July 2003 — Card Access, Inc., an emerging technology innovator announced a new way for concerned parents to manage and keep track of the amount of time their children play video games, watch TV, and spend on the computer. The patent-pending Time-Scout™ Monitor easily, fairly and consistently monitors and controls the amount of time a child spends using these types of electronic devices.
The No-Hassle Way To Take Control
Any parent with children knows how hard it can be to control the amount of time children spend with video games and other electronic devices. To solve this problem, Time-Scout Monitor is designed to be easy for both parents and children of all ages to use. With a simple, “no-programming” approach to the problem, parents simply plug Time-Scout into the wall, and then plug the video game player, TV, or computer monitor into Time-Scout. Time-Scout does the rest by keeping track of each child’s use. When the child’s allotted time is up, Time-Scout shuts down power to the device. It becomes the “enforcer” instead of the parent, eliminating the begging, pleading and battles over limiting electronic device use, and lets parents control kids’ time without having to be the “bad guy.”
Promoting A Healthy Lifestyle
“The United States Surgeon General recently reported that about 8 million American children and teenagers are overweight,” said Kent Hansen, President of Card Access. “In response, he has issued a call for individual responsibility for healthy lifestyles. We share the Surgeon General’s concern for the well-being of our nation’s children. Time-Scout can be an invaluable tool to aid parents in the development of active, responsible, and healthier kids, which is one of the key reasons we developed it.”
Alarming Statistics
According to Dr. Harold L. Miller, a Harvard Ph.D. in experimental psychology and professor of psychology at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, “Nearly every home in America has a television set. Two-thirds of them have three or more sets. Nine of every 10 homes have video game units or personal computers for video games. Children in America spend more time with the TV than they spend in school. Only sleep gets a greater share of their time.” Dr. Miller added, “By the time they’re 10 years old, American children have viewed 8,000 murders and 100,000 violent acts in TV shows. Saturday morning shows average almost 20 violent acts per hour. As childhood viewing of televised violence increases, so does the risk of committing violent acts during the teen years and adulthood. The violent content of many popular video games compounds the risk.”
Teaching Time Management To Kids
Along with the ability to consistently set and enforce limits, Time-Scout has the added benefit of teaching children basic skills about the invaluable life-lesson of effective time management. In commenting on Time-Scout as a time management tool for children, Dr. Miller observed, “Effective implementation of Time-Scout in the home may rank among parents’ most significant contributions to the long-term enhancement of their children’s quality of life.”
How It Works
Time-Scout Monitor becomes the on/off control for the device. Simply by swiping cards like you do with an ATM or debit card, parents add or subtract time from each child’s Time-Scout account. This can be done on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Parents can also override the allotted time for special occasions, or lock kids out of the device completely. Once accounts are set up, children then swipe their personal cards when they start playing, watching or surfing while Time-Scout keeps track of their time. When finished, they swipe their card again, and Time-Scout stops the clock and shuts the power off to the device. As the child uses up their allotted time, Time-Scout gives warning beeps at the 15-, 5-, and 1- minute time remaining marks, giving the child time to finish up a show or save a game. Each Time-Scout Monitor includes account cards for parents and up to four users. Additional sets of three cards can be purchased supporting a total of ten different user accounts for each Time-Scout.
“Time-Scout has turned computer and video games into a reward rather than a right,” said Ginny Meacham, stay at home mom and degreed early childhood educator. “It was very easy to set up. I made Time-Scout work in less than ten minutes, and I can’t even program our VCR. Using Time-Scout has reduced our home’s stress levels; this has been wonderful for our family!”
Requirements, Price and Availability
Time-Scout Monitor requires a standard household 120-volt outlet, and is approved for use in the home by the FCC. Time-Scout Monitor sells for $69.95, and will be available for purchase at the end of July 2003 directly from Card Access, Inc. either by calling the toll free number at 1-888-299-8989 or by on-line purchase from the Time-Scout web site at www.time-scout.com.
SOURCE
Card Access, Inc.
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