Intelligent Toys

An interesting prototype of a "intelligent" toy can be seen here.

"When children play with toy cars they tell stories; they provide their own narration, voice-overs, and special effects - rolling cars over and over in slow motion and making dramatically stretched crashing noises.

The HotCam is a manual control (not remote control), toy car with an onboard (driver’s view) video camera and microphone. The HotCam car enables children to record certain ”˜scenes’ in their own stories. The children can then ”˜play’ their captured scenes through a television. In this way HotCam stories can be shared with parents, siblings and friends, and children can re-experience their stories."

Seems like a fantastic opportunity to observe and monitor children during play in real-life situations - unhindered by adults standing over them, or by going to an unfamiliar room with a huge black one-way mirror (observation room I mean!). Note the footage shows not only the child at play but also the social interactions with his sister. Although it is just a prototype Mattel did take on the original designer as an intern so you never know it may be hitting the shelves soon (at a ridiculously high price I dare say)

via Make