"Houston, we have a problem" - this may be a catchy phrase for kids whose parents' are thinking of or have already installed an android app that forces kids' phones to lock up unless they contact home base.
A mother from Houston, Texas apparently got fed up with the frustration of not being able to get in touch with her children, most probably by being ignored. This led Sharon Standifird to have month long collaboration with developers until the application "Ignore No More' came into existence.
Currently a paid app in Google's android market at $1.99, it lets mothers who think strict parenting through this method as appropriate to take control of the privileges of their children's use of the phone if their children ignore their calls.
"Ignore No More' installed on phones simply locks the phone up and disallows further usage until the owner of the locked phone contacts the administrator (aka, mother) for an unlock code that will be verbally given. Nevertheless, the application has been said to allow children to call 911 services, in case of emergency.
Until recently, the app has received mixed reviews, with some claiming it to be good or strict and controlled parenting, whereas others have been vocal in expressing their disagreement with the parenting implications of resorting to such means.
Those who view it as too constrictive indicate that the app only causes stress to the phone's owner, especially since games, connectivity, and other phone functions would simply be inaccessible. Also, restarting the phone or even replacing the battery for a hard restart does not change the phone's opening screen of a locked phone and an encouraging statement to call the mother-administrator.
Currently, the app's author Sharon Standifird has released "Ignore No More' for selected android models only, though she has expressed that she plans to develop the same app for iPhone users.
