Windows for Babies - Protecting kids from internet evils?

Windows for Babies
Protecting kids from internet evils?
(old news - 10:45AM Tuesday Oct 12 2004)
tags: fun

One European company has developed an operating system for children, designed to protect them from spam, drugs, sex, and other unsavory parts of the internet. It's actually a "protective shell" that covers Microsoft Windows, so while they'll be protected from some internet evils, they might still get to experience "Baby's first Trojan". "To send an e-mail to granny, a toddler simply clicks on the "Talking Parrot" button to record a song or a bit of gurgling, before clicking on a photo of the smiling grandmother," suggests the BBC.

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Forums » Windows for Babies


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TexasGuy 49 States And Texas Premium join:2002-12-02 Houston, TX	I want it myself Who would not want this OS? I want it!
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:31:28 ·

L2006 join:2001-12-03 Stratford, ON	Re: I want it myself Are there any other shells for kids available, can anybody recommend anything? Thanks
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:34:53 ·

dadkins Can you do Blu? Premium,MVM join:2003-09-26 Hercules, CA ·Comcast	Re: I want it myself Perhaps NetNanny? »www.netnanny.com/ Not really a "shell", but is is a Parental Control software that will block most, if not all, non-child safe crud. Spyware/adware/viruses(virii)/worms/trojans/etc... that's a different story. -- Nuke 'em all, let God sort 'em out.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:44:19 ·

kennydillon
Premium
join:2002-06-09
Goddard, KS

Re: I want it myself

said by dadkins :
Perhaps NetNanny? »www.netnanny.com/

Not really a "shell", but is is a Parental Control software that will block most, if not all, non-child safe crud.
Spyware/adware/viruses(virii)/worms/trojans/etc... that's a different story.

I had Netnanny and it seemed to slow my internet connection down. I looked at different parental control programs and nothing that I seen I liked. Until I found this one at www.besafehome.com this is a very good program and does not slow your computer down. Give it a look. Not really a shell as this is the topic but a great parental control program.

KENNY DILLON

permalink · 2004-10-13 06:11:06 · Print ·

jansm38 Vn800-B Premium join:2003-05-19 Blackwood, NJ	Anybody remember Microsoft "BOB"? It was a shell that ran over top of 9x or maybe even 3.x
	permalink · 2004-10-12 11:15:43 ·

Jason Levine Premium join:2001-07-13 USA	Re: I want it myself Yup. I remember that. Proof that even Microsoft's marketing division can't turn any product into a success.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 11:47:01 ·

moonpuppy join:2000-08-21 Glen Burnie, MD	Yep. Packard Bell had a verion of that too. Pull the game off the shelf onto the desk and it would run.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:09:02 ·

Earlea @ny.local	kid browsers on; »www.freelink.org/kids
	permalink · 2004-10-13 20:37:41 ·

Corvus Flaming Tards Since 2003 Premium,VIP join:2003-11-26	My daughter is still too young but yeah, sounds great for toddlers! -- Jesus saves, but only Buddha makes incremental backups.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:35:05 ·

FatherJC @213.70.x.x	Where do you get it?
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:46:17 ·

Rhobite Premium join:2002-02-24 Cambridge, MA clubs:	I agree. Next time I send an e-mail to a client, I want to click on a damn talking parrot and a picture of them, then make some gurgling noises. -- Jimmysquid.com - I take pictures.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 11:00:45 ·

PhoenixDown -- Wants FIOS Premium join:2003-06-08 Fresh Meadows, NY clubs:	Sounds like a good idea but then I look at my 5 year old sister who is able to go online, goto nickeledeon.com and play the games there by myself and I think, why bother? -- Final Fantasy
	permalink · 2004-10-12 11:39:19 ·

TheMetrix
R.T.F.M. - P.E.B.K.A.C
Premium
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Utica, MI
clubs:

I want it. I have a 5 yr old that loved going onto www.cartoonnetwork.com to play the online games. The one thing he does not like is the damned pop-ups that also ensue while getting there.

I have been able to limit where he can go as I have a Domain Controller setup in my home. Not just for him but also for testing different theories for networking. But still the pop-ups are an annoyance.

Finally Microsoft has come up with something that I really do agree with and like the idea of 100%. We need to protect our children from some of the sick individuals that occupy our land.

permalink · 2004-10-12 12:13:28 · Print ·

Mentat The zeitgeist sucks Premium join:2001-02-25 Sugar Land, TX	Let em experience life, please... The sooner a kid sees goatse, the better.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:35:45 ·

burgermeister All Computers Are Junk join:2000-10-23 Utica, MI	Re: Let em experience life, please... said by Mentat : The sooner a kid sees goatse, the better. Yes, they need to learn how to handle things like goatse and tubgirl. Else, what will they do when they enter the real world? -- "I've learned that depression is merely anger without enthusiasm."
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:32:06 · Print ·

Goober Premium join:2000-12-17 Naperville, IL	Re: Let em experience life, please... lol. Talk about scarring your kids . . .
	permalink · 2004-10-12 13:23:51 ·

Transmaster Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus join:2001-06-20 Cheyenne, WY 1 edit	Interesting but I wonder how long it will take Pedophiles to crack this. What a world we live in to have to wonder about this. -- »www.gobpl.com
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:35:58 ·

exocet_cm Protecting the city from itself Premium join:2003-03-23 New Orleans, LA clubs: ·Cox HSI ·Suddenlink ·Cingular Wireless ·AT&T Southeast ·Charter Pipeline	That's great, but... I wouldn't want a toddler or young kid on my computer...not because of what they could get into, because of what they would get on my computer, freakin drool and snot. I don't want all of my stuff... -- I know that God is real, but I don't think He created this vast universe just for us. Seti@Home & Seti@Boinc
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:43:13 ·

Goober
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Naperville, IL

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1 edit

Re: That's great, but...

said by exocet_cm :
I wouldn't want a toddler or young kid on my computer...not because of what they could get into, because of what they would get on my computer, freakin drool and snot. I don't want all of my stuff...

That's true. When our fist child was born, I let her use my computer. We would sit and do her Reader Rabbit stuff, and then I'd let her play on her own. Talk about messing up my machine!

So, now we have a 2, 5 and 8 year old and they each have their own PC. Makes life a lot easier when you don't have to worry about getting your main machine messed up. Also, it cuts down on the fighting for computer time.

permalink · 2004-10-12 11:25:41 · Print ·

exocet_cm
Protecting the city from itself
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Re: That's great, but...

OH! Fighting for computer time is a big deal at my house...well was, I got a laptop, my dad uses his laptop from work and my sister gets on this computer when shes not at school, my mum uses a computer every once in a while to do her work.

I have 4 servers upstairs in my closest for file storage.
--

I know that God is real, but I don't think He created this vast universe just for us.
Seti@Home & Seti@Boinc

permalink · 2004-10-12 11:29:31 ·

Goober
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Naperville, IL

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1 edit

Re: That's great, but...

said by exocet_cm :
OH! Fighting for computer time is a big deal at my house...well was, I got a laptop, my dad uses his laptop from work and my sister gets on this computer when shes not at school, my mum uses a computer every once in a while to do her work.

I have 4 servers upstairs in my closest for file storage.

Best way to go in my opinion. I have a single file server, which receives and feeds data from/to the computers, XBOX and ReplayTVs. I'll probably have to get another server or so once the kids get older.

Keeping harmony in the house is great.

permalink · 2004-10-12 11:56:46 · Print ·

exocet_cm Protecting the city from itself Premium join:2003-03-23 New Orleans, LA clubs: ·Cox HSI ·Suddenlink ·Cingular Wireless ·AT&T Southeast ·Charter Pipeline	Re: That's great, but... Those servers are great, just incase my sister for some reason gets a trojan on this computer or manages to A:\format C: Y everything is on a file server, just copy the HDD image and were back in business -- I know that God is real, but I don't think He created this vast universe just for us. Seti@Home & Seti@Boinc
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:52:16 ·

Goober Premium join:2000-12-17 Naperville, IL	Re: That's great, but... Good idea. My server is mainly a media server, so I don't have any HDD images or other network/OS related stuff on there. I've got parts for at least 2 more PCs. Maybe that's the next thing I need to do.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 13:01:55 ·

Jason Levine
Premium
join:2001-07-13
USA

said by exocet_cm :
I wouldn't want a toddler or young kid on my computer...not because of what they could get into, because of what they would get on my computer, freakin drool and snot. I don't want all of my stuff...

You can get those keyboard "skin" protectors that should keep your keyboard safe from anything a toddler would spill on it. (And make it easily cleanable.)

Of course, the best solution is to use an old PC specifically for your toddler to use. I have one (an old P 200) that my son will be able to use when he gets old enough. (Assuming my wife or I don't get a new computer and he doesn't inherit our old one first.) Right now (~14 months) his main interest in computers is banging on the keyboard randomly.
--
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permalink · 2004-10-12 11:52:10 · Print ·

richk_1957
If ..Then..Else
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Minas Tirith

Computers aren't for babys

I really think that a child should be 6 or maybe 5 before he is exposed to computers & the internet. With all the computers in schools (kindergarten) this is impossible, so until the go to school, the computer should be a no-no. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you should wait until they are over 2 years old, but personally I think you should wait longer.

permalink · 2004-10-12 10:47:01 ·

exocet_cm Protecting the city from itself Premium join:2003-03-23 New Orleans, LA clubs:	Re: Computers aren't for babys I got my first computer when I was 8, 10 years ago...
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:54:09 ·

File Quit Mac Geek Premium join:2002-11-28 1 edit	double post... oops
	permalink · 2004-10-12 10:56:08 ·

File Quit
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said by richk_1957 :
I really think that a child should be 6 or maybe 5 before he is exposed to computers & the internet. With all the computers in schools (kindergarten) this is impossible, so until the go to school, the computer should be a no-no. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you should wait until they are over 2 years old, but personally I think you should wait longer.

My parents got me on the computer playing solitaire when I was 2. I say the earlier the better because you get to know more about the computer itself.
--
Apple rules!!! Get an iPod and iBook today, what's to lose? »www.apple.com

permalink · 2004-10-12 10:56:54 · Print ·

Brazbit
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·wavebroadband

My nephew started playing with a computer at about 6 months. Using the computer at about 18 months. Loading his own software and launching it at 3 years. At 6 years he is quite accomplished, at least in what he is interested in (educational software, games, children's internet sites.)

It will be interesting to see how "damaging" this is to him as he grows up. As it is now his childhood seems normal enough, he just can use a computer, and is far ahead of most kids in the same grade. Not a surprise when you consider in addition to the computer he is kept physically active (sports, swimming, plenty of outdoor time) and mentally active (books, computers, zoos, museums, etc...)

With proper supervision and limits computers can be a useful tool for children just like Legos, map puzzles, or any other educational toy.

permalink · 2004-10-12 12:02:11 · Print ·

Goober Premium join:2000-12-17 Naperville, IL	Re: Computers aren't for babys Sounds like my kids. They all started on computers around 9 months old. Our elder son excels in sports relative to his peers. And out daughter also does well in sports and really excels in art (drawings, etc.). So, no damage apparent yet.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:39:10 ·

Speedy8
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Alliance, OH
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said by richk_1957 :
I really think that a child should be 6 or maybe 5 before he is exposed to computers & the internet. With all the computers in schools (kindergarten) this is impossible, so until the go to school, the computer should be a no-no. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you should wait until they are over 2 years old, but personally I think you should wait longer.

Sure, if you are one of the many parents who puts their kid on a computer and walks away. Now if you are supervising and teaching your child it's a far different matter.

permalink · 2004-10-12 17:35:03 · Print ·

Samatva join:2001-03-31 Atlanta, GA	It's not the computer that's the problem.... Young children should be exposed to computers, but not turned loose on them. I set my daughter in my lap and we worked together with it. There are issues of "artificial" cause-and-effect and other "cognitive leaps" that toddlers aren't quite ready to handle. Use it as a tool for spending time with your child. Don't use it as a babysitter (ala TV).
	permalink · 2004-10-12 11:06:11 ·

C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL

·Verizon FIOS

Why not MacOS?

While certainly this took a lot of thought, I would think that using OS X or something would be an arguably better way to go, if - for nothing else - just to be able to avoid having to deal with about a good 98% of the computer virii and trojans on the web in the first place.

Not to mention that the children would easily enjoy watching the app icons bouncing on the dock all day.

--
VIA sux 3K club GameCube online

permalink · 2004-10-12 11:11:56 · Print ·

exocet_cm Protecting the city from itself Premium join:2003-03-23 New Orleans, LA clubs:	Re: Why not MacOS? Yeah, but that doesn't stop pron.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 11:26:56 ·

C0deZer0 Oc'D To Rhythm And Police Premium join:2001-10-03 Davenport, FL ·Verizon FIOS	Re: Why not MacOS? Surely, there would be some software or some configuration that could be set within Safari to help ~~stop~~ curb that for unauthorized users (leaving the porn for the adults ).
	permalink · 2004-10-12 11:40:23 ·

gateguy Premium join:2001-02-12 Reisterstown, MD ·Verizon FIOS ·Comcast	Re: Why not MacOS? I use Content Barrier. I also set up custom configurations for each of the kids. Did the same thing for my brother also. When one of his sons was caught with porn (from an email) my brother was easily able to disconnect him from the internet but leave his siblings with access. -- Lean to the left. Lean to the right. Repeat.Now that is wobbling
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:30:28 ·

No_Strings Premium,Mod join:2001-11-22 The OC	My kids have their own PC, run Linux and connect through a highly customizable content filter firewall with logging. If the have to run Windows, they use Firefox to get to the Internet. No special shell app needed.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:20:20 ·

bokamba Chengdu Rocks Premium join:2002-04-05 Falls Church, VA	This is not new Things like this for Windows have been around for years and years. What I want to see is a safe locked-down Linux distro for kids to use.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:53:21 ·

NeoGeo64 Premium join:2001-09-22 Leesburg, GA	Re: This is not new Dude, some of the story graphics this site has are fucking lame. Slashdot's are so much better... The baby and computer graphic... lame.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 12:55:42 ·

Briggs6 join:2004-10-05 Boring, OR	Re: This is not new Slashdot doesn't have customized icons for each story. They reuse the same icons over and over again. This site has the regular piracy icon and such. When none of the icons match, instead of using an inappropriate icon, they add a custom one. Deal with it.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 16:58:59 ·

t604

join:2004-09-05
Edmonton, AB

Great Idea!

I think this is a great idea... I have a 7-yr old and she has her own PC... we don't have it hooked to the internet but if I had a chance to review a product like this, I would reconsider giving her internet.. she loves family.ca...

as well, I would like to see a product like this for the computer illiterate baby-boomers... I am getting sick and tired of fixing my Uncle's computer every other week due to virii/malware...

permalink · 2004-10-12 13:25:27 ·

tcv0 Premium join:2002-12-29 Houston, TX	Surprised... I'm surprised no one's mentioned Razzul. While it's not an "operating system for children" it handily sits atop windows XP and blocks access to everything except what's inside Razzul City. It's pretty interesting software.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 13:25:59 ·

antiphishing
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1 edit

Protecting kids from internet evils?

The only way to fully protect pre-adolescent children from things like adult predators on the internet is to supervise them while they are online. Children under the age of thirteen should not be online by themselves.

»www.preverted-justice.com

»www.protectkids.com/

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permalink · 2004-10-12 13:26:30 · Print ·

Eddy E @attbi.com	Re: Protecting kids from internet evils? God watches over all people on the internet and will punish those who look at pornography!!!!! All you sinners need to repent now! The day of judgement is coming!
	permalink · 2004-10-12 15:46:29 ·

the niTz Premium join:2004-07-05 Sahuarita, AZ ·Cox HSI	kids i was 5 when i learned dos:p, and 8 when i first installed windows 95, but about the pron issues what if there bro has porn hidden somewhere on the drive u dont think the kid could find it think again i know from experience
	permalink · 2004-10-12 15:22:35 ·

JPCass

join:2001-01-23
Denver, CO

Surprised this wasn't in XP Home

I installed XP Home edition on the family computer to see what it is like, and have set up separate logins for everyone. But Microsoft has stripped out all the features for controlling user rights that are in XP Pro - other than designating accounts as non-administrators without rights to install software - rather than customizing a set for home use. Though of course it's possible to go in and customize browser security settings for each account, and use add-on programs.

Personally, I have the technical capability and the licenses to install XP Pro and use enterprise-style security, and use various add-on programs and server-level features. But I expected that in a "Home" product, MS would at least have incorporated - or left in - some features useful for limiting and protecting young users.

permalink · 2004-10-12 15:57:15 · Print ·

KAD Imaging
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Re: Surprised this wasn't in XP Home

This is ALWAYS how I have handled my systems. I have been running NT4 since SP1 and always kept everything that needed security on it's ntfs partitions and used custom policies to prevent everything else. When guest come over and want to check their email or whatever, I tell them to login as "myguest" and voila! Done. As for the kiddies, I will test the parental control features in SP2 to see if that works well enough.

Maybe there's a plugin for Fox??

--
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permalink · 2004-10-12 17:06:37 · Print ·

ced06 join:2004-03-12 Towanda, PA	yay! Despite the fact that they are introduced to computers at two, they will still be the morons with 5 trojans, 1000 pieces of spyware, and no antivirus software.
	permalink · 2004-10-12 16:02:39 ·

the niTz Premium join:2004-07-05 Sahuarita, AZ	Re: yay! microsoft should make a deal with nod32 and sygate the world would be a better place imo, nod32 catchs more trojans then norton corp did for me and its scans way faster even in enhanced mode cant beat that with a stick
	permalink · 2004-10-12 16:31:05 ·

Skilos

join:2000-08-19
Astoria, NY

Didn't work then won't work now.

permalink · 2004-10-12 21:28:56 ·

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I want it myself

Re: I want it myself

Re: I want it myself

Re: I want it myself

Re: I want it myself

Let em experience life, please...

Re: Let em experience life, please...

Re: Let em experience life, please...

Interesting

That's great, but...

Re: That's great, but...

Re: That's great, but...

Re: That's great, but...

Re: That's great, but...

Re: That's great, but...

Computers aren't for babys

Re: Computers aren't for babys

Re: Computers aren't for babys

It's not the computer that's the problem....

Why not MacOS?

Re: Why not MacOS?

Re: Why not MacOS?

Re: Why not MacOS?

This is not new

Re: This is not new

Re: This is not new

Great Idea!

Surprised...

Protecting kids from internet evils?

Re: Protecting kids from internet evils?

kids

Surprised this wasn't in XP Home

Re: Surprised this wasn't in XP Home

yay!

Re: yay!

Didn't work then won't work now.