Tech-driven toys head for shelves
Gannett News Service
Gadgets that can recognize handwriting, receive wireless data from TV shows and appear to read minds through artificial intelligence were among the hottest tech toys at this week's American International Toy Fair in New York.
"Kids live in a tech world," says Chris Byrne, an independent toy consultant in New York. "Their toys are going to be high-tech."
Highlights from the annual trade show:
20Q reads your mind
Radica gives the classic 20 Questions parlor game a high-tech twist. The palm-sized 20Q device starts by asking questions that can be answered by pressing buttons that read "Unknown," "No," "Yes" and "Sometimes." By the 20th question, it will almost always know your word. The toy contains a database with 2,000 target words. As you answer questions, it uses artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic and psychographic profiling to zero in on the word. That's a lot of brainpower for a $10 toy.
More power to Batman
Want to give your Batman toy extra power to fight bad guys? This fall, put a Batman VEIL toy in front of the television and tune into Warner Bros.' new animated "Batman" series. The cartoon show will wirelessly transmit Video Encoded Invisible Light to a Batwave Communicator on specially designed Batman toys from Mattel. These signals will make the toys light up, transfer virtual gadgets to their liquid crystal displays and deliver power-ups for battle. The toys will cost $30 to $50.
Toy reads what you write
You may not be able to read your child's handwriting, but LeapFrog's LeapPad Plus Writing system can. When a child writes "COW," not only will it recognize the letters but it will also read the word out loud. Likewise, when a child writes the answer to a math problem, the LeapPad will recognize the number and, depending on the answer, offer praise or advice. The LeapPad Plus Writing system costs $50 and is available now.
Preschoolers get game
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| The V.Smile TV Learning System is an educational game console. |
Robosapien takes baby steps
Before you say, "Oh, no, not another robot," take the Robosapien for a walk. What you'll notice is how humanlike its moves are. Designed by Wow Wee Toys and robotics physicist Mark W. Tilden, the robot can perform 67 preprogrammed tasks. Using its easy-to-work remote control, even young kids can make it dance, pick up socks and throw paper wads. Six body sensors help the toy avoid obstacles. Available this summer, it will cost $100.
Play with cartoon pals
Fisher-Price's InteracTV gives preschoolers a chance to interact with characters from "Dora the Explorer,'' "Sesame Street" and other children's shows. The system, which hooks up to DVD players, interacts with DVDs containing cartoon episodes that have been encoded with educational activities. The child controls the activities with a wireless InteracTV Controller that holds an encoded card matching the DVD. The InteracTV comes with a sampler DVD and three cards. On sale this summer for $40.
Etch A Sketch hits the screen
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| ETO is an Etch A Sketch that lets youngsters make colorful drawings on the TV screen. |
They also can put together animated clips with sound, design mazes and solve puzzles on TV. On sale this spring for $35.
