As the tech joke goes: have you tried turning it off and back on again? Except in this case, this clever little smart plug (aka the Reset Plug) does the work for you, sensing that the web has gone dark and turning itself off then on until it works.

When your internet goes out, resetting your wifi router and cable modem is the go-to first stop to solve the problem, but requires you to get up, play with cords and plugs, wait, and hope for the best … no reason not to have a hardware solution for this simple but pervasive problem (especially if, say, you are away from home but want your smart home devices to keep working).

For 60 bucks it might seem like a bit of a luxury item, but for those where internet connections are critical or hardware hidden behind stuff in closets or basements, the convenience just may be worth it. Users can also manually trigger a reset remotely via a smart phone app. Don’t need one for your own place? Consider getting it for friends and family who call you every time when their internet goes out.

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Technology pervades every facet of our lives, and it should come as no surprise that kids are using the internet just as much as – and often more than – adults. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, the average American kid spends more than 7.5 hours per day on the internet. That’s more than an entire school day! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids spend no more than two hours in front of a screen – ANY screen – for entertainment purposes each day.

It seems to be a unanimous opinion among parenting experts that spending that much time online is no good for kids and can result in poor health and a poor relationship with the outside world. Parent and technology industry veteran Rob Irizarry invented Kudoso, a router that only lets kids get online after they’ve completed their real-world chores and only allows access to previously-set allowed websites.

There are two versions of the technology: a software version that works with your existing router, or a software/hardware combination that works with Kudoso’s own router. Either way you use it, the gist of the concept is something like kid-monitoring software, but in a somewhat gentler form. Unlike Net Nanny, which is a pain to integrate and configure across multiple devices (we speak from experience), Kudoso offers an easy-to-use interface that lets you set limits and goals for each child independently.

It seems like kids use the honor system to indicate that they’ve done their required chores like practicing an instrument or cleaning the kitty litter box. After they’ve checked off that they’ve done these tasks, they earn points that they can then “spend” to do certain activities online. Parents can choose the point levels necessary; for example, watching educational videos on National Geographic might cost fewer points than messing around on Facebook. Parents can designate “free” sites like Wikipedia, educational websites, or their school’s homework portal so they are always available without spending points. Parents can also completely block certain sites or certain content.

While we love this idea in theory, the problem with a filter that starts at the wireless router and not at the device is that it affects the entire family unless the user knows how to connect multiple routers to their modem – something that, sadly, many parents aren’t tech-savvy enough to accomplish. And we don’t know any parent who would want their internet access limited to Wikipedia, Poptropica and Nick Jr. The project page doesn’t say whether parent profiles are also built into the product, but this would be a good way to get around that problem. If the Kuduso is right for your family, the project is up for funding at Kickstarter. If they reach their stretch goal of $75K they’ll be able to add in FitBit integration so kids can only access the web after a certain amount of physical activity, which is something we can seriously get behind.

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People around the world depend on a reliable internet connection to work, play, and communicate. But in Sub-Saharan Africa and other remote locations, internet connectivity can be spotty at best and non-existent at worst. The BRCK portable modem/router was designed and built by people who live in Africa and know first-hand the challenges of unpredictable internet and electricity access.

Ushahidi, a group of software developers, engineers and technologists based in Nairobi, Kenya, is behind the BRCK project. They wanted to create a portable router that would be useful even in remote locations without reliable electricity. The BRCK contains a battery with an eight-hour life to keep it going even when the grid electricity can’t be depended on.

The 16-gigabyte hard drive means that the BRCK is more than just a modem and router. It’s a rugged, multi-functional way to stay connected  – it has multiple ways of connecting to a network even when internet connectivity is spotty or down altogether. It’s about the size of a Mac Mini and weighs just a smidge over one pound, making it exceptionally easy to carry around wherever your travels take you.

The BRCK can support up to 200 devices on its network and is tough enough to be used in any climate or setting. Its body is rugged to withstand falls, weather, and dust. At some point the team hopes to add the ability to charge the device via solar power. The ultimate goal is for the BRCK to be completely sourced and made in Africa, and used in Africa as well as all around the world. As the inventors say, if it can work in Africa, it can work anywhere.

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