The MiiPC is just the right device parents are probably looking for when faced with the daunting task of monitoring the amount of time their child is spending online. Though the controlled participation of children on the worldwide web is much appreciated, it is also important to ensure their safety and this is exactly what Kickstarter intends to do through their Android-run device.
Available for a cost of $99 from the month of August, MiiPC is a compact personal computing device, which can be easily connected to a large TV screen or another computer and offers a complete mouse and keyboard experience. Upon attacking a mouse and keyboard, the tiny computer turns into an entertainment and learning station. Users can surf the web, edit documents, watch videos and play games using the device.
However, this device specifically enables parents to track the activities of their children through a mobile application, allowing them to set rules and define internet usage. For instance, if your child is expected to be working on a report for school and chooses to play a game online instead, you can keep tabs on them by being specific about the websites and apps they are allowed to access at any given point. In extreme cases, parents may hit the log out button themselves or restrict the child from logging in again in the future. They may also go through the online user history. However, keeping with the privacy that every individual is entitled to, though MiiPC keeps a track of the activities of children and the applications they are using, detailed information of this history can only be viewed by the parent.
As creators of the MiiPC see it, the aim is to give family members control over the access of information and use of the web by children. This is mainly done to ensure the safety of the child and build a relaxed and controlled environment in which family computing can take place. Every member of the family can create an individual account on the desktop, which can be personalized and organized privately. It took less than 24 hours for the device, considered to be a potential future Android-run home computer for children, to achieve its funding goal of $50,000 apart from managing to raise around $100,000.
