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Kytephone (YC W12) Turns Android Phones Into Kid-Safe Devices

40 points by martythemaniak 14y ago

roguecoder 14y ago
We wonder why kids aren't interested in computers, and then we spend tons of time and energy keeping them from doing anything interesting with them. If they see technology as something designed to let adults eavesdrop into every corner of their lives of course it becomes something to be avoided, rather than experimented with. I hope some kid installs this on their parent's phone.
- martythemaniak 14y ago
  I couldn't disagree more, Kytephone is about enabling kids to get technology they otherwise would not have. Fact is, parents have the right raise their kids the way they see fit, which includes teaching their kids responsible use of technology. Since current solutions are so lackluster, this means kids either get dumbphones or no phone at all, which is hardly a better outcome than a real smartphone with some parental controls.
  - mike-cardwell 14y ago
    I'm not at all convinced of your claim that children aren't already getting smart phones. As far as I can see they are, and at a rapidly increasing rate.
  - dllthomas 14y ago
    There's a difference between interfering with how a parent raises their kid and disapproving of how a parent raises their kid...
gawker 14y ago
If I had a kid, I'd definitely get it. Just knowing that my kid reached school safely and no weird creeps are calling my kid is priceless. Edit: This just proves why parents should know what's going on: http://www.channel4.com/news/should-you-let-your-child-play-in-habbo-hotel http://www.channel4.com/news/should-you-let-your-child-play-...
- mike-cardwell 14y ago
  That doesn't sound like a particularly good way of teaching a kid personal responsibility and how to look after themselves. I'd get my theoretical child an Android phone and teach them how to root it.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - RegEx 14y ago
    I find it fascinating you'd put internet cred over the safety of your theoretical child. "Show HN: How I got my kid to root an Android phone".
  - gawker 14y ago
    What's good and bad is pretty subjective :) To each his/her own. And it's not like I'm controlling him/her. I just want to know for my own sake - if they need to contact me, they can. If they are safe, I know.
gcb 14y ago
Would be more interested in senior/visually impaired solutions. Last time i checked 3yrl olds didn't have any problem playing games on any they could grasp. Yet, a cataract eye can't even answer a call on modern phones
kumarm 14y ago
Disney Launched an MVNO on sprint network 5/6 years back which has all of the features mentioned in the article and more (Parents can set allowances for kids to more content) and failed simply because there was no market for it (at the time).
richf 14y ago
I think this app coupled together with a rugged kid-proof case would be a knockout combo. Does anyone know what the future business model is? Pro version? OEM pre-load?
- martythemaniak 14y ago
  We are planning to provide premium accounts with advanced parental controls.
  - richf 14y ago
    Cool, once you gain traction, I would definitely explore partnering with an OEM to get your application preloaded and work out some kind of deal that way. I think it would be a hit.

We wonder why kids aren't interested in computers, and then we spend tons of time and energy keeping them from doing anything interesting with them. If they see technology as something designed to let adults eavesdrop into every corner of their lives of course it becomes something to be avoided, rather than experimented with. I hope some kid installs this on their parent's phone.

martythemaniak 14y ago
I couldn't disagree more, Kytephone is about enabling kids to get technology they otherwise would not have. Fact is, parents have the right raise their kids the way they see fit, which includes teaching their kids responsible use of technology. Since current solutions are so lackluster, this means kids either get dumbphones or no phone at all, which is hardly a better outcome than a real smartphone with some parental controls.
- mike-cardwell 14y ago
  I'm not at all convinced of your claim that children aren't already getting smart phones. As far as I can see they are, and at a rapidly increasing rate.
- dllthomas 14y ago
  There's a difference between interfering with how a parent raises their kid and disapproving of how a parent raises their kid...

gawker 14y ago

If I had a kid, I'd definitely get it. Just knowing that my kid reached school safely and no weird creeps are calling my kid is priceless. Edit: This just proves why parents should know what's going on: http://www.channel4.com/news/should-you-let-your-child-play-in-habbo-hotel http://www.channel4.com/news/should-you-let-your-child-play-...

mike-cardwell 14y ago
That doesn't sound like a particularly good way of teaching a kid personal responsibility and how to look after themselves. I'd get my theoretical child an Android phone and teach them how to root it.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- RegEx 14y ago
  I find it fascinating you'd put internet cred over the safety of your theoretical child. "Show HN: How I got my kid to root an Android phone".
- gawker 14y ago
  What's good and bad is pretty subjective :) To each his/her own. And it's not like I'm controlling him/her. I just want to know for my own sake - if they need to contact me, they can. If they are safe, I know.

gcb 14y ago

Would be more interested in senior/visually impaired solutions. Last time i checked 3yrl olds didn't have any problem playing games on any they could grasp. Yet, a cataract eye can't even answer a call on modern phones

kumarm 14y ago

Disney Launched an MVNO on sprint network 5/6 years back which has all of the features mentioned in the article and more (Parents can set allowances for kids to more content) and failed simply because there was no market for it (at the time).

richf 14y ago

I think this app coupled together with a rugged kid-proof case would be a knockout combo. Does anyone know what the future business model is? Pro version? OEM pre-load?

martythemaniak 14y ago
We are planning to provide premium accounts with advanced parental controls.
- richf 14y ago
  Cool, once you gain traction, I would definitely explore partnering with an OEM to get your application preloaded and work out some kind of deal that way. I think it would be a hit.