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NTT Communications (NTT Com) announced Friday that customers of its OCN Internet access service can take advantage of a new offering to make home computers and the Internet safer for their children.
The service, named "OCN Kids Care," was launched in response to children's increasing access to potentially harmful sites on the Internet. The service not only allows parents to set rules for Internet usage and then change settings remotely if necessary, it also helps to create a transparent atmosphere in which parents and their children can openly discuss Internet safety issues.
OCN Kids Care provides a dedicated application for managing access to specific websites that contain certain kinds of content. The application also can block the usage of inappropriate software or applications in the PC.
A PC can be locked after a specified period of use or before/after a specified time of day, but parents can unlock the PC as required, even remotely via a mobile phone or PC.
OCN Kids Care can send parents an email if a child attempts to access a site with inappropriate content or use the PC during blocked hours. Actual screen images can be viewed regularly or even remotely in real time via a mobile phone or PC.
The monthly service fee is 315 yen (including tax) per PC, but there is no charge in the first month of usage. As a special introductory offer, NTT Com is waiving the fee through July 31. To apply, visit http://kidscare.ocn.ne.jp (Japanese only).
NTT Com's associated company, NTT Resonant, already offers various child-oriented services for Internet safety, including the "Kids-goo" website. The OCN Kids Care and Kids-goo websites will now collaborate in the production of special content aimed at developing greater awareness and understanding of Internet safety for children.
© JCN
9 Comments
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hereandthere
why do all these solutions never address the fact that these "kids" want to access these sites...
oh yeah, kids would never do that, it's the evil internet forcing them to seek out those links.
ronaldk
When I go to a public library, all of the books are pre-screened because the library affirmatively must decide what books to supply. I would prefer a sort of Internet library for my kids where all the sites are pre-screened. The Internet now is basically a cesspool where one wrong click can lead you to the lowest gutter imaginable. I hope the situation changes.
Altria
Down with censorship!
Tahoochi
I think this is great, especially for only 315 yen/mo. The rest is up to the parents...
hereandthere: You've got a point, but other than parents teaching their kids about moral values, this is about all that can be done because as long as those "inappropriate" sites are out there, kids will ALWAYS want to "click". Give a kid a box and tell him/her not to open it... you know they'll open it! The pros and cons of the internet.
A mandatory and surefire method to confirm age over the internet would be another possible "solution".
soldave
Let's safety kids internetting together! Although they'll probably just access the sites that are blocked through their phone.
ronaldk
I don't consider it censorship to not want my grade school kid to see XXX pictures. When I was a kid the hardest porn we could get was to steal an EasyRider magazine from one of our friend's fathers and look at the topless pictures. Kids should work for it.
boitoi
kids, its time to use proxies!
Jkanda
Well done NTT. Atleast you care about the kids!
As for the ones who think that censorship is not important, there are many who have lost precious things in life thanks to some of the services offered on internet.
Tahoochi
Altria: With all due respect (because I hate censorship as well), this isn't censorship. It's a company helping parents decide what their children (not adults) can access. Mind you, like ronaldk mentioned above, kids will probably find a way anyway... my friends dad kept a stack of Playboys underneath the bathroom sink