Leapfrog Talking Pen

AndroidCat writes "Leapfrog has just announced their Fly pen computer for children. It talks, giving feedback as they write and draw, and with special Fly paper, you can draw a calculator, press the 'buttons' with the pen and it will read the answers. Cute, but is this a real working product? Let's see. If they included a 1 GB USB drive, it would be an interesting product for geeks too--just don't write fdisk. And remember to turn off the voice when making notes during meetings." Here's a picture of the device.

Comments

Too Much Technology

[linolium]

What ever happened to kids playing with teddy bears, or learning from reading books? Technology might be making it too easy for them, so they don't even learn.

Though the idea does sound pretty cool...

runs out and buys one

American or Canadian version?

[qualico]

My daughter has a Leapfrog Learning Center, care of eBay.
The novelty was worn pretty quick though, now it sits on top of the heap.

My complaint is that I want those talking items to have more Canadian versions.

So can I upgrade that pen's firmware?
How about some Canadian dialect eh?
And some more Canadian geography or history too?
We know more about America than our own country.

Regardless, LeapFrog sure is pumping out the product;
http://www.leapfrog.com/do/browseproduct s

Making learning fun

[Tassach]

The whole idea of LeapPad and similar educational toys is it makes learning fun.

My stepdaughter (7) is a television junkie (thanks to idiot father, who has primary custody), and LeapPad is great for her because it's about the only way she'll voluntarily read the written word. LeapPad gives instant feedback and immediate gratification, which is a big plus for a child who doesn't have a lot of confidence in her reading skills.

Fortunately, my son (Just turned 2) dosen't need any incentive to read -- he just grabs a book and sits down on my lap until I read it to him. Even still, we have numerous Leapfrog toys which he plays with constantly; one of his favorites is a set of talking alphabet refrigerator magnets, which undoubtably contributed to him knowing the entire alphabet before he was two. A fun toy which reinforces the lessons you teach your kids is fantastic for a parent. (The important word here is REINFORCE. Don't expect a learning toy to teach your child for you while you sit on your ass watching pro wrestling.)

Not Enough Technology

[That's Unpossible!]

What ever happened to kids playing with teddy bears, or learning from reading books?

Nothing. This still happens. However, believe it or not, with improved technology comes possibilities for improved learning. Maybe with the right tools, kids can learn to read and write and calculate at earlier ages, when their brains are more pliable.

Then again, you probably think Kids shouldn't have pre-school, and they should just get shoved into a government run public school when they turn 5 or 6, and "that will learn them."

Just guessing.

Re:Not Enough Technology

[PalmKiller]

I have to disagree. The improved technology does nothing for improving a childs ability to learn. Books are a perfect tool for teching children how to read. The problem is most people are too darn lazy now days to help their children by doing such a fundamental parental task (yes being a parent is hard work and no technology is going to replace what a child can learn by teaching and by example). With this teaching comes respect from the child, something that is also seldom earned by "parents" these days and you can see it in the disrepectfulness of children these days. Unfortunately your example of "let the system teach them" and "shove them into school early so I don't have to work with them" is the norm now days.

Re:Not Enough Technology

[That's Unpossible!]

The improved technology does nothing for improving a childs ability to learn.

Seeing as how this product has not even been released yet, I find this statement patently absurd.

Or did you mean to imply that no technology is helpful in teaching students. That the book, invented thousands of years ago, is the highest mountain we can hope to reach in teaching aids?

Sheesh. Let me introduce some sense here where it is sorely needed: Any tool like this can help or hinder a student depending on how it is allowed to be used.

Giving a kid a book or this pen will do nothing without a teacher or parent helping them with it, in most cases.