GoFetch Kids

GoFetch Kids
While developing GoFetch, I was inspired to make a browser for kids. The functionality of GoFetch revealed numerous security and collaborative opportunities that parents would appreciate while introducing the Internet to children.

The news media frequently tells stories of how the Internet played some role in a tragedy involving young people. With GoFetch Kids, parents and teachers could introduce the Internet to young people and direct the child’s surfing to approved web sites. This is a different approach then filtering software. With filtering software, it is necessary to configure the software to block specific sites or block sites that contain certain keywords. The configuration can be complex and it doesn’t guarantee all malicious sites will be blocked.

GoFetch Kids provides parents the opportunity to add approved websites while teaching children about the Internet. Instead of blocking sites, parents get the chance to look over a website and decide if the content is right for their kids. Once children learn about the Internet and develop “Net” etiquette, they can graduate to an adult browser. This provides parents the opportunity to become more involved in teaching kids about the pitfalls of joining certain chat rooms, or giving away personal information, and avoiding certain websites.

GoFetch Kids is like a game, where children and parents are engaged in an important learning process. The software has four built-in bookmark profiles and parents moderate this list. There are profiles for math, spelling, government focused websites, and kid focused entertainment and news. If a kid wants to add a website, they’ll have to ask their parents permission. The parent may go to the site; review the content, see any advertisements on that site, and decide whether or not to add the website to GoFetch Kids. The profiles are secured. In order to add a website, you have to know the password.

Check out the movie on www.gofetchkids.com. GoFetch Kids provides a fun, safe, and learning environment for teaching young people about the Internet.

Steps Taken
• PDF 1 click download enabled
• Updated the website with a blog pg, GoFetch Good News (only good news from several RSS feeds), science news, and popular Digg’d news
• Made a T-Shirt and it’s available on the website

Next Steps
• Movies movies movies, more movies for GoFetch Kids
• Offer PayPal
• Call Sesame Street