Product Description

TV Time Manager, works with PCs and Video Game Systems. Parents can set time limits and Bob enforces the rules. When a Child's time is used up, BOB turns off the TV. It can manage time for up to 6 users. How BOB Works? - Very simple 3 minute set-up. Plug the TV into BOB (lock in the cord) and plug BOB into the wall! - Parents set time limits--TV shuts off when time is up! - "Time Blocks" prevent usage for specific times of the day (like after school). - Safe for all electronics, including TVs (Plasma/DLP/LCD), video game systems, and computers. * WHY BOB Works? - BOB removes the "TV struggles" - providing a happier and healthier household. - Kids will learn to budget their time. - BOB frees up more time for school work and can lead to higher grades. - When kids are outside playing, they see less junk food on TV and eat less junk food on the couch.

Product Details

• Color: Silver
• Brand: Hopscotch
• Model: BOB1
• Released on: 2006-08-08
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Dimensions: 5.80" h x 8.70" w x 4.90" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

• Simple 3-minute set up
• 6 unique user accounts
• Safe for all electronics
• Kid-safe and tamperproof
• Reduces screentime=better health & better grades

Customer Reviews

Bob's the best!
Bob's the best! No more arguing over media time -- all video games, dvds and television shows go through this simple device. Bob is very easy to set up and use. Each user has an unique code, so one child can't "use up" all the time allocated for t.v. One of my children would use all their weekly time in one day, so I am able to set up his account by the day. My daughter, on the other hand, can monitor herself so much better that we set her account up by the week.

Bad Guy Bob
Bob arrived at our house a few weeks ago.

My kids think he's a bad guy because he's always turning off the computer right in the middle of their games.

But they're quickly learning to work with Bob. To negotiate for more time or to limit themselves to the hour or two that Bob gives them.

Bob is a TV Time Manager. And it's not really a guy. It's this small electronic device that you plug into your TV, computer, or videogame into, and then you can set specific time limits and time blocks for up to six different children.

In our house we don't have a problem with the kids watching too much TV, as they only turn it on by themselves on Saturday and Sunday mornings when they're allowed to watch DVD cartoons for an hour or two. So far they've been good about regulating themselves on that.

What we do have a problem with is computer games. My son, especially, likes to play games at the free online sites, like NeoPets and Yahoo Games. We give him an hour a day, usually just after dinner. But that hour goes quickly, and he's so caught up in the action that he forgets the time.

That's where Bob comes in. For computers, you can plug the monitor's electrical cord into Bob, which has a locked outlet so the kids can't simply plug the cord back into the wall outlet. Then your child types in his own 4-digit pin number, and Bob will turn the monitor on for the amount of time the child is allowed. When the alloted time is just about up, Bob gives a 60-second countdown, so your child knows he'd better finish up the game.

You can also set up time blocks when Bob will refuse to accept a PIN, so your kids can't play games or watch TV during hours of the day when they should be doing other things.

It's all worked wonderfully with our son. He has no reason to complain, because we all agreed on how much time he would have on the computer each night. I don't have to watch the clock, and my son is learning a little something about time management.

Bob has an extremely simple interface. It's easy to use, and easy for the kids to understand. They can see right on the screen how much time they've used. Parents can give more time as a reward, or take away time as a punishment.

The Solution to Too Much TV
I have had the privelage of using one of the first BOBs and have been truly impressed. My kids were watching too much TV. WIth BOB, I've managed to decrease their TV time from 20 hours per week to 10. And the arguements have ended! They manage their own time and BOB enforces it. I don't need to worry about them sitting in front of the TV watching endlessly. BOB also works really well with computers. It's given me peace of mind knowing that they are not Internet surfing late at night after I've gone to sleep. BOB is simple to set-up and simple to use! Everyone should have one.