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Journalism of Courage
For the prime example of that hi-tech trend, look to Amazing Amanda. Manufactured by Playmates Toys Inc., the talking doll relies on a voice-recognition computer to let her recognise her owner8217;s commands and carry on a fairly lengthy conversation. The animated doll cries, laughs, sings.
Malibu8217;s Jakks Pacific Inc. adapted a classic play pattern to incorporate modern technology. It introduced its Fly Wheels line earlier this year, marrying the look of car wheels to a hi-tech launcher that lets the toys zoom around at the scale equivalent of 300 miles per hour.
Disney Consumer Products8217; Mix Stick audio player plays both downloads MP3s and pre-recorded cartridges, intending to yank back market share from the iPod Shuffle by taking the concept and wrapping it with Disney graphics.
Just adding a ight or noisemaker to a regular toy doesn8217;t cut it anymore8212;to survive in this fiercely fought-over landscape, the toy8217;s got to both delight the players and hold their attention. El Segundo-based giant Mattel Inc. has tried to tap into this. Its Pixel Chix give girls a digital playmate to care for and carry around. When connected with other Chix, the miniature little girls socialise, dance and talk on the phone.
8216;8216;The merger of technology and traditional play has really evolved over the years,8217;8217; said Sara Rosales, Mattel8217;s vice president of communications. 8216;8216;We8217;re not just doing technology for technology8217;s sake. It8217;s to bring a magical feature to life.8217;8217;
New York Times
