Internet System Lets Parents Spy on Day Care

By Linda Jacobson

High-quality child care is supposed to give parents the peace of mind they need to be productive during the workday. Still, knowing that they can use their desktop computers to check in on the little ones via the Internet is likely to be a tempting diversion.

A small but growing number of child-care centers are installing stationary cameras that produce digital photographs that parents can view when they log on to the World Wide Web. The photos are updated every 30 seconds.

The technology is being marketed as a high-tech way to relieve working parents' anxiety about putting their young children in child care. And for some center owners, it's also the newest way to stand out in...