It just takes a few random presses of a smartphone's buttons to buy a 1962 Austin Healey for $225. Oddly, dad is keeping it. Dad has a new baby. (Credit: KOIN-TV Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) Apps are one of technology's greatest inventions. They're so easy to use that even a halfwit with shears for hands can discover tomorrow's weather or the latest broccoli restaurant in Brooklyn. (It's called Broccolyn. Surely you've been there.) Sometimes, though, an app's fluid simplicity can sail you into dangerous waters, such as allowing a 14-month-old little girl buy a car. Sorella Stoute, the toddler in question, was just being a curious toddler when she played with her dad's smartphone. As KOIN-TV reported, she appears to already have a keen talent for using dad's coins to buy things. Even if she doesn't quite know what she's actually doing. Please imagine Paul Stoute's delight when she bought him a 1962 Austin-Healey using his eBay app. Sorella is very fond of surprises, so she didn't tell dad anything. Not so much as a whisper. More Technically Incorrect One in five Americans use phones in church Theft victim finds phone, calls alleged thief's mom Microsoft goes Moneyball to pummel iPad yet again Fugitive tweets 'catch me if you can'; caught Did Florida just ban all smartphones and laptops? Instead, dad got a congratulatory e-mail from eBay. Dad explained to KOIN-TV: "She decided to open the eBay app and started clicking around and one thing led to another and we own a car." I feel sure that many child psychologists are already sharpening their minds to discern what levels of subconscious drove her to choose a vintage car, rather than, say, a Fiat Abarth or Porsche Cayenne Diesel. Was she trying to tell dad that he was somewhat past it? Or was she appealing to his innate sense of nostalgia? The family lives in Portland, Ore. The Healey lived in Tualatin. This is also in Oregon. The Healey, however, would have found it hard to roll to its new home. If one could invent a new word for a car in this state, it would be "tualatinated." Still, how magnanimous of dad to pay for the car and keep it, rather than deprive Sorella of nappies for a week. (He does say he's taken a few more security precautions with his phone, however, including facial recognition technology.) Dad admits to having panicked at first. Now, though, he's decided to go online and raise funds for the Healey's healing. He quite enjoys fixing up cars. Thoughtful kids are so rare these days. So I hope the car is ready by the time Sorella is 16. It needs work. (Credit: KOIN-TV Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)
It just takes a few random presses of a smartphone's buttons to buy a 1962 Austin Healey for $225. Oddly, dad is keeping it.
Dad has a new baby.
(Credit: KOIN-TV Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)
Apps are one of technology's greatest inventions.
They're so easy to use that even a halfwit with shears for hands can discover tomorrow's weather or the latest broccoli restaurant in Brooklyn. (It's called Broccolyn. Surely you've been there.)
Sometimes, though, an app's fluid simplicity can sail you into dangerous waters, such as allowing a 14-month-old little girl buy a car.
Sorella Stoute, the toddler in question, was just being a curious toddler when she played with her dad's smartphone.
As KOIN-TV reported, she appears to already have a keen talent for using dad's coins to buy things. Even if she doesn't quite know what she's actually doing.
Please imagine Paul Stoute's delight when she bought him a 1962 Austin-Healey using his eBay app.
Sorella is very fond of surprises, so she didn't tell dad anything. Not so much as a whisper.
More Technically Incorrect
- One in five Americans use phones in church
- Theft victim finds phone, calls alleged thief's mom
- Microsoft goes Moneyball to pummel iPad yet again
- Fugitive tweets 'catch me if you can'; caught
- Did Florida just ban all smartphones and laptops?
Instead, dad got a congratulatory e-mail from eBay.
Dad explained to KOIN-TV: "She decided to open the eBay app and started clicking around and one thing led to another and we own a car."
I feel sure that many child psychologists are already sharpening their minds to discern what levels of subconscious drove her to choose a vintage car, rather than, say, a Fiat Abarth or Porsche Cayenne Diesel.
Was she trying to tell dad that he was somewhat past it? Or was she appealing to his innate sense of nostalgia?
The family lives in Portland, Ore. The Healey lived in Tualatin. This is also in Oregon. The Healey, however, would have found it hard to roll to its new home.
If one could invent a new word for a car in this state, it would be "tualatinated."
Still, how magnanimous of dad to pay for the car and keep it, rather than deprive Sorella of nappies for a week. (He does say he's taken a few more security precautions with his phone, however, including facial recognition technology.)
Dad admits to having panicked at first. Now, though, he's decided to go online and raise funds for the Healey's healing. He quite enjoys fixing up cars.
Thoughtful kids are so rare these days. So I hope the car is ready by the time Sorella is 16.
It needs work.
(Credit: KOIN-TV Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)
