Computeraised kids

I am watching Oprah right now (..isn’t every female?) Nate Bertkus is talking about hitech gadgets in the home. The Burke-Contes family has a hi-tech ’smart house’ in Seattle. Everything is computerized. The childrens watches are ‘keys’ to the house. Basically they wave their watches at the wall and bang..the door opens. The grocery list, sleep and shopping list is all computerized. The system makes the shopping list and even recommends stuff that the family might need. Apart from the fact that ‘Cleopatra’ the talking computer is hotter than Posh Spice and might pause a threat to wife, I am amazed at what technology has come to. Some really nice stuff. Makes life alot more convenient and if I had extra money to spare, I would probably pimp my house abit. I am also a little apprehensive about what this is going to do to children. If children come home and are welcomed by a ‘Cleopatra’, take instructions from this computer and basically are being parented by computers, what is going to happen to them? Isn’t this taking it a little too far? When do these parents ever get to play Mom and Dad? Do these children ever get a hug or kiss from their parents or have any meaningful conversation with their parents?  Will these children ever be able to relate to their parents or real people in the real world? Will they ever learn to ‘use their heads’ to make responsible decisions? Is ‘Cleopatra’ equiped to answer their questions about boys, sex, respect and all the things people need to know to make the right choices for their lives?<p>Already kids in America are being parented by MTV, the internet and a zillion other crazy TV programs as parents get more and more busy with their careers. Computerizing the entire house is not going to make things any better. No wonder kids in this country are so messed up, lossed and lacking in self esteem and identity!