Gaming Starts After Schoolwork is complete

Daily Entertainment Mode Enable feature can prevent entertainment use (i.e. gaming, social media) until the parent specifically enables use for that day (easily done online). Parents can check homework, chores or other responsibilities have been completed before allowing gaming, video watching and social media for that day.

Once schoolwork, chores and other responsibilities are complete then many entertainment options are available. These include:

Standard Entertainment Modes

Entertainment Desktop - Desktop with all the same applications provided in the Study Mode Desktop with the addition of the Media Player App that can play videos, movies and music that has been downloaded. This mode also allows playing undemanding browser based games (HTML5), watching videos (i.e. YouTube) and access to popular Social Media sites (based on user age and parental preferences) in the Chromium browser.

Media Player - Similar to a streaming device, this mode provides high definition (720p) full-screen media player optimized for media entertainment sites like Disney+, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Twitch.TV and others. Parents have direct control of which major subscription services are available to each user.

Web Arcade Gaming - provides access to hundreds of browser based games including many popular retro games to be played for free. Parental Control settings limit access by age.

XBOX Cloud Gaming - Launches XBOX Cloud Gaming (beta) in the Chromium browser in either standard definition (SD) or high definition (720p HD). This mode requires a Microsoft account and subscription to the Game Pass and Cloud Gaming services to play games. XBOX Game Controller generally required for game play.

Advanced Entertainment Video Gaming Modes

PS Remote Play Gaming - Play PlayStation PS4/PS5 games through the LaunchPad™ from a Sony PlayStation® 4 or 5 console connected to the same network. PlayStation Game Controller required for game play.

Other Entertainment Modes

Gaming Timer - Provides a convenience use timer matching the limit settings for Entertainment Mode with status shown on the front panel LCD screen. This can be used so a user can “check out” an alternate device (i.e. Nintendo Switch, iPad, smartphone) after logging in and then return it immediately upon logout. Upon login and logout, an email is sent to the Account Owner (parent) and logged. This mode consumes Entertainment Mode time just like any other Entertainment mode and GamePlay+ extensions can be requested during the last 2 minutes of available time. The computer display is blanked to save power and limit double use.

If parents have full access to parental controls for the alternate device, they can enable and disable the device using the device’s parental controls instead.

Supporting Features

Front Panel LCD continuously displays current time and remaining time for current login. Screen flashing on both LCD and main display provide warnings at 10min 5 minutes and 2 minutes.

Entertainment Mode Login Maximum allows setting limits on any single login so that the user is required to take a screen break before returning to play.

"just a few more minutes!!"

GamePlay+ extends game play time upon the user's request automatically without requiring parental intervention (i.e. pesky emails) and without the disruption of the game in progress. The number of allowed extensions and the duration of each extension is set in advance. During the last 2 minutes of allowed time, the user presses the front panel button to request the extension. If allowed, the time extends. Once the game has ended, the user will be less likely to start a new game knowing that there will not be enough time. This reduces angry outbursts and potential violence resulting from abrupt, disrupted play. Happy gamers equals happy parents.

no worries

Perhaps the Sentinel Computers greatest benefit is the piece of mind parents have knowing the system can't be operated at times and in ways not allowed. Your child may have been able to outsmart your attempts at parental controls before. Perhaps they learned how to bypass the parental control settings or they even reinstalled the operating system. Perhaps they downloaded content to watch after you shut off the internet. Do you remember when they found where you hid the power cord? You no longer have to play their "Beat the Parents" game. That game is over. The Sentinel does not rely on operating system or software parental controls to enforce limits. A custom, dedicated security hardware and remote servers are constantly monitoring operation setting Sentinel Computers apart from any other personal computer system in the world.