Hopscotch Technology launches innovative parental control device

Hopscotch Technology, a company co-founded by a concerned parent seeking to limit the amount of time his children spent playing videogames and watching television, has announced the launch of Bob, a new electronic time management device.

Presented at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas and apparently attracting some interest from Microsoft, the novel device consists of a timer and reporter box, into which the electrical plug from a console, television or other device is locked, before plugging Bob into the wall socket.

Parents assign a set time limit for gameplay or TV viewing, using a unique PIN to prevent unwanted tampering or alteration of the settings, and when the time is up, Bob automatically cuts the current and ends the session.

In addition to restricting the amount of time on a particular device, parents can also block out certain hours completely, in order to prevent their children from playing videogames after bedtime or watching TV when they should be doing homework.

According to Hopscotch, Bob has been positively received by 40 families undertaking initial tests for the device, to the extent that several families have refused to return the test units to the firm until the retail device is available. Bob is expected to be released in the US in April, with additional distribution and potential consumer product partnerships to follow.