Introduction to Augmented Reality Toys
The world of toys and games is changing with the introduction of augmented reality (AR) technology. According to Trickett, certainly one of the advantages of AR toys is that they require less hardware, making them more accessible and inexpensive. Merge’s products, for instance, mix easy toys with the AR machine that is all the time inside your pocket – your phone. This not only makes it easier to update and expand gameplay over time but additionally drives down the value point significantly. The Merge Blaster, expected to go on sale this summer, will cost about $30, which is significantly cheaper than Hasbro’s Iron Man toy that costs $50.
The Benefits of Augmented Reality Toys
Unlike virtual reality or videogames, AR toys bring kids back into the actual world. They can run across the house playing AR laser tag or pretending to be a personality from their favorite movie, relatively than sitting in front of a screen all day. Trickett believes that there is a certain satisfaction with touching something and physically manipulating it, and that is not going to go away. However, those physical objects are going to turn into rather a lot more interesting with the introduction of AR technology.
A New Way of Playing
AR toys usually are not just limited to games. There are already AR puzzles and film books, AR apps for fiddling with dolls and stuffed animals. One product in the marketplace, a $60 teddy bear called Parker, pairs with an AR app to reimagine doctor play with the bear. This explosion of AR in kids’ products brings with it some uncomfortable questions. How will those products change the best way children see the world? Do AR experiences that bring coloring books and motion figures to life rob children of their imagination?
The Impact of Augmented Reality on Children
Jackie Marsh, a researcher on the University of Sheffield who studies digital literacy in children, says AR experiences might be useful for teenagers, especially when the apps help kids learn something or take pleasure in their very own fantasy play. However, research also warns that these kinds of games, toys, and apps can fail to have interaction kids meaningfully, or worse, mess with a baby’s sense of "reality testing" – understanding what’s real and what’s not. It all is dependent upon how the AR experience is designed.
The Importance of Good Design
Marsh and a bunch of researchers within the UK spent a yr studying how very young children interact with AR apps. They found that some apps, like an AR app that paired with a Furby, letting kids "feed" it digital food and practice caretaking, promoted more creative play amongst kids. Those experiences included more "flights of fantasy" as kids switched between fiddling with the physical toy, the digital experience, and their very own imagination. On the opposite hand, apps that lacked an interactive element didn’t promote more creative play. The apps have to be designed in such a way that they permit children to create objects and scenarios themselves, or foster play, open-ended inquiry, problem-solving, and significant considering.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AR toys have the potential to vary the best way children play and interact with the world. While there are advantages to AR toys, akin to promoting creative play and bringing kids back into the actual world, there are also concerns about how they might impact kid’s sense of reality and imagination. Ultimately, good design is vital to creating AR experiences that promote engagement and creativity in children. By understanding kids’ development and dealing to advertise their engagement with the world, AR toys could be a positive addition to a baby’s playtime. Whether it’s putting on an Iron Man helmet that brings to life Thanos’s armies or just dressing up in a fancy dress and running across the house, the technology isn’t the purpose – it’s about promoting imagination and creativity in children.
