xbox Live each month…The company says it regularly counts more than a million concurrent users — and topped out at 2.2 million at one point during Christmas week last month. That compares favorably to some of the top channels on cable, like TBS and the Cartoon Network, which reach about one million viewers at any given time, according to the Nielsen Company.”
With numbers like that it’s easy to see where this is going and I’m excited to be alive to watch all of these things changing and evolving around me and my family. But that change and evolution is also why we need to be savvy parents and raise savvy children because with the increase in content delivery comes, well, an increase in content delivery…..both good and potentially objectionable for your younger children.
The full article can be read here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/business/media/19xbox.html
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