Technological advances make it easier to monitor teen activities, location
- From: Ablang <Ablang041706@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 22:44:23 -0700
Technological advances make it easier to monitor teen activities,
location
By Melissa Dahl -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, April 28, 2006
Story appeared in Scene section, Page J1
Maybe parents don't really have eyes in the backs of their heads, but
an increasing number of monitoring devices means they can have eyes
almost anywhere else.
Right or wrong, advances in technology allow parents to track exactly
where their teens are going and how fast they're getting there by
using GPS-enabled cell phones. And software is available to keep track
of every click on the Internet - sometimes without children knowing
they are being tracked.
Think your parents are monitoring you? Want to keep better tabs on
your kids? Here's a look at some of the gadgets that make it happen.
Sprint Family Locator
What it does: Find your family members on an interactive map displayed
on your cell phone or the Internet. "Safety Checks" notify parents by
text message or e-mail that their son or daughter has arrived at
school, at home or any other specified location.
Stealth factor: The locator program requires the youth's
acknowledgment, and the youth is notified by a text message every time
the parent requests his or her location.
What you need: Certain Sprint phone models can download the program.
How to get it: Go to www.sprint.com/ familylocator or to a retail
store.
Cost: For $9.99 a month, register up to four phones with unlimited
location requests and 100 text messages for each phone.
Disney Mobile Family Locator
What it does: It locates kids' phones with GPS, and it also limits
text messaging, picture messaging and minutes used. Parents can
determine the hours of the day and the days of the week when kids can
use their phones.
Stealth factor: It doesn't send the child's phone an alert if he or
she is being located.
What you need: You'll have to buy either the Pantech or LG phone.
How to get it: It'll be available at www.disneymobile.com in June.
Cost: $59.99 for the model by Pantech and $109.99 for a model by LG.
The cost for monthly service hasn't been determined.
MapQuest Find Me
What it does: Locate friends and family through GPS and monitor them
from the Web or a cell phone.
Stealth factor: Each user has to authorize the monitoring.
What you need: It's available on certain Nextel and Sprint phones, and
on BlackBerry 7100i and 7520.
How to get it: Download it from findme.mapquest.com
Cost: $3.99 per month.
Teen Arrive Alive GPS
What it does: Teen Arrive Alive lets parents view where their teens
are, where they're going and how fast they're traveling, through the
teen's GPS-enabled cell phone.
Stealth factor: When the phone is turned on and the program loads, a
screen appears that reads, "This phone is GPS-enabled and may be
tracking you."
What you need: For now, Teen Arrive Alive is available only on Nextel
cell phones.
How to get it: Sign up on www.teenarrivealive.com. A representative
will talk you through the setup process.
Cost: $49.99 activation fee, and $19.99 a month.
Cat Trax
What it does: As long as their phones are turned on, parents can
locate kids, the direction they're headed and their speed using a map
displayed on their cell phone or the Internet. They also can set up a
GeoFence, and choose to be notified by e-mail or text when the phone
leaves that designated area.
Stealth factor: Parents could install Cat Trax without letting their
kid know, since there's no indicator on the phone.
What you need: Specific models of Nextel cell phones: Nextel i275,
Nextel i760, Nextel i850.
How to get it: www.cattrax.us. Call (877) 229-2287 and set up a time
to send your phone to the company. They'll download the software onto
the cell phone and ship it back to you within 24 hours.
Cost: $19.99
Then there's the black box
"Black boxes" hook up to the car's electrical system so they're able
to record not just where the car's going, but also how it's getting
there. It records whether the teen's slamming on the brakes or gunning
the accelerator, and many are small enough to hide behind the
dashboard. Some black boxes use GPS to let parents check the Internet
to see where the teen's car is any time they want. If parents don't
want their teen traveling outside of a certain area, some products let
them draw a "GeoFence" on an Internet map, and they'll receive an
alert on their cell phone or by e-mail if the car leaves that area.
AllTrack USA
What it does: This small black box (it's about the size of two decks
of cards) lets parents track where and how teens are driving in real
time, viewable on a map on the Internet, using GPS. It also records
the history of where they've been. It's hooked up to the car's
electrical system, so parents can remotely unlock the doors, disable
the starter or honk the horn. Parents can set up a GeoFence and be
notified if the car leaves that area, and it also records hard
braking, hard cornering and rapid acceleration.
Stealth factor: Parents can hide this little black box (it's about the
size of two decks of cards). It's usually installed behind the
dashboard.
What you need: It works with any car made after 1955.
How to get it: Order it at www.alltrackusa.com.
Cost: $524, plus an access fee of $34.95 a month.
RS-1000 black box
What it does: This black box records any speeding and aggressive
driving on a memory card, which can be plugged into the family
computer to reveal exactly how the teen was driving at any time.
Stealth factor: Since it's small enough to fit under a driver's seat,
they won't see it, but it gives audible warnings telling the driver to
slow down or quit driving aggressively.
What you need: You can install the black box yourself on vehicles
newer than 1996; anything older than that requires hard-wire
installation.
Where to get it: Order the black box at www.roadsafety.com.
Cost: $280 for 1996 to 2002 vehicles and $295 for 2003 and newer
vehicles.
SmartDriver
What it does: It records speed, accelerator use, distance and starts
and stops.
Stealth factor: This black box is small and doesn't include an alarm
system for the driver, so it's possible to conceal it underneath the
dashboard.
What you need: A model 1996 or later vehicle and a PC with Windows 95
or later. It can't operate with Macintosh-based systems.
How to get it: Order it at www.smart-driver.com.
Cost: Buy it for $495 or rent it for six months at $49.95 a month.
What about safety online?
When smaller kids or teenagers are off the road and back at home,
chances are they'll head straight for the computer. Monitoring and
key-logging software, like these products, allow parents to watch and
record whatever their kids are viewing online.
SearchHelp
What it does: While the kids are online, parents can monitor every
click of their mouse from another computer. The software can remotely
lock the computer, automatically shut down instant messaging sessions
if inappropriate language is used, open or close a browser or change
the Web site they're viewing. It doesn't filter sites, but it lets
parents watch whatever their kids are doing online as they're doing
it. Stealth factor: They claim the only way your kid will know this is
installed on his computer is if you tell him. What you need: The
software is only compatible with Windows 2000 and XP. How to get it:
Order it at www.searchhelp.com. Cost: $79.95. It can be programmed to
monitor up to two computers.
Specter Pro 5.0
What it does: This keylogging software records everything the teen is
doing on the computer, such as e-mails and instant messages - and not
just their side - it gets the entire conversation. E-mails and instant
messages can be immediately forwarded to the parent. It also takes
snapshots of the screen as often as once per second, and parents can
later play those screen shots back in a video format. It also can
block certain Web sites, but instead of a screen popping up saying
this Web site is blocked, it's programmed to make it appear that the
site just isn't available right then. Stealth factor: Since no icons
appear once this software has been downloaded to your computer, it can
be installed without the kids knowing. What you need: It works with
anything above Windows 98. How to get it: Order the software at
www.spectersoft.com. Cost: $99.95
SpyBuddy
What it does: Also keylogging software, it records every keystroke,
including both sides of IM (instant message) conversations, e-mails
and any changes made to the hard drive. Users also can set up an
account on a ViewMyLogs.com account, allowing them to access activity
reports from anywhere at any time of the day. Stealth factor: This
software can also be secretly installed. What you need: It works with
any Windows system. How to get it: Order it at exploreanywhere.com.
Cost: $69.99 for the SpyBuddy software, and $10 a month for an account
on ViewMyLogs.com.
Cyber Patrol 7.5
What it does: It records where kids are going online, when they're
there and how long they stay. If they're supposed to be doing homework
from 3 to 5 p.m., parents can block chat or online games at that time.
And chat and instant-messaging systems can prohibit kids from giving
away information such as names, addresses or phone numbers. It also
can block program downloads. Stealth factor: The program features a
"stealth option," so kids won't know they're being monitored. What you
need: The software only runs on Window. How to get it: Order it at
www.cyberpatrol.com. Cost: $39.95 for a 12-month license.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/14248647p-15065919c.html
==
"Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."
-- Niccolo Machiavelli
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