|
|
 |
Article Archive: Electronics
|
Tech to Watch at CES 2025
AR experiences using a physical cube and smart device, likely expanding into a "Merge World" for creation and sharing. CES Prediction: Focus on the "metaverse for kids" through collaborative AR world-building, with potential for educational tie-ins. https://mergeedu.com/...
1/6/2025
|
CES 2025: Children and the AI Revolution
AI Companions: Expect a surge in AI-powered toys and assistants, exemplified by Hubble Connected's "Hubble the Bear." This trend raises questions about the appropriate level of AI interaction in early childhood and the potential impact on human connection. Metaverse for Kids: Companies like Fitbit and Merge Cube are likely to showcase "metaverse for kids" experiences, blurring the lines between physical and digital play. This necessitates a re-evaluation of "screen time" and careful consideration of safety and ethical implications within virtual environments. AI-Enhanced Learning: Personalized learning platforms like Khan Academy Kids and Century Tech will demonstrate how AI can optimize education. However, concerns about equitable access and over-reliance on AI in education need to be addressed...
1/6/2025
|
Artificial Intelligence at CES 2025: A Deep Dive
Key Concepts: Integrating neural networks with knowledge graphs, logic programming, and symbolic manipulation to enable AI systems to handle complex reasoning tasks, understand causal relationships, and provide human-interpretable explanations for their decisions. Research Directions: Developing novel neuro-symbolic architectures that can learn and reason with both symbolic and sub-symbolic representations. Exploring methods for knowledge extraction and representation learning from unstructured data to populate knowledge graphs. Investigating the use of neuro-symbolic AI for natural language understanding, commonsense reasoning, and human-computer interaction...
1/6/2025
|
 Video Gamers are Deserting Retailers
Video games have been in the doldrums since 2008, at least as far as brick-and-mortar retail is concerned. However, if you drill down a little further, you will see that not all was bad...
10/1/2013
|
 Over Half of Children Now Using Smart Devices
According to Kids and Apps: A New Era of Play, the latest report from global information company, The NPD Group, 79 percent of parents with children ages 2 - 14 report that they or their children own some type of mobile device, such as a traditional cell phone, smartphone, or tablet; up from 63 percent last year...
9/1/2013
|
 Top-10 Most-Wanted Electronic and Battery Operated Toys
While many specialty retailers choose not to carry electronic or battery operated toys, in a July 2013 survey TDmonthly Magazine found that select high-quality toys in this category, like Snap Circuits from ELENCO and lighted construction sets from LASER PEGS VENTURES LLC, do well...
8/1/2013
|
 Q&A With CEO of Kent Displays/Improv Electronics
Dr. Albert Green, CEO of Kent Displays/Improv Electronics, spoke with TDmonthly Magazine about their product, the Boogie Board LCD eWriter. This year specialty retailers have named the Boogie Board a Top-10 Most-Wanted Tween Product, Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Toy, and a Top-10 Most-Wanted Travel Toy...
11/1/2012
|
 Q&A w/ Neil Kay, Creator of Digi-Piggy®
Today's kids are digital natives growing up in a down economy. Cisco Sales Corp, creators of the Digi-Piggy®, recognized the unique need for a product that satisfied the modern child's digital aesthetics, while teaching them the increasingly important skill of saving money...
10/1/2012
|
 Facebook: the Anti-Social Network?
Social media sites like Facebook connect users with old friends, new acquaintances and everyone in between. However, studies are revealing an inverse link with online connections and deeper, face-to-face relationships...
7/1/2012
|
 Tech Toys
Check out these recently added specialty and mass market tech toys...
3/1/2012
|
 Top-10 Most-Wanted Electronic Toys
In a summer 2011 survey about best-selling electronic toys, HEXBUGs from Innovation First Labs topped the list, followed by R/C Vehicles from Kid Galaxy...
8/1/2011
|
 Hottest High-Tech Holiday Toys
Don't believe Santa's elves can turn out a decent laptop? Want to give your kid a toy that's actually playable?...
12/1/2010
|
 Mark-My-Time Encourages Study
With sales up 50% over last year, Mark-My-Time’s success is a smart blend of value-pricing, consumer feedback, proven quality and innovative products...
10/1/2010
|
 In This Issue
See brief article summaries for this summer's August issue of TDmonthly Magazine...
8/1/2010
|
 Top-10 Most-Wanted Electronic Toys
TDmonthly Magazine recently interviewed 40 specialty retailers across the country regarding their sales of electronic and battery-operated toys...
8/1/2010
|
 Innovations of 2010
What's coming down the pipe that's really going to "wow" your customers? In TDmonthly Magazine's January issue, catch a glimpse of new year innovations...
12/1/2009
|
 Hello, Zhu Zhu Pets, Goodbye Webkinz
I was widely derided when I wrote in August 2008 that: “I must conclude that the growth of the virtual playground concept has, at least in the United States, slowed in terms of traffic and interest.”...
12/1/2009
|
 How the iPod is Changing Kids' Lives
Will Apple's iPod come to rule the world — even for kids? With an increasing number of books, music and games for children created as iPhone apps, and parents who aren't afraid to hand over their "toy"...
11/1/2009
|
 LeapFrog Stumbles and V.Smile Frowns
There are mounting signs that the Electronic Learning Products toy category is undergoing a structural change — and not for the better...
6/1/2009
|
Holiday Preview - Electronics
Travel-friendly cameras, glowing alarm clocks, and a creative way for baby to snack are heating up the electronics department for Christmas 2009. See some of them below...
5/1/2009
|
 New Toys for Santa's Sleigh
This year, kids can ditch the traditional coloring book for some 3-D fun with biodegradable and cardboard structures that can be decorated to their hearts’ content...
5/1/2009
|
 Retailers Predict Top Mass-Market Holiday Toys
I recently asked my retailer panel friends — seven mass-market and three specialty stores — to tell me which toys are likely to do the best this Christmas. Here are their rankings...
10/1/2008
|
Lurking Danger for Video Games
Video games and the companies associated with them — console makers, game publishers and retailers — are on a roll...
5/1/2008
|
 Toys to Watch in 2008
The American International Toy Fair, an annual event that takes over New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center each February, is the primary launching ground for the toys, games, dolls and various innovations that will shape the nature of the toy industry...
4/1/2008
|
 Rubik’s and Trains Keep Electronics on Track
Wings don’t guarantee that a toy will fly off the shelves, but it’s a good place to start. Of the 17 retailers TDmonthly Magazine surveyed, 10 mentioned strong sales for RC aircraft...
12/1/2007
|
 Toys That Feel Your Pain
Imagine a toy that you control simply by concentrating ... Or one that can read your feelings and respond: a doll that knows you’re happy and invites you to play a game, or a robot that hears your angry voice and apologizes...
7/1/2007
|
 Kids Get Buzzed for Christmas
What kid doesn't want to be grown up ... yesterday? These new electronics let them call friends, form a rock band, groove to tunes ... and still play like little kids...
6/1/2007
|
 Baby Gets a Boom Box
Dan Lemay believes he has something that nobody else has in the toy, music or even educational industry...
4/1/2007
|
 Kidults Grow Younger
Mimoco founder and CEO Evan Blaustein didn’t anticipate that mimobots would appeal to 5-year-olds...
12/1/2006
|
 LeapFrog Leaps Into Cinema
The nice thing about being in Hollywood is that everyone — and I mean everyone — knows someone in the entertainment world, and the buzz never stops...
10/1/2006
|
 Look, Ma! Electrons!
What makes a good electronic toy more than just a couple of wires and a silicon chip? TDmonthly Magazine talked with manufacturers to find out what would be “electrifying” this holiday season and why...
7/1/2006
|
 It’s Chat Time for Children
According to research commissioned by Firefly Mobile, 90 percent of kids ages 8 to 12 do not yet have their own cell phones. Can you spell “opportunity?”...
1/1/2006
|
 Pretend Play Caters to Kidult Crowd
Now that Mom uses her Blackberry, Dad has a portable DVD player and everyone’s walking around while talking on the phone, kids want their very own electronic gizmos that really work...
12/1/2005
|
 Digital Dimensions Computes With Kids
As parents and teachers emphasize computer skills among preschoolers, the retail market is changing to accommodate the special needs of toddlers. Adult models are difficult, if not impossible, for a small child to use. One company has branched out and formed a special division to meet this growing demand...
9/1/2005
|
 High Tech Gadgets for Hip Kids
As iPods, VAIOs, Blackberries and Treos become mainstays of modern adult life, children and teenagers have often lamented the lack of trendy electronic products targeted towards their age group. Finally, the toy industry has heard their cries...
3/1/2005
|
 RFID Technology Creeps Into the Toy Box
Radio Frequency Identification, otherwise known as RFID, is a nearly 30-year old technology beginning to pop its head into practical use. Toy retailers have begun to use the technology’s similarity to the bar code to track products, while manufacturers are utilizing the technology to create a new generation of interactive toys...
3/1/2005
|
 Play to Meet Profit at Toy Fair 2005
As retailers begin stocking shelves for 2005, the big question remains, what will be a hot sell in the new year? Of the many resources available, one good place to commence research on toy trends is at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center this February 20-23rd, where once again the Toy Industry Association, Inc. returns with its annual American International Toy Fair...
1/1/2005
|
 RobotiKits for the Robot Generation
OWI, Inc. is famous for their consumer and educational products. Known for durability and reliability, the company would seem a natural for producing robots...
12/1/2004
|
 TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Casino Games
For the home player and casino game enthusiast, one of the most desirable formats is the portable, stand-alone hand-held game, which combines the thrill of the tables with faster-than-life action...
11/1/2004
|
 TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Plug and Play Games
Many 30-year olds have a fond memory of their eighties childhood, when Tang was the rage, leg warmers were in style and Atari was arguably the hottest system on the market. "Old school" or retro games are popular with this demographic and now, Gen-X parents are introducing their kids to the classics. “There is a nostalgia factor for mom, but they are new for kids today,” says Genna Goldberg, vice president of Corporate Communications for JAKKS Pacific...
10/1/2004
|
 Oregon Scientific: Children´s Learning Devices
Steve Jackson, executive vice president of Oregon Scientific has been involved in the toy industry most of his life. "The greatest influence on my success has been an insatiable drive to provide a fun and valuable play experience for kids...
9/1/2004
|
 Electronic Learning for Kids: Working Hard or Hardly Working?
Electronic learning toys currently account for nearly 10% of annual sales in the $21 billion toy industry. Overall, educational toys are the fastest growing segment in the toy industry. Current trends within the electronic learning toy segment include:...
9/1/2004
|
Fun 4 Everyone: Toys for Girls AND Boys
According to the National Toy Council, boys and girls play differently and usually prefer different toys. It has been said that if you give footballs to a group of girls and dolls to a group of boys, the girls would be nursing the footballs and the boys would be kicking the dolls within an hour...
9/1/2004
|
TV Toys
Couch potatoes of all ages may be glad to learn their televisions are good for more...
6/1/2004
|
Game Systems 101
With last year´s release of the Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft´s Xbox entering a market that Sony has dominated since 2000, it can be confusing sorting out the difference between game systems...
5/1/2004
|
MULTIMEDIA
TV Games JAKKS Pacific introduces additions to its award-winning TV Games line based on top brands and licenses. New releases include: Ms. Pac-Man TV Games, featuring miltiple classic games including Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Xevious and Mappy; the Atari Paddle TV Games, which look like the...
3/1/2004
|
Top Ten Toys for March 2004
Here are the Top Ten Toys for March 2004, arranged in no particular order: 1) The PlayStation 2 ($179.99) by Sony is equipped with a 128-bit Emotion Engine processor that enables lightning-fast gameplay and impressive graphics power. The console builds on its home entertainment value by doubling as a DVD...
1/1/2004
|
|
Since 02/01/05
people have visited this page.
|
|
Advertise on TDmonthly
|
