#mechtars

It all started with this story about Popar toys, using Augmented Reality to create reading experiences for kids.  And I thought, "Wow, I would love to see this!".  So, I sprung for the admission to the Toy Fair in NYC.  No person under 18 was permitted, and I could see why.  A kid would have a coronary!  I almost did a couple of times.  

For the most part, this event is geared toward buyers, but I had some interesting experiences.  First of all, I got to see a demo of Popar!  And I got to speak with the creators about their vision.  Like all toy companies using new media (in this case, Augmented Reality) they have no idea whether or not there has been any gains in education as a result of the product (always a cart before the horse process with a chicken or egg backdrop...).  But they were one of the FEW products using new media with an educational bent.  

Don't get me wrong--I saw a ton of iPads and iPhones and robots.  But, for the most part the iPad was a "companion" to an old favorite (e.g, Scrabble and Monopoly) or being shoved in a rubber ball (?) or a plastic teddy bear like device so that one could hug it the phone?

Good things I saw/noticed:

1.) BOARD GAMES STILL DOMINATE.  Many innovators are still trying to get kids together, and playing communally (or better yet--with their parents!)  Check out these awesome ones:  Seven Ate Nine and Wise Alec.  

2.) Robots are still cool.  This company, Mechatars, is using new media (Internet) to get kids to go outside and play with their friends.  Basically, a child is encouraged to gain points online by going "outside" and playing battle bots with their friends first.  There's a lot of flaws with this idea (kids don't really play with kids in their neighborhoods as much as they used to; most kids need a parent to get them online; might be too much "go between").

3.) A lot of companies a encouraging more creative play--and even with all the shmancy stuff out there, many companies just want kids to go outside and play with each other.  Too bad it's really not up to them.  

But, how much do shmancy toys really aid the imagination anyway?

It all started with this story about Popar toys, using Augmented Reality to create reading experiences for kids.  And I thought, "Wow, I would love to see this!".  So, I sprung for the admission to the Toy Fair in NYC.  No person under 18 was permitted, and I could see why.  A kid would have a coronary!  I almost did a couple of times.  

For the most part, this event is geared toward buyers, but I had some interesting experiences.  First of all, I got to see a demo of Popar!  And I got to speak with the creators about their vision.  Like all toy companies using new media (in this case, Augmented Reality) they have no idea whether or not there has been any gains in education as a result of the product (always a cart before the horse process with a chicken or egg backdrop...).  But they were one of the FEW products using new media with an educational bent.  

Don't get me wrong--I saw a ton of iPads and iPhones and robots.  But, for the most part the iPad was a "companion" to an old favorite (e.g, Scrabble and Monopoly) or being shoved in a rubber ball (?) or a plastic teddy bear like device so that one could hug it the phone?

Good things I saw/noticed:

1.) BOARD GAMES STILL DOMINATE.  Many innovators are still trying to get kids together, and playing communally (or better yet--with their parents!)  Check out these awesome ones:  Seven Ate Nine and Wise Alec.  

2.) Robots are still cool.  This company, Mechatars, is using new media (Internet) to get kids to go outside and play with their friends.  Basically, a child is encouraged to gain points online by going "outside" and playing battle bots with their friends first.  There's a lot of flaws with this idea (kids don't really play with kids in their neighborhoods as much as they used to; most kids need a parent to get them online; might be too much "go between").

3.) A lot of companies a encouraging more creative play--and even with all the shmancy stuff out there, many companies just want kids to go outside and play with each other.  Too bad it's really not up to them.  

But, how much do shmancy toys really aid the imagination anyway?