Prego, the company known for its budget-friendly pasta sauces, has taken a surprising turn by launching a new device called the Connection Keeper. This hockey-puck-shaped gadget is designed to record family conversations during dinner, allowing families to preserve and relive their most memorable moments. The device, developed in collaboration with StoryCorps, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving everyday conversations, aims to encourage families to disconnect from their phones and focus on each other. Despite initial skepticism about Prego's motives, the company emphasizes that the Connection Keeper is screen-free, has no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and lacks AI features, making it a genuine effort to promote face-to-face interaction. The device's simplicity is appealing, as it only requires pressing a button to start and stop recording. Families can then upload their recordings to StoryCorps' website, where they can be shared and even preserved in the Library of Congress. The Connection Keeper is available as part of a bundle that includes Prego pasta sauce and conversation prompt cards, making it an affordable and engaging way to enhance family dinners. However, the article also raises important questions about privacy and the potential misuse of personal data, as seen in the Madison Square Garden facial recognition scandal. Prego's move into the tech space is intriguing, and it remains to be seen how this device will impact the company's future and the way families interact during meals.
