This article originally appeared at Anti-Media.
Akron, Ohio — In a story that speaks directly to both the march of technology and the inherent dangers therein, an Ohio news outlet reported Tuesday that a talking drone is visiting children in Akron while they are at school. From local WKYC:
“The Akron Public Schools district is warning parents to be wary of a drone that has been reported flying over Windemere Community Learning Center.
“According to a letter issued to school parents by Windemere principal Megan Lee-Wilfong on Monday, the drone has reportedly been spotted flying around school grounds in the evening. It’s been seen three to four times during the past week.”
According to WKYC, which interviewed witnesses, the machine is even equipped with components that allow it to the speak — and it has been using that voice to try to “lure children away from school grounds.” That’s what Daniel Rambler, Akron Public Schools Director of Student Support Services and Security, told the outlet:
“The drone was trying to interact with them…Wanted to see if they would meet them at a dollar store which is about three blocks away from where the school is.”
Rambler says that these days, parents and children alike need to be aware that threats can come in many different forms:
“We’ve always known of stranger danger, and we teach it to kids constantly, but it’s now not just people, but things. Make sure you go over with your kids, what are your expectations if your kids are on the playground and somebody comes up to them, what is your expectation of what they do. Same thing if there’s a remote control device that does that.”
In the meantime, the district is advising parents that an adult should accompany children to school grounds.
