“Family” collection
Navigate the intersection of family life and technology with expert advice on household gadgets, digital parenting, and home safety. This section focuses on tools and strategies that enhance family connections and simplify domestic logistics in a digital-first world.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →July 20, 2012
Dropcam HD is the Ultimate Home Monitoring Webcam Now with HD Video, Night Vision & 2-Way Audio
Almost two years ago, I reviewed a new wireless webcam that I felt was a clear winner, especially for families - the Dropcam. It was by far the easiest to set up and use, wireless web-connected video streaming camera that I had used. Over the past 2 years, I used it pretty much every day. It allowed me to have…
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July 13, 2012
How to Use Olympic Gymnastics Scoring to Get Your Kids to do their Chores
There is a lot of excitement in my house with the coming 2012 Olympics in London, mainly because my 10-year-old daughter is a competitive gymnast. We watched the women's gymnastics trials a few weeks ago, and my daughter has some clear favorites and has been critiquing how each of the gymnasts are doing. But as we sat around watching the…
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July 9, 2012
A Vacation on Wheels! Review of the 2012 Volvo C70 Convertible
Test driving cars is truly a lot of fun and only over the past couple of years has it become regular content on HighTechDad.com. For me, I believe that cars are an important part of the family dynamic. They can be both utilitarian but also define the family persona. There may be one car that you use to do the…
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July 2, 2012
Parents Beware: Instagram & Kik Messenger Are A Dangerous Combination & What Social Dangers to Check For
Over the past few years, I have written about security and safety for the family, especially when it comes to protecting your kids from online predators and social bullies. My wife and I really try to practice what we preach. But as social networks and sharing services evolve, sometimes it is hard to keep up with the latest and greatest…
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June 25, 2012
5 Tips on How To Make your Child Safer When Gaming Online
Just the other day, I was talking to someone about how playtime has changed since when we were children. The line that my parents used to say all of the time was "go out and play" and off we would go, getting into trouble outside, coming back with scrapes, bloody knees and bruises, covered in dirt and physically exhausted. However,…
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June 19, 2012
Laughter is the Best Medicine, Especially When We Recorded Cast of Dads Father’s Day Episode #52
We all know that laughing is healthy. It's good for both the heart and the soul. Well, in the Father's Day (or should I say Daddy's Day) Episode #52 ("Laugh Filled Father's Day") of the Cast of Dads, we definitely came out very healthy as it was one of the most laughter-filled episodes that we have ever recorded! This episode…
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June 16, 2012
Should We Rename Father’s Day to Daddy’s Day? Being a Dad or a Father
First of all, Happy Father's Day 2012 to all of the dads, dads-to-be and father-figures out there! Sunday is your day of recognition and pride so enjoy it! This week, as I was socializing my Father's Day Reviewed Gifts Guide, I was putting in some hashtags into my tweets. When I had space, I used #fathersday or #father but when…
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June 14, 2012
Burn Note Lets You Create Single-Use, Disposable, Mission Impossible-esque Messages…And It Works!
We all know how cool those self-destruct messages in Mission Impossible is - "this message will self-destruct in 5 seconds" - and then the device playing the message bursts into flames or explodes or melts or something neat like that. Well, you can get that same type of message destruction, but without all of the smoke and fire with Burn…
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June 12, 2012
Looking for a First Car for your Teenager? The 2012 Kia Rio SX Might Be A Good One!
Most of the cars that I have reviewed to me seem to be more geared towards the established business person with some disposable income and possibly a family (especially with some of the larger SUVs or crossovers). These cars tend to be more expensive in many ways, from initial cost to the gasoline that they consumer (lower gas mileage). This…
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June 11, 2012
HighTechDad’s Father’s Day 2012 Reviewed Gift Buying Guide
Rev up those Father's Day gift engines, it's that time of year again! Yeah, I'm a bit late in getting together my list of products that you might want to consider for your dad for Father's Day, but you will still have a few days to get those gifts (or write up a nice IOU card). Anyway, this is a…
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June 7, 2012
Be Fearless this Father’s Day – The Case Foundation Giveaway
Have you ever wanted to take a risk and not done it? I know I have. I'm a bit of a creature of habit who likes comfort. But sometimes, there is that little voice that tells you to just "go for it" and take a risk. Sometimes that voice can be your inner self and sometimes it's an exterior voice…
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May 31, 2012
Ease of Set-up & Use Powers the VueZone Webcam Solution
Remember how a few years ago setting up a streaming webcam was something that you left to the geek in your house? And even then, it probably didn't work all the time or required the webcam to be attached to a computer that was on all of the time? I sure do. I even remember when setting up a security…
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