The document discusses emerging technologies for interactive entertainment, including 3D, motion sensors, augmented reality, and location-based gaming. It notes that while Nintendo and Microsoft have had some success with kinetic and sensor-based gaming, augmented reality for kids and truly interactive 3D gaming have yet to be realized. It concludes that mobile devices like the iPad and iPhone are overtaking traditional toys as the top items on children's holiday wish lists, signaling an end to the era of childhood toys as we currently know them.
3. 3D
Kinetic/Gesture
Motion Sensor
Location Based/Mobile
Augmented Reality
Bandwidth, Fast Chips, Graphics Processors
4. 3D: None as of Yet (see Trainwrecks)
Kinetic: Microsoft jumped the bar
Nintendo jumped the shark ?
Sensors: SpyGear, Zamzee
Location Based: Hidden Park
Augmented Reality for Kids
5. Zoodle – grandmother’s reading books
Design : Simplicity, Less is More
Family Game Nights
6. Cartridges
Limited room to let
seams out
Can’t compete with
iPhone/iPad
Conjecture on next
move?
10. Ultimately the theme of the 2011 holiday
season marks the end of childhood toys as we
know them. Recent surveys make it clear.
Topping the kids’ wish lists are iPad, mobile
phone, and a new gaming system.
Hinweis der Redaktion
In the early 90’s there were some terrific tastes of interactivity for kids ---especially from companies like Broderbund, Mindstorms, Learning Company and yes, most especially Microsoft, if you remember their Beethoven lesson with Robert Winters narration.
For kids this year, new and improved technologies make the experience interactivity on steroids. The big hero: fast processors and more bandwidth.
3D will take another 3 years or so before the infrastructure is ready. Microsoft’s Kinect (be it bought, borrowed or stole) is brilliant. Nintendo Wii seems really antiquated in comparison – though the installed base and lower price will remain attractive. Motion and sound sensors built into toys give us an opportunity to interact fluidly. And the point of augmented reality games for kids is that they are part of the game. In games like Sony EyePet it’s downright mindblowing.
Intergenerational technology experiences are feeling very normal these days. Kids and their parents and grandparents are not afraid to join in the fun, whether it’s reading a story and sending along, making a video to share or having family play time. Like kids, the elders prefer simplicity in interface as evidence by Telikin – a PC that masks complexities for the older generation.
The trainwreck waiting to happen signifies the end of the childhood toy. Leapfrog,vTech, and Fisher Price have a serious problem. Kids would rather play with the family iPad than a clumsier, but educationally appropriate substitute. My philopsophy? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em . Watch these companies abandon hardware and turn their intellectual property into assets.
I like The Hub – a new entertainment site from Hasbro and Discovery because it thinks like you do. Do I want to play, watch, create --- big change in thought from “do I want Dora or Arthur”.
Not saying it won’t get there, but 3D is still a baby. The art of storytelling in 3D is virutally non-existent, doctors are investigating the effects of kids who wear 3D glasses and watch, content is limited, and if, like me you used a 3D camera to create an experience you know that it’s like watching cardboard cutouts.
From Tickle Me Elmo to Dance Star Mickey you can bet that in a recession year these $60 – watch me for a minute toys will become history.
The word “trans” will pop up always and often this season. Transgenerational toys let us all play together, transmedia means that Mickey will be on your TV, web, phone, toybox – with an equally irritating voice.