Toy's 2.0


Modern life now hums with the chatter of acquaintances children mastering Angry Birds at 2 months old.

What's more exciting is the response of the toy companies to these tech challenges, creating toys that now retain the magic of the physical, while adding a modern twist that adds value to the experience.


Two interesting examples of a new phenomena of physical toys fused with tablet and smart phone technology.

The first, Disney Mobile's App Mates http://bit.ly/qeAKyD, gives me the fear. A £20 toy pressed on the screen of a £600 iPad with the enthusiasm and delicacy that are the hallmark of children at play, this may be a little over indulgent and expensive to justify.

LEGO's new "Life of George" http://bit.ly/q8Bp0a on the other hand has the hallmarks of an excellent toy. Simple, shareable, sociable (in an old school way) and competitive. All the components that make up a good piece of interactive, wherever it may be.