Comments on: Kid Spyware Brings Helicopter Parenting to a Whole New Level

By: Joe Cannuck

Joe Cannuck — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:56:15 +0000

Worst idea ever. Don’t even want to see where that’s going to take society a few generations later….

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:14:59 +0000

This would be a horrible ordeal for children.

By: DIY

DIY — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:58:42 +0000

Absolutely amazing technology. It will be VERY interesting how this will be marketed.

By: Les Argen

Les Argen — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:55:32 +0000

I think this device will need a microphone too, so that the parent can butt in where necessary.

“Oh, come on teacher. Don’t swallow that excuse. My kid’s been to the toilet 3 times today already. Get him to sit still and do some work or I’ll be talking to the Principal.”

“Get off my kid, you brute!”. Now, this one could bring in the child of the brute as well.
“Hey, numbnuts. Your kid started it. And now he’s picking his nose. That’s disgusting”.

This device could be a godsend for parents who don’t want to have their own life.

By: Eliza Strickland

Eliza Strickland — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:56:01 +0000

@ Louise: The New Scientist article has a picture of a kid wearing this device. It consists of a small heart rate monitor that's worn next to the skin, and a larger gizmo with the camera, GPS receiver, etc that's strapped on outside the clothes. @Elle: Along those lines, here's a sensor that has been specifically designed to help caregivers understand autistic children's emotional states. -- Eliza, DISCOVER online news editor

By: Elle

Elle — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:59:49 +0000

I can see applications for this product with autistic and non-verbal children. I imagine that if you have an elementary aged child who has limited communication skills, this could be a way for parents to know what they did at school that day.

By: David Yates

David Yates — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:37:39 +0000

“She’s a mother, she told New Scientist, and she’d choose safety over privacy for her child any day.”
“We’re an intelligence agency and we’d choose ‘safety’ over privacy for our citizens any day.”
Dick Cheney is foaming at the mouth over this as we speak.

By: Louise

Louise — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:26:45 +0000

Wow. It’s hard to believe this is for real! I wish you had a picture of the “gadget”, as I am trying to imagine how it is worn. Can the kids take it off? Does it get “locked” on? Or is it implanted somehow so the kids don’t know they’re wearing it? I can’t imagine this being good for self-esteem. In fact, I would bet any child wearing this kind of device – even if it is discreet – would be more susceptible to bullying. Yes, you can track down a lost or delinquent kid, but I don’t see how you could foster confidence or independence with this. It seems like it has more cons than pros.