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Boy Playing On Desktop
PC (Image source: consultingmomma.com)
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Russian
students have invented a unique bracelet capable of preventing kids from
spending too much time in front of a computer. Tracking children’s biorhythms,
it can even autonomously switch off computers, averting possible health-related
consequences. The
bracelet is currently in the final stages of development at the Academic IT
School of Perm State University, with a model ready for production expected by
the end of year.
“The
project is aimed at lowering the psychological pressure experienced by the
personal computer users. It’s especially important for children as we live in
the 21st century when kids have unlimited access to computers, which don’t
always have a positive effect on them,” Dmitry Zotin, the
bracelet's inventor and an Academic IT School student, told RT.
It’ll
be “more like parental control,”
but it’ll be the hardware and software, not parents, managing the time spent by
the youngster in front of a PC, he explained.
Spending
too much behind the computer can make it hard for children to sleep at night
and increase risk of attention problems, anxiety, depression and even obesity,
medics warn.
The
bracelet will be tracking the child’s cardiac rhythm and skin temperature,
using Bluetooth to transfer this data to a program installed on the computer.
Based
on the physiological data, the software will decide whether to change the
computer’s settings, adjust screen brightness, block certain parts of the
operating system or even shut down the whole PC.
The
programme will also record all actions performed by the user on the computer,
including mouse clicks, buttons pressed and others, to provide him with advice
on how to use his time in front of the monitor more effectively.
It’s
going to be “an enforcement
procedure” for the children, Zotin said, adding that the bracelet
will turn the computer off automatically if the kid ignores the program’s
warnings that he or she spent too much time in social networks or playing.
As
for adult users, the bracelet will inform them that they are tired or stressed
and advise to change activity or take a break, he added.
Zotin
says that in the future his invention may also be introduced in offices to
monitor how effectively employees use their time behind the computer and to
ensure they get enough rest from staring at the screen.
The bracelet is currently
only compatible with desktop computers, with no plans yet to make a version for
tablets and video game consoles.
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