Last Gadget Standing Nominee: Rullingnet Vinci
Price: $479
Parents love to toss their kids their iPads for a little fun and games, but the iPad isn’t really a toddler device. Vinci, on the hand, was designed for toddler hands and tough use. It’s a infant-proof tablet–designed for children up to age three–with apps that include games, storybooks, and music videos. Rather than focusing on academic teaching, they aim to show babies the world and let them be in control. And it sets out to address four key areas of early childhood development: cognitive, educational, emotional and social.
Vinci is a bit pricey at $479, but it’s built for babies with their own unique needs.
Sifteo Cubits provide kids with a new way to play. Cubes are wireless 1.5″ blocks with full-color screens that interact with each other and respond to motion to unleash a whole new world of games. The cubes are outfitted with motion sensing, neighbor detection, graphical displays, and wireless communication features. Pile them, group them, sort them –and you have many variations of game play. While traditional game consoles often lead to “screen stare” and tired thumbs, say the product’s creators, Sifteo Cubes start interacting with you and each other as soon as you pick them up and move them around. Sifteo’s initial collection of titles will include games for adults, fun learning puzzles for kids, and games people can play together.