Ad: Manage updates with the Download App
ie8 fix

kids' design

Pod Cribs: A perfect combo of danger, ugliness

Hoo boy! This design for "Pod Cribs," spotted on Yanko Design, is as bad as it gets. Not only does it look like something out of some sort of tube-baby-growing dystopia, but it's almost designed to make sure babies fall out of it.

I mean, really. You design a crib that's open on one side? Do you know how babies work? And how often do people need an interconnected crib system that can hold eight babies outside of a maternity ward? Also, they are stupid looking. Back to the drawing board with you, Pod Cribs.

This … Read more

Wrapping up (parent.thesis)

Today I am writing to let you know that Michael and I have decided to wrap up the (parent.thesis) blog. Writing it for the past ten months has been a wonderful opportunity to explore the issues surrounding family and technology. Blogging for CNET also turned out to be an overwhelming task for us, given that we each already work full-time. So we have found that we cannot sustain a daily conversation in this arena, though we are confident that our experience as CNET bloggers will continue to inform other areas of our work.

I love the serendipity of blogging. … Read more

Meet Buster, the latest in cat-scaring household gadgets

I'm not a parent, so maybe I don't see the hidden appeal in this prototype known as "Buster," the kiddie ride-on snail who also vacuums the floor, as seen on Babygadget. Isn't this just asking for horrific cat-chasing incidents? A two-year-old on top of a vacuum is like a Roomba with a brain.

On the other hand, I totally think they should make a lawn mower version for grown-ups. If I had, you know, several acres to mow, I'd be psyched to do it if I got to ride on top of a big … Read more