![]() And that was in like 1900.ĭH: Fascinating history, but if multi-functionality is the modern mantra, that really doesn’t really help you find a cheap recording device. So you could actually record a voice and have the doll talk back. WARREN BUCKLEITNER: The first smart toy might have been Thomas Edison’s talking doll, which had a wax recording mechanism in it, and you pulled a strong. He told me that the first toys that could record voice date way back. He’s editor of Children’s Technology Review. Now Dave, I think it’s worth noting here that mine was not the first generation with access to recording equipment as kids. Hence these “junior” versions of smartphones and tablets. SB: He also says when it comes to technology marketed specifically to kids, it’s often basically just a simpler, more colorful version of what’s marketed to adults. SS: Multi-functionality is becoming one of the hottest trends in both electronics and the toy industry because what happens is when you can offer customers more value and more pieces and parts in a single device that can substitute for others, this really seems to be the sweet spot where they can get people willing to actually pay a premium for these types of products. ![]() SB: Right, and in fact, Scott Steinberg says, this is sort of the way of the world with all tech gadgets, not just for kids. And while the rest of the features of these tablets are very neat, I don’t really want to spend so much for something that, frankly, a three year old will probably lose or break in short order.ĭH: It does seem like what Scott Steinberg is presenting to you is a much more complex product, more like a computer. And really, what I’m trying to give him is the experience that I had, of having this blank audio canvas to work with. ![]() They have lots of learning apps and they can do video and yes, many of them can do voice recording. So these other things he mentioned, particularly the ones for kids, these learning tablets from Leap Frog and Vtech, they are very cool. SB: No, I’m not getting my three-year-old an iPhone. And on top of that, you also have specifically designed for children devices, high tech toys or learning tablets such as those offered by Leap Frog and V-Tech.ĭH: Shai, you must have gotten quite a holiday bonus. Among them, smart phones such as the iPhone, tablets such as the iPad, Nexus, or Galaxy tablet. SCOTT STEINBERG: Well there’s quite a few devices that allow kids to record their voice as well as video. And I asked him this question: what can I get my son now that does what those old tape recorders did. He wrote a bestselling series of books called the “Modern Parents Guide” series. He’s a sort of guru on the subject of tech toys. SB: Well, that’s where things get complicated. What is the modern equivalent of such a recorder for kids? For my generation, this was an essential part of any kid’s toy chest.ĭH: But they were decidedly tactile, whether reel-to-reel or 8 track or cassette. They were easy to use, and the idea is you could leave it with the kid, even one as young as my son, who’s three, and he could use the built in microphone to record himself saying silly things or singing a song. When I was a kid in the 80’s, there were a variety of these recorders from companies like Playskool, Sony, Fisher Price. And when I say tape recorder, I’m talking about the kind that came in bright colors in tough plastic cases with big buttons that were specifically marketed to kids. I mean, who uses tape recorders anymore? No, what I want to get my son is the modern equivalent of a tape recorder. It’s probably one you haven’t heard in a little while.ĭH: Wait a minute, are you saying you wanted to get your son an actual tape recorder? SHAI BEN-YAACOV: That’s right Dave, and before I tell you what it is, I want to play this sound for you. Shai, I understand you were looking for something that harkens back to your own childhood. He joins me now in studio to describe the journey. Well, our producer, Shai Ben-Yaacov, has been on a mission to find just the right gift for his young son. If you have young children on your gift giving list, you’ll probably soon be going out in search of the latest kids gizmo, or maybe something a little lower tech. ![]() Click above to listen to the conversation.ĭAVE HELLER: Hannukah starts this evening, and Christmas will be upon us in less than a month. The following is a transcript of a conversation airing on NewsWorks Tonight.
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