Cover: CTR 129, December 2010
Children’s Technology Review
December 2010 Volume 18, No. 12, Issue 129As the first New Jersey snowflakes start to fall and 2010 draws to a close, let’s take few minutes and review this important year for children’s technology.
In 2010, Two New Platforms Set a New Standard
When we started this year, iPad and Kinect were nonsense words. Most of the children’s media we were reviewing required pressing some kind of button, whether on a game controller or on a mouse or keyboard. As we end the year, we have two completely new, button-free platforms that have dropped the minimum user competency, which is significant for children and adults alike. Each uncovers two new veins of interactive gold for programmers, teachers and designers. The iPad is based on multi-touch and uses a child’s fine motor abilities; the other — Microsoft’s Kinect, uses motion and uses a child’s gross motor skills. Each has specific strengths and weaknesses, and each breaks new ground for children’s interactive media.
The fact that they both arrived in 2010 is no accident. This is a year of the convergence of enabling technologies. These technologies include things like the ability to manufacture an extremely strong oleophobic (coated) plate of glass, enough high definition big screens in the living rooms, smart lithium-polymer batteries, voice recognition, skeletal mapping, infra-red cameras, Wi-Fi and thick walls for noise-tolerant neighbors.
2010 Saw A Children’s App Tsunami
Call it the chicken/egg effect, but Apple’s iPad, which has now sold over 1 million and is listed as this years most desired gift by kids (aka the chicken) has resulted in a dramatic demand for children’s apps (aka the eggs). While this new iTunes-based $.99 per app publishing model has been a shock to publishers, it’s great news for a curious child stuck in the back seat on a long trip. This year saw the release of zinc roe’s Tickle Tap Apps (like Sound Shaker), and several new titles from Duck Duck Moose, like Park Math, with adjustable age levels. If you’re interested in ebooks, have a look at two of our favorites: Bartleby’s Book of Buttons and Nash Smasher! And any doubts about the validity of the iPad in the classroom have evaporated thanks to apps like Symmetry Shuffle, Cut the Rope and Motion Math. For dessert, save some room for Smule’s Magic Piano.
In 2010, New Kinds of Digital Monsters Under the Bed
Parents have always had plenty to worry about when raising a child. In the past, technology-related fears have been centered around outside types of worries — things like video game violence, cell phone radiation and pornography. These are things you could try to keep out, with monitors, limits and filters. In 2010, some new forms of inside-out types of worries started to emerge, as smart phones and Facebook mix with puberty.
Kids have always bullied, but now they have new tools for the job. Other emerging worries include simply being distracted, and commercialism, an increasingly blurred line between selling and informing, as publishers struggle to turn a profit in a $.99 cent per app climate.
Microsoft Kinect is Impressive, but Software Quality Can Vary
Back in June of 2006, we called the Wii the “the dawn of kinesthetic computing.” The category took two huge steps toward maturation in 2010 with the release of Microsoft’s Kinect and Sony’s Move. Now there’s no doubt— kinesthetic computing is here to stay. Kinect’s camera can watch you (or your outline) and fairly accurately calculate where your hand, foot or head is. But it has limitations. You can get tired of all the jumping and waving, and the notion of talking to your TV screen can feel strange which is why the traditional game controller won’t be going out of style anytime soon. Kinect is ideal for a child who is in a constant state of motion, by default. You’ll quickly learn that not all Kinect titles, which cost $50 each, are well designed, so read the reviews carefully.
Table: A listing of recent Kinect titles, with ratings (subscribers, see the PDF for this).
In 2010, Toys Cost The Same as Last Year, But do More
Moore’s law has been hard at work in 2010. Toys like Fisher-Price’s Sing-a-ma-jigs ($13 each) are the kind of toy you could love even after the battery dies. If you squeeze it’s belly, it sings a note, designed to harmonize with other Sing-a-ma-jigs. In addition, while the number of new toys with associated web worlds seems to have decreased, two of the leaders, Webkinz and Club Penguin seem to be expanding, based on the amount of new toys for sale at the Toys R Us in Bridgewater NJ. For example, if you buy Minty Moose $14, you still can get a full year of access to Webkinz World. Another toy of note: Spin Master’s Air Hogs R/C Hawk Eye.
In 2010, Fresh Debate About “Screen Time”
At the recent Dust or Magic Institute, David Kleeman, the President of the American Center for Children and Media, challenged the notion of lumping all forms of screen time into one bucket. David’s talk is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrq1cPSrqE. He referenced an article in The New York Times that quoted a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics refering to iPhone screens as “at the moment we seem to feel it’s all the same as TV” (see http://nyti.ms/aA89YP) when describing a child’s interest in iPhones. As we explored the relationship between younger children and multi-touch screens, we created a collection of examples found on YouTube, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO80404kKvQ
And Finally — Don’t Miss These 2010 Releases
This year’s crop of interactive media includes some stellar examples of design. Of the 506 products we considered, 104 have scored 4.2 stars or better, earning the “Editor’s Choice” distinction, which can be viewed in our Software Finder. Here are a few highlights from that list, along with our choice for the “toy of the year.”
For Just Plain Fun
Anyone in the video game business knows: don’t ever write off Nintendo, especially with titles like FlingSmash (Like Boom Blox with a twist), and Kirby’s Epic Yarn (a state-of-the-art platformer). If you’re looking for something for all game consoles, get LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 or, if you can afford it, Rock Band 3, which keeps raising the bar of excellence for immersive music experiences. Besides coming with a rich music library, the instruments include a keyboard and you can get it on all the major game consoles.
For Your Aspiring Game Designer
While nothing can touch the power of Scratch (http://mit.scratch.edu), this year’s GameStar Mechanic (www.gamestarmechanic.com) gives children a set of simple game design tools that is an excellent higher order thinking activity. And you can’t beat the price. Scratch is free, GameStar uses a freemium model.
For the Nintendo DS or DSi
We’ve reviewed over 100 DS titles this year, and there are a lot of mid-to-excellent quality selections, keeping the DS in good standing against the iPod Touch. Two titles in particular stood out for us, Art Academy and Super Scribblenauts. Both excellent examples of getting best out of the DS platform.
A Gift of the Information Age
It’s no surprise to us that the first item on most kids gift list is an iPad (See http://bit.ly/f0Tekv). Children have always wanted to play with toys that have their roots in the state-of-the-art. Back in 1848, Orville and Wilbur Wright were fascinated by a toy helicopter, and later, started a bike shop where they played with wheels, gears and levers; knowledge they applied to come up with the three-axis controller that made controlling an airplane possible. But that was during the industrial age.
A child today is growing up in the information age, and their “bicycle” is their smart phone, digital camera or netbook; toys that give them a chance to tinker with social media concepts, texting, ecommerce, digital photography and knowing how to find, and manage multiple streams of information. While most phones serve this purpose, the iPod Touch 4th Generation, ($230 and up) doesn’t come with a monthly charge, fits in a pocket, and includes cameras. Of course, the iPad is also an excellent choice, although the current model has no camera, and costs $500— equal to four bicycles.
It is important for today’s child to have a toy that lets them freely experiment with the information age equivalent of gears, chains and levers. How else, besides play, will they learn how it all works? If we give them these experiences along with time, love, support, guidance and just the right amount of freedom, we can only imagine what they’ll invent someday. See you next year!
PS. Don’t miss this month’s LittleClickers: Toys that Fly
REVIEWS IN THIS ISSUE
ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy
Active Life Explorer
Adrenalin Misfits
Air Hogs R/C Hawk Eye
Air Hogs R/C Sharp Shooter
Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush
Big Brag, The
Casio SA-76 Keyboard
Charlie Church Mouse: Preschool
Create
Dance Central
Dance Masters
Deca Sports 3
Deca Sports Freedom
Disney Epic Mickey
Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure
Dora’s Cooking Club
Fighters Uncaged
FlingSmash
Gummy Bears Mini-Golf
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
Heathcliff! Frantic Foto
Hot Wheels R/C Stealth Rides Car Assortment
Jeopardy!
Just Dance 2
Karaoke Revolution Glee
Kid Pix 3D
Kinect Adventures
Kinect Joy Ride
Kinect Sports
Kinectimals
Matchbox Stinky: The Garbage Truck
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Deluxe Version 17
Mega Bloks: Diego’s Build & Rescue
Metroid: Other M
Minecraft.net
MotionSports: Play for Real
My Very First App
Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill (Remastered)
Nickelodeon Fit
OtterBox Defender Series for iPad
Petpet Park
Pictionary
Pocket Zoo with Live Animal Cams
Rock Band 3
Sesame Street Video USB
Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival
SingStar Dance Party Pack
Smarty Ants
Sonic Free Riders
Story Reader 2.0
Toddler FunPhone
Tony Hawk Shred: Big Air!
TV Superstars
uDraw Studio
Wheel of Fortune
Who Am I? Race Awareness Game
Wizards of Waverly Place: Spellbound
Yertle The Turtle
One Response to “CTR December 10: Headlines from a Very Busy Year”
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January 17th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Some very fascinating factors but i feel your research and bias leaves a lot to be desired. Then after all, that’s just my opinion. Have an awesome day undoubtedly a thought-scary post.