Firefox的Kid Mode Add-on

上一篇blog列出用C#写的程序用来控制小孩子玩计算机，idea主要是从UI Automation project如white和软件AutoIT来的。如果你做QA工作，你可能会很熟悉这些软件和开源程序。包括HotKey，这些free的东西可以做很多事情，你还可以编写自己的代码来灵活地扩展功能，不必花很多钱去买QTP或LoadRunner。
限制小孩子上网有很多不同的方法，通常家里都有router，而现代的router通常可以设置Internet connect时段，设置可以针对特定IP或MAC地址，并且router的URL filter设置可以通过关键字滤除一些不适合小孩的网站。问题是如果你要和孩子share计算机，你就要经常把schedule改来改去，很麻烦。所以你可以给孩子和自己创建不同的login账户，只在孩子的login启动上文的程序。另外你可以修改程序，增加更多程序的监控，并插入一些quiz用来奖惩计算机时间。
FireFox提供很多非常好的Add-on，最近由一个"Kid Mode"，就是专门针对8岁以下的下孩子提供的寓教于乐的界面。可直接从FireFox search Add-on或用Link here

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这个Add-on的basic version是free的，premium version不是free的。它提供了很多小game帮助小孩提高算术阅读等技巧，并提供时间限制。在review中，有人担心privacy，仁者见仁，智者见智。以下引用其网页原文介绍：This award-winning app by Zoodles puts Firefox into Kid Mode and gives kids 8 and under hundreds of fun, educational games and activities that they can easily navigate all by themselves! We customize every child's playground to their age and skill level, so the games change as they grow. The interface is easy to use for kids of all ages, even those who can’t read or type!
Additional free features include:
✓ An Art Studio where your child can be creative!
✓ Beautifully illustrated storybooks that can be read and recorded by family members
✓ A Video Mail center where family members can exchange video messages and keep in touch!
For parents who want more control over their kids' Zoodles experience, they can go to http://www.Zoodles.com/parent to promote subjects, block unwanted games, or add in their own favorites. Zoodles Kid Mode is always free, but parents who want these additional parental controls must subscribe to a paid Premium membership which also includes violence filtering and detailed activity reports on what their kids have been playing and learning on Zoodles.