There's a robotic dog that yaps and responds with blinking delight to a bone held in front of its face, and another that appears to care for a litter of puppies, addressing each with a special bark. There's a doll that frowns when her diaper is wet, then brightens and coos after she's been changed. Sometimes, when she's rocked to sleep, she starts to drift off, then jolts awake at the last second and starts giggling, just like, well, a real baby. It's not just dolls and pets, but a whole range of toys that has been transformed by technology. Sometimes it's hard to find a simple set of nonmotorized building materials, a toy instrument that doesn't play music by itself, or a vehicle that runs on just kid power.
Many parents seem enthralled by all the blinking lights and electronic beeps.
But the jury is still out on the emotional, social, and academic effects these toys are having on kids. How Technology Is Transforming Our Imagination. All rights reserved.