gizmag: Childsplay

Lights out: Crayola glow station

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:52:05 +1000

The Glow Station from Crayola allows kids to create drawings from light when their rooms get dark. The canvas starts to glow when the lights go out, and drawings made using a "light-wand" stay illuminated for approximately 30 seconds before they start to disappear...

Tags: Crayola

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Wrex the robot dog

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:39:32 +1000

Based on a similar concept to the now defunct Aibo, Wrex The Dawg is the latest robo-pet from WowWee and his moods are distinctive. Ill-mannered Wrex was styled using discarded mechanical and electrical parts and is designed to be any kid’s mischievous robotic pal...

Tags: Remote Control, Robot

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Hide and seek 21st century style

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:57:51 +1000

Kids can take hide and seek to all new levels using the EyeClops Night Vision Infrared stealth goggles. Based on real US military-style Infrared illumination technology coupled with an LCD monocle, the goggles promise clear visibility up to 15m (around 50ft), even in absolute darkness...

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Limbo String: throw a party anywhere, anytime

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:42:04 +1000

After something a little different for your box of party tricks? At the click of a button, the compact Limbo Stringunit releases a colorful circular string which arches across the room. The string is constantly fed through the unit so it remains airborne at all times and if you turn off the lights, the multi-colored, fluorescent string will glow in the dark. ..

Tags: Music, Smart

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Cool fun: Hasbro’s Super Soaker Aquashock Arctic Blast

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:45:01 +1000

Hasbro's Super Soaker Aquashock Arctic Blast is not your run-of-the-mill water pistol - it packs an extra element of surprise in the form of a wide-fill cap which you can fill with ice-cubes. Then you simply pump it up, fire and your target is left soaking in a pool of ice-cold water...

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The 50 mph Axon Razorback RC Hovercraft

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:51:57 +1000

August 7, 2008 The Axon Razerback is one of those toys that makes adults wish they were children again. Billed as an anti-gravity racer, it’s essentially a remote-controlled, high-performance hovercraft that looks like an RC car. The standard $250 Razorback does a remarkable 25 mph straight out of the box, but there’s also a motor upgrade which enables it to reach 50 mph. ..

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Fat Shark's first person RC racer

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:24:57 +1000

June 16, 2008 This all-in-one RC vision system bundles a set wearable VR display glasses and a 4WD remote controlled car equipped with an on-board camera to deliver a drivers-eye view of the action. We've encountered realtime RC systems before, but what grabs us about this incarnation is the gyro-controlled pan-tilt tracking mechanism that's integrated into the camera mount so you can alter the camera direction with your head movement...

Tags: Remote Control, Virtual Reality, Wearable

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Swinxs: a toy for active play

Thu, 22 May 2008 20:46:36 +1000

The Swinxs is a unique games system which encourages children to move and run while they’re having fun. Designed for active indoor and outdoor play the Swinxs communicates, cheers players on, explains games, referees and keeps game scores with the help of RFID wristbands worn by each player...

Tags: Computers, Fitness, Gaming

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Realtime video goggles put R/C plane pilots in the cockpit

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:22:04 +1000

May 16, 2008 Radio-controlled planes are all about vicariously experiencing the freedom of flight - and with this little device, you move one step closer to feeling like it's you up there soaring between the trees. Pilot View's FPV 2400 is a US$550 add-on that sends video back from the plane in real-time to a set of video goggles so you can fly your plane (or drive your R/C car, or watch your buddy's hang gliding experience) from a first-person view. ..

Tags: Remote Control, Virtual Reality

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LeapFrog Tag Reading System

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:32:28 +1000

May 12, 2008 Designed to enhance the learning to read experience LeapFrog’s next generation Tag Reading System uses special dot-printed books and a stylus fitted with an Infrared camera and speaker to allow children to hear the words of the story and read along...

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Disney enters growing robotic toy market

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:03:13 +1000

May 1, 2008 Known for DVDs, plush toys and movie character figurines, Disney Consumer Products has announced that it will now enter the fast growing robotic toy market. Disney has created its debut line in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, Thinkway Toys and WowWee...

Tags: Disney, Robot

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Thudguard safety hat for toddlers

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:51:31 +1000

In the UK, over 500,000 children's head injuries are recorded each year and part of this is due to bumps and falls as toddlers learn to walk. Thudguard is a lightweight safety hat for kids to keep them safe while the find their feet and reduce the severity of the everyday bumps and bruises...

Tags: Health, Helmet, Safety

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OUiP!: child’s handheld electronic device powered by play

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:59:12 +1100

March 12, 2008 Small children have an uncanny ability to understand and use electronic devices quickly and correctly. You’re happy when your child wants to learn but when their buttery fingers caress your new laptop or digital camera it’s time to introduce them to their own toys! The industrial design company think/thing (designer of the recently featured Nestt car seat), has developed OUiP!, an intuitive, interactive technology interface for children...

Tags: Computers, Environmental, Haptics, Learning

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Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle and Smartcycle take Toy Of The Year Awards

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:01:50 +1100

The annual Toy Of The Year (TOTY) is always a deusy – this year the crown went to Spin Master’s Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle Set – two radio-controlled helicopters with their own infrared laser targeting and hit recognition system. The Most Innovative Toy of the Year and the Educational Toy of the Year Awards both went to the same toy - Fisher-Price’s Smart Cycle Physical Learning Arcade System - a stationary bike and computer game console that gets junior so involved in the action that he doesn’t realize he’s pedaling his little legs off. It’s a great idea – the easiest way to get fit is to find something that’s physically demanding and fun to do, and the Smart Cycle seems to have all the bases covered for ease-of-use...

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One-of-a kind, diamond encrusted Hot Wheels car

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:14:53 +1100

February 18, 2008 Hot Wheels® has unveiled the most expensive car in its 40 year history - a unique diamond encrusted 1:64-scale car cast in 18-carat white gold designed by celebrity jeweler Jason Arasheben of Beverly Hills. The car was made to commemorate the production of the 4 billionth Hot Wheels® vehicle and coincides with the upcoming release of the Designer's Challenge™ Die-Cast Car Line and other events marking the company's 40th anniversary celebrations...

Tags: Luxury

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Trunki: the ride-on, carry-on, kid’s suitcase

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:15:40 +1100

February 14, 2008 The Trunki is a kid’s suitcase with a difference: it’s a seat, a ride-on toy, a carry-on container for in-flight toys and a tow-along bag. The Trunki has a capacity of 18 litres so there’s plenty of room to pack favorite toys and games, snacks and even some spare clothes and at just 1.7 kg (3.8 pounds) and 46 x 20 x 30.5 cm (18" x 7.9" x 12"), it’s easy to stow-away once on board. The integrated wheels and specially designed stabilizers help make a strong base for little ones and the extra wide wheel base allows for smooth cornering. The Trunki is made from strong but lightweight plastic material and kids will love the bright color combinations. The towing handle and shoulder strap allow parents to move quickly if need be and the extra-strong hooks mean they can tow several toddlers at once. ..

Tags: Aviation, Travel and Tourism

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Paperpod’s cardboard play-house: recyclable and reusable

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:35:16 +1100

February 13, 2008, According to the EPA, if consumers bought more recycled environmentally-friendly products, not only would they help to make the recycling process a success, they would also put pressure on manufacturers to produce high-quality recycled products. Toy manufacturers are often among the worst offenders when it comes to excess packaging and plastic toys but now a UK company has developed a range of children’s toys which are not only made of recycled material but are also themselves recyclable...

Tags: Renewable Energy, Thinking

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Corgi International announces H2GO fuel cell powered toy car

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:15:07 +1100

February 7, 2008 The automotive market is set to undergo momentous change over the next decade as the impetus of low-emissions, alternative fuel designs that have recently dominated the Concept offerings from major auto manufacturers continues to grow and prototypes move towards commercialization. But at the other end of the scale - literally - the application of hydrogen fuel cell technology in particular is already making its mark. The latest example comes from toy-maker Corgi International, which has unveiled a new hydrogen fuel cell powered radio controlled toy car at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany. Called the H2GO, the new RC car uses a propulsion system based on Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies' pioneering H-Racer...

Tags: Concept Cars, Emissions Control, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen, Renewable Energy

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Fisher Price’s Kid-Tough digital camera

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:24:11 +1100

February 6, 2008 Fisher Price has developed a kid's digital camera that is durable and drop resistant and features a built-in automatic flash and an 8MB of built-in memory. Designed for little hands, the Kid-Tough has dual handgrips and big buttons and the controls are simple enough for a three year old to understand. The viewfinder has two-eye viewing which allows for easier focusing and the 1.3” color LCD preview screen allows kids to see the picture they have just taken. ..

Tags: Camera, Digital Cameras

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Lighten the load: Infant Cruizer travel system

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:03:15 +1100

January 7, 2007 An invention that parents-on-the-go will love, Go-Go Babyz' unique Infant Cruizer travel system is designed to easily transport your baby without taking him or her out of the car seat. The Infant Cruizer simply attaches to a car seat and turns it into a wheeled pull-cart, reducing the need for a stroller on both short and long-distance trips...

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Twice the fun: Cozy Cruiser Double Baby Sled

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:18:29 +1100

January 6, 2008 This winter, grownups might be maneuvering down the slopes on a Ski-Doo snowmobile or even a Snoxcycle, but the kids will have a safer trip careering down on a Cozy Cruiser Double Baby Sled. This nifty sled is inflated by air pump in about five minutes and is comfortable but sturdy with three-sided security enclosures and tough, welded-on rubber handles. It is made from crack-and-cold-resistant PVC and is light enough to drag through the snow using the extra-long tow rope. ..

Tags: Snowboarding, Sports

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Wee Target zeros-in on toilet training

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:00:30 +1100

January 3, 2007 Desperate parents resort to any number of incentives to encourage their kid to “use the potty”- special underpants, reward charts and for parents of boys, even floating toys in the toilet bowl for target practice! Inventor Joanna Haymes, a mother of three boys, took the latter idea further and developed the “Wee Target”. Inspired by heat sensitive ink on a packet of batteries and driven to help her boys aim in the right direction, she designed a “target”- a black circle made of heat sensitive ink which is fixed temporarily inside the toilet bowl. When the target is hit by urine, the circle fades and a surprise picture appears. ..

Tags: Australia, Bathroom, Urinals

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Nokia to add Creebi virtual pets to n-gauge

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:07:47 +1100

December 17, 2007 It seems that virtual pets such as Tamagotchi and their electronic brethren are a fad that just won’t go away. Now Nokia has announced that the Creebies virtual pet-care game will be available through the N-Gage mobile games service, giving each player their own 3D Creebi to care for, entertain, feed and even breed. ..

Tags: Bluetooth, Gaming, Mobile Phone, Nokia

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Britepack motion sensitive LED backpack

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:15:08 +1100

December 6, 2007 Tomorrow Incorporated has released a fun new backpack for kids. Triggered by movement or impact, the Britepack sets off a pattern of LED lights and shuts off when it's not in motion. In addition to being a cool novelty for kids, the lights are also an added safety feature allowing drivers to be able see the wearer more easily in traffic or other low-light conditions...

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Lotus' toy-scale open-top sportscar concept

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:07:55 +1100

November 23, 2007 More images to hand from Lotus of its open-top two-seat sports car concept produced for Mattel’s 40th anniversary Designer’s Challenge™, a competition in which leading manufacturers were invited to create an original vehicle for the company’s die-cast toy range. ..

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