A new device designed to control Internet access at home has apparently become an early hit with parents. Michael Shriner, the creator of the MicroVision Internet Security Key, said November 23 that over 6,000 units sold in its first five days on the market.
"I designed an easy-to-use hardware product for parents to take control of their children's Internet use," Shriner said as he announced the early sales figures. He was unavailable for further comment when reached by AVNOnline.com, but Shriner has said he was moved to create the device in large part because of what he has called alarmingly large numbers of children reported to have seen porn online by accident.
The product, which ties in between the cable modem and the computer, was released quietly in April and features an electronic key inserted into the security hardware. With the key in, the Net is activated; remove the key, and the Net is blocked. Also, "security sleeves" go over the cable connections on the computer and modem so the cable can be removed only with a speciall- included tool, with the entire product easy to install, Shriner said.
The $39.95 Internet Security Key already has received several positive reviews. The Associated Press has called it "a must have product for parents," while Yahoo News praised its "maximum protection."
"The number one reason," Shriner said in his sales announcement about parents rushing to buy the device, "appears to be the desire for parents to prevent their children from unsupervised access to the Internet. In addition, parents are buying this product to limit the amount of time children spend online, prevent accidental virus downloads by children, and as a compliment to existing software filters."
On the other hand, the device does have its skeptics.
"Pretty much just an extension of all those TV locks that became popular in the Eighties after parents everywhere started freaking out over MTV," said engadget.com, "the Internet Security Key is another one of those little boxes that you can use to control your kid’s access to the Internet.
"You plug it in between your PC and your cable or DSL modem, and once you remove its special card key there’s no way for your six-year-old to get online and download porn or illegally share music or visit any al-Qaeda Web sites (we’d tell all of our porn-loving pre-teen readers to just disconnect the box and plug directly in, but they put special security sleeves around the jacks so you can’t remove the cables),"said the tech Web site, which reviews new electronic devices. "The clunky, typo-ridden Web site doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence, but if you’re down, they’re selling them for $40."
