Products / Broken Timmy

Coming soonAn original product by LAZY SYNTAX PTY LTD

Less distraction. More learning.

A parent-controlled desktop productivity app that helps children build better study habits and stay focused in a world full of digital distractions.

macOS
Windows

Desktop only — Broken Timmy runs on Mac and Windows computers. There is no phone or tablet version.

Get launch updates →See what it does

Broken Timmy Focus Mode: a study session in progress for Math with 23:29 remaining, shown between the start screen and the Focus Mode settings — Focus Mode during a study session

Broken Timmy study tools: a homework list with due dates and an overdue task, next to a running countdown timer — Study tools: homework and timers

Broken Timmy AI study help: Quiz Me, where the child picks a topic and difficulty for a quiz, shown between Teach Timmy and generating flashcards from a topic — AI study help: Teach Timmy, quizzes and flashcards

Broken Timmy parent view: a daily activity summary by category and app, shown between the child’s report card and the parental control settings — Parent reports and settings

What it does

Help with focus, without taking over.

Broken Timmy sits on the desktop as a friendly study companion. It keeps parents informed and helps children notice when they drift off task.

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Activity overview

Shows parents which apps and browsers their child uses, and for how long, in a clear daily summary.

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Private-window alerts

Flags private or incognito windows in supported browsers and includes them in the parent’s report. Safari and Arc private windows can’t currently be detected.

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Focus Mode

A study timer that notices likely distractions — such as social media, streaming or games — and gives a gentle on-screen nudge to get back on track. It warns; it doesn’t block.

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Study help

Notes, timers, flashcards with spaced repetition, a homework tracker and reminders. Optional AI features add quizzes, a “teach it back” mode and flashcards generated from study documents.

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Parents in control

A parent sets a master password during setup, and every parent action needs it. After a restart, Broken Timmy opens in the child’s profile, so settings and reports stay in the parent’s hands.

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Tamper-resistant safeguards

Protects its settings and records against tampering, repairs them where it can, and lets parents know when someone has tried. It also starts automatically when the computer signs in.

How Focus Mode decides

Clear rules first. AI only if you want it.

Focus Mode separates what it knows for certain from what it is guessing — and it gives children the benefit of the doubt.

1 · Always on

Built-in rules

Recognises common distractions and study tools. Well-known distractions, such as popular shopping or streaming sites, are always treated as off task. Works without an internet connection.

2 · Optional

AI relevance check

Parents can turn on an AI check that compares a browser window’s title with the subject being studied. Unlike the content filter, this check is off by default, and only the subject, app name and window title are sent.

3 · When unsure

Benefit of the doubt

If the AI is uncertain or not confident enough, the child isn’t flagged. If AI is switched off or unavailable, the built-in rules decide.

Parent & administrator controls

Settings stay with the parent.

✓Master password created by a parent during setup

✓Child profiles with their own PIN; parent actions need the admin password

✓Parent access locks again automatically when idle or when switching to a child’s profile

✓Filtering, AI features, data retention and profiles managed by the parent

✓Daily and weekly reports, viewed on the device

✓A recovery code, shown once at setup, in case the password is forgotten

Safeguards

Built to resist tampering — honestly.

✓Parent settings and activity records protected against tampering

✓Altered or deleted records repaired automatically where possible

✓Tampering attempts reported to the parent

✓Starts automatically at sign-in

No parental-control app can prevent every workaround, so Broken Timmy focuses on protecting its records and making tampering visible to parents.

macOS

Setting up on Mac

During setup, macOS asks you to approve a few standard permissions for Broken Timmy. Activity tracking, private-window alerts and Focus Mode need them to work.

Windows

Setting up on Windows

Install Broken Timmy, create the parent password and add your child’s profile — no extra system permissions are needed.

Privacy & data

Your family’s activity history stays on your computer.

Activity records, reports and settings are stored on the device. There is no online dashboard, and Broken Timmy does not include advertising or analytics tracking.

What does leave the device:

AI features. The content filter’s AI check, which is on by default, sends a window title — the title only — to OpenAI or a backup AI provider when it can’t decide on its own. Focus Mode’s relevance check is off by default. Study features send the text the child gives them, such as a question or a document. Parents can switch all AI features off.
Licensing. A device ID and licence details are sent to our licence server.
Password recovery. If a parent chooses to receive a recovery code by email, their email address is used to send it.

Broken Timmy privacy policy

A dedicated privacy policy for Broken Timmy will be published here before release. Until then, see the Lazy Syntax website privacy policy.

Coming before release

Release information

Coming soon to macOS and Windows.

Status: In development
Platforms: macOS and Windows
Release date: To be announced
Pricing: To be announced
Download: Not yet available

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