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Leapfrog Talking Pen

Posted by timothy on from the more-paper-only-$1M/pack dept.

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.

4 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Too Much Technology by linolium · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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

  2. Making learning fun by Tassach · · Score: 3, Insightful
    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.)

    --
    Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
  3. Not Enough Technology by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    --
    Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
    1. Re:Not Enough Technology by PalmKiller · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.