Cool tech entertainment for kids, teenagers

By Jinny Gudmundsen
Gannett News Service

Here's a look at some exciting technologies for kids and teens that were introduced at last month's Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

Animated cartoons on Game Boy Advance: Majesco launched a video compression technology that turns Nintendo's Game Boy Advance (and GBA-SP) gaming system into a portable video movie player. Debuting with 12 titles, Majecsco's video system allows kids to watch 45 minutes of commercial-free cartoons. Titles feature "Dora the Explorer," "SpongeBob Squarepants," "Jimmy Neutron" and other popular licenses from Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, 4Kids Entertainment and DIC Entertainment. The video titles are available for $19.99 each. Majesco also is selling $10 Game Boy Advance SP headphones so that kids can listen to the videos without disturbing others around them.

Mobile SAT prep: In July, the Princeton Review and major mobile phone companies will roll out "The Princeton Review Mobile SAT Prep," nifty technology that turns cell phones into SAT preparation tools. Downloadable software interfaces with a phone's text-messaging screen to quiz students with interactive SAT questions. Students even get feedback based on their answers and results.

Full-body gaming: Last year, Sony introduced Eye Toy, an add-on video camera to PlayStation 2 that allows kids to control game play by moving their body instead of their fingers. Several new Eye Toy games are coming this fall, including "Nicktoons Eye Toy" from THQ, a series of 11 minigames featuring popular Nickelodeon cartoon characters. Kids can go bowling with SpongeBob and control the ball by moving their hands. Kids' faces will appear on a bowling ball as it rolls down the alley. The targeted audience for "Nicktoons Eye Toy" is kids ages 6 to 11.

Educational software from new sources: This year, parents will find a large selection of educational software on noncomputer platforms. Leading this new trend is Leapfrog, with the Leapster Multimedia Learning System blazing the trail with nine new software titles. Leapster "Spiderman" will offer first and second graders an opportunity to play educational games with the popular superhero. In Leapster "The Incredibles," second and third graders will explore learning games with the characters from the upcoming Disney/Pixar movie. Both titles are scheduled for fall release.