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Incredibooks – Book Review Site

GadgetManiac — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 21:38:00 +0000

In a seemingly aliterate world, it’s refreshing to see a website dedicated to book reviews by kids and teens. Seven of them have banded together, have read thousands of books and have posted their views and comments on Incredibooks.

Their most recent review is of The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare – they give it 5 stars, out of 5.

Incredibooks

Fly Pentop Computer

GadgetManiac — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 17:00:00 +0000

Today’s New York Times has a nice review of the Fly Pentop Computer, which has just become available.

The Fly Pentop is marketed as an educational product for children aged 8 to 13. It combines a processor with some software and an optical scanner into the shape of a pen. The scanner keeps track of what is written and responds via audio feedback according to software that is activated. Draw, for example, a calculator on paper and Fly narrates the digits that are (virtually) pressed and responds with the answer. And, after activating the Notepad feature, Fly reads back whatever words have been written on the paper. The user can draw a piano keyboard and then proceed to play it.

Factor in interchangeable software, some dictionaries, games, and interactive textbooks and downloadable tests and pretty soon we’re talking low-cost metacognitive skills enhancement.

The Pen Gets a Whole Lot Mightier - NYT, November 17, 2005

Twenty Questions Gadgetized

GadgetManiac — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 15:44:00 +0000

Eight-year-olds-and-up might well enjoy the parlor game of Twenty Questions, ported to a hand-held device. Game-maker Radica has a portable version of the game, which is generally believed to promote deductive reasoning. In the unlikely event that you can’t afford the 20Q game device, you can always play the online version for free.

Radica website

Gadgets for Kids

GadgetManiac — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 15:00:00 +0000

Today, GadgetManiac introduces our new Kid’s section. Our goal: to keep gadget parents in touch with new developments in the burgeoning area of gadgets for children. Our lead-off piece deals with the recent Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) Awards. FamilyFun Magazine organizes this annual toy test during which actual kids play with and vote for their favorite toys. The result is a top ten list of the best toys of the year. According to those who should know — the kids themselves –, the best toy of 2005 is Knights� Empire Castle by Playmobil. Can’t argue with that one. In the list of top 10 toys, however, there were some genuine gadgets. Appearing at number 4 is ChatNow by Tiger Electronics. The ChatNow is a 2-way 2-mile-range walkie-talkie disguised as a mobile phone. It has some other interesting features. The device supports ringtones, screen savers and message alerts, as well as text messaging. The built-in digital camera can store up to 30 images. Some of those features would have come in handy the last time we used a walkie-talkie. On the downside, the screen is grayscale, and the price seems a little high. FamilyFun Magazine unveils the 2005 Toy of the Year - WebWire, 10/4/2005