An emerging idea called “bonding technology” is the basis for a new platform for entire families. It seeks to make technology a driver of positive human interconnection within the home. And it incorporates the principle that doing things, experiencing things, is still the natural way for children to acquire social skills: learning to argue and make up, express feelings, compromise, communicate, cooperate, really see others, work in teams, and so forth.

In a world in which our children’s social skills are now acquired mainly through computer games, it is important to arrange situations that allow them to practice face-to-face human communication and social interaction – affording them new experiences and the chance to learn important new tools for success.

To do that, we can enlist the capabilities of technology using new and innovative tools that are appropriate for any family.

“bonding technology” gets the whole family sitting down to share quality time, play a game, make eye contact, laugh a lot, feel close to one another and have fun.

We won’t be taking children away from their screens, in general – but we can create new, relevant spaces for them to engage in creative and authentic communication. Reparative technology links the physical world to the digital, the perceptual to the virtual.

The integration of the app with the game board allows us, as parents, to engage with the mostly-digital world of our children. Adding a digital dimension to the game is a way to encourage children to join an activity willingly, with genuine interest.