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An Operating System Designed for Children

Submitted by: techguy
Created: Feb 2, 2007, 4:54 pm

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The Idea

Built on a stripped down version of linux, this O/S that would be designed and secured for children. This O/S would support applications like: Email for Toddlers( http://www.cambrianhouse.com/idea-warz/idea-promoter/ideas-id/kFNWHWt ) Children's games/videos/interactive books(developed in future Cambrian projects) Web browser-restricted to 10 known kids only sites(ie. Disney.com), but parents could add more to the list or open it up and just use the monitoring application. Other child friendly applications New programs, games, updates could be purchased/downloaded from Cambrian House using an integrated purchasing application. An audit of all your child's actions would be logged for future review. You can purchase as an install CD or preinstalled systems possibly ebay style. It would run on old, inexpensive computers(in case the kid breaks it).

I thought of this idea when I was...

My son is starting to play on the computer and he always jacks up my icons by moving them around, renaming them, etc. I wish I had a cheap linux alternative that I could just set up and he could play with all he wants without me worrying about security or my applications. Not to mention a computer designed with a ton of kids games or links to kids games would make my life easier too. I know most of this could all be done manually by me, but I think many people would pay good money for computers like this.

Comments Posted

mswayne Posted: February 5, 2007, 1:33 pm

I like it. Lots of possibilities with this one.

mswayne Posted: February 5, 2007, 1:34 pm

I'm giving it a "1." Just kidding.

Fire_Elemental Posted: February 5, 2007, 10:32 pm

Developing an entire OS just for kids is a bit overkill. Really all you need is a sandboxed environment that runs on top of your favorite OS. Basically you would give your kids a user account (with the Windows XP login screen even a child can log in) and the account would immediately launch into the sandbox and stay in there until logging out. Since only this sandbox needs to run, the user account can be put on lockdown to prevent any naughty activities if your kiddies figure out how to kill the sandbox process.

When you sit down to this computer you can log into your own account and use the computer normally, as you are the administrator.

techguy Posted: February 6, 2007, 9:30 am

Fire_Elemental,
I'm not suggesting a brand new O/S be developed. I'm suggesting taking a Linux, stripping it down and creating the sand box environment that you describe.

I don't suggest doing it on XP for the following reasons:
-Cost of XP license
-CPU/RAM requirements for XP
-XP is being replaced by Vista eventually
-Development environment available in XP vs. Linux

Maybe I should change the title of this from O/S to a Linux desktop, but I would want the Linux install to be stripped down so that it only has the necessary components. However, essentially it's creating a desktop environment like KDE or GNOME that is designed specifically for children to use.

I think the concept of creating a sandbox desktop is perfect.

Insight Posted: February 12, 2007, 4:25 pm

I love the idea behind Sandbox and I think the marketability of it as an application to pare down an already developed O/S definitely has utility.

O/S like Apple and MS should already be looking at this stuff.

Insight Posted: February 12, 2007, 4:30 pm

Sandbox O/S for sure Techguy!

dawning Posted: February 15, 2007, 10:49 am

Sounds like the $100 laptop / OLPC machine that MIT has been working on.. The FC6 linux based OS is all around usability particularly for children. It's pretty damn cool - you don't even need to be able to read to use it's GUI..

Here's some info on this: http://www.laptop.or...software/specs.shtml

Hagrid Posted: February 16, 2007, 9:12 pm

Yeah, the $100 laptop project is exactly what I thought of, too, when I read this idea. But isn't that project being aimed at the developing world? Is there opportunity to expoit a niche market for kids' computing in the developed world with a competing product if $100 laptops start hitting the market in Canada & the U.S.?

Parents are willing to spend a LOT of money on their kids. If a product like this hit the market at the right time & under the right circumstances, it could make a LOT of money.

generic_idea_machine Posted: February 20, 2007, 12:15 am

You dont need any fancy hardware or design a new software to do this.

two ways this can be accomplished right now:

-1-
- just download VMware server (free)
- download the linux distro of your choice
- load up the linux distro in a full screen mode (virtual machine)
- install the kiosk firefox extensions (in VM) [a]

-2-
- boot from a live cd
- implement kiosk firefox extensions
- lock down to 10 url's of your choice [a]

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/954/

techguy Posted: February 20, 2007, 10:56 am

As far as the $100 laptop project...

It does touch on some of the same principles. However, the $100 laptop project is aimed at the developing world and I from the stories I've read they don't plan on expanding that to the developing countries. If they make their code open source then I think we could absolutely help in their project.

I think the other major difference is the type of programs that we would make available on this O/S vs. the $100 laptop. The "parental control"/"security tracking" is something that probably isn't nearly a concern for the $100 laptop, but would be for us. This O/S would also be a better computer than the $100 laptop that could support a better set of applications.

I agree that there are parallels, but this idea is focused at a completely different market.

techguy Posted: February 20, 2007, 11:10 am

"-1-
- just download VMware server (free)
- download the linux distro of your choice
- load up the linux distro in a full screen mode (virtual machine)
- install the kiosk firefox extensions (in VM) "

The above list could be done by about 5% of the population (and I think I'm being generous). I understand that a lot of this could be done manually. However, I think there are millions of people out there that would pay good money for either and automated install of this, or a preinstalled computer with these things installed.

Also, see my comments below about Firefox extensions isn't enough.

"-2-
- boot from a live cd
- implement kiosk firefox extensions
- lock down to 10 url's of your choice"

Firefox extensions is only one facet of the idea. I think that this addon could be extended to the browser functionality that I'm talking about. However, even this extension doesn't do the rich, simple user interface that I think most people would need to moderate their child's internet surfing activities.

More importantly, the browser is only one aspect of this idea. Having a rich set of child centered programs that are built by the community is another important part of this idea. Essentially the O/S comes installed with a base set of the most important programs. Then, as another part of the revenue model, child related games and programs can be downloaded at a cost.

Add on the security and monitoring and this is very different than just a standard distro install. Not to mention a standard linux distro comes built in with 100 programs that a child would never use and just open it up to potential exploit.

generic_idea_machine Posted: February 20, 2007, 10:46 pm

not sure what I was thinking last night.

All that you really need in this regard is:

- a separate login for your child (limited user account on XP)
- get rid of all the shortcuts on the desktop and put the firefox link there. With the extensions pre-loaded.

then you can only have your child visit the URL you choose

Brenden Posted: March 4, 2007, 4:11 pm

There was a system called KidsDesks that my parents used on me and my brother with our old 486.

but I did a little searching for it and found something like it:

http://magicdesktop.easybits.com/

Check it out... its only $30

Jhnpdng Posted: November 1, 2007, 3:22 pm

How about an operating system for use on the tons of obsolete pc's out there. People are just throwing them away. Or a sandbox that runs on top of win 95. That way the kids could have their own system and we wouldn't have to worry about losing our data or having multiple people sharing one or two pc's.

Hello!

Ideas