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Bandai, Buffalo to sell device to limit Internet access for kids+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) TOKYO, Sept. 3_(Kyodo) _ Bandai Co. and Buffalo Inc. said Monday they have jointly developed a "key" to be inserted into a personal computer's USB port in order to deny young children access to pornographic or other websites harmful to them. The key also restricts the kinds of software titles kids can use and limits the time they can spend on their computers, according to the toy maker and the Nagoya-based computer peripheral manufacturer. Upon being plugged in, the key will turn the computer screen to a setting featuring Walt Disney characters and play a short opening video. The key comes in two models with one featuring Mickey Mouse and the other Winnie the Pooh. They are designed for kids aged 6 to 9 and due to go on sale Sept. 14 through major home electronics stores and other dealers for a price of about 3,480 yen. The new device runs on Windows XP and Windows Vista. According to a survey conducted by Bandai in January on parents with 6- to 10-year-old children, more than 80 percent of their youngsters used computers at their homes and many respondents expressed concern about whether they are browsing undesirable materials on the Internet. Copyright 2007 Kyodo News International, Inc. |