Apps and Gadgets to Soothe the Baby: New York Times Article (video, links) -a little off-topic

I came across a link to a recent NY Time's article, "The Pacificer Gets and Upgrade:  Apps and Gadgets to Soothe the Baby" on Nat Torkington's "Four short links" O'Reilly Radar post, and thought it was worth sharing, especially for my readers who are new parents or new grandparents! Here are a few of the links from the NY Times article:


iPhone Apps
White Noise   by TMSOFT  (Rated positive by new dad and NY Times writer Farhad Manjoo)
"White Noise provides ambient sounds of the environment to help you relax or sleep.  Includes high quality looping noises such as ocean waves, crickets chirping at night, and the soothing sound of rain fall."


MamaRoo "It moves like you do"

The following two apps/gadgets didn't seem to work as advertised, according to Farhad Manjoo:
Cry Translator "The iPhone App to Understand Baby Crying"
Why Cry Baby Analyzer


Baby Monitors
Philips Advent Basic with DECT Technology
Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor
"Besides relaying your baby’s cries, it has a sensor pad, placed under the crib or bassinet mattress, that alerts parents when a baby has not moved for 20 seconds. It does not go off incessantly (the machine is sensitive enough to detect breathing) and is well suited to parents like me who cannot shake the paranoia that can come with caring for a new human being." -Farhad Manjoo


Farhad discussed monitors that feature web connectivity,   such as the MobiCam Digital Wireless Video Monitor and the Home Digital Video Monitor. These systems enable parents to watch the monitor's video of the baby via a smartphone.  To make this work, the baby monitor must be connected to a laptop or computer, which in turn must be turned on continuously, something that might not bee too convenient for busy parents.  He suggested that new parents take a look at the Lorex Wireless Easy Connect Network Camera, which has a built-in Wi-Fi chip that enables it to  connect to a wireless network without a computer. The Lorex isn't a baby monitor, but since it doesn't require a computer to work, it might be useful to anxious parents on-the-go who might want to see if their baby is being treated appropriately by a caregiver in their absence.


OTHER
Voice Activated Crib Light with Womb Sounds (just $14.99!)
Itzben Baby Care Timer ($24.00 -keeps track of diaper changes, feedings, and sleep patterns)


Farhad Manjoo's comment about babies and gadgets is worth heeding:
"... but babies are a fickle, ever-changing lot, and what works one time seems hopeless the next. As a gadget fiend, I’m used to evaluating technology in controlled settings, but there is nothing controlled about life with baby."


RELATED
ThinkGeek:  GeekKids Newborn and Infant 
The Pacificer Gets and Upgrade:  Apps and Gadgets to Soothe the Baby
Farhad Manjoo, New York Times, 11/24/10


Cross-posted on the TechPsych blog

Google Street View captured more than a shot of your house - it captured your wireless data "by mistake"!

Via Reuters:

Google says mistakenly got wireless data
Alexei Oreskovic, 5/14/10

"Google Inc said its fleet of cars responsible for photographing streets around the world have for several years accidentally collected personal information -- which a security expert said could include email messages and passwords -- sent by consumers over wireless networks....Google did not specify what kind of data the high-tech cars collected, but a security expert said that email content and passwords for many users, as well as general Web surfing activity, could easily have been caught in Google's dragnet."

Blog post from Google:
WiFi data collection:  An Update  5/14/10

Time to make sure your home WiFi network is secure - and don't forget to check your Facebook privacy settings!


RELATED
How to Password-Protect Your WiFi Network
https://ssd.eff.org/tech/wifi


Google Says It Collected Private Data By Mistake
Brad Stone, New York Times, 5/14/10

Please explain: why Google wants your Wi-Fi data
Louisa Hearn, The Sydney Morning Herald 5/13/10

Facebook and Privacy Issues: Reflections about the ever-changing interfaces of Facebook and the growing number of Facebook-connected websites (IMT)

Five Hidden Dangers of Facebook: Security Expert on Big Risks You Should Be Aware You're Taking When You Use the Site (CBS) 


Managing your privacy on Facebook;
Facebook downplays privacy criticism (Maggie Shiels)
BBC News, 5/14/10

My Nabaztag:tag and Mir:ror Arrived!

I'll update this post after I've played with my new Wi-Fi and RFID toys.

For more information:

violet: Let All Things Be Connected
"The Internet of Things starts here"