Seeking advice from parents on this toy.

[PAYRENT]

HI everyone, this forum seems like a great resource

So I'm a college student and am taking a new product innovation development course and our group project is to design a toy. Part of the assignment is to get parents inputs and see if we are headed in the right direction.

Below is the product description:

This interactive pen is designed to teach children ages 4-6 how to write letters and words. This “magic” pen will write letters on “magic” paper and guide children through the process of stroke patterns. The point of the “magic” pen is to teach children the process of writing while avoiding tracing letters and instead learning to form perfect letters on their own. There will be different levels of development with the pen, where the child starts at a beginning level (learning to write the alphabet) to expert levels (writing complete sentences). The pen will talk back to the child... When they write the word/letter well it congratulates them with encouraging epressions such as “way to go,” “perfect,” “you did it” “hooray” !!!! or on the other hand, “try again” “almost there,” “not quite” This will encourage the child to keep learning. Another great aspect to this “magic” pen is that it can write in seven different colors, and it blinks all the colors together when they child writes something perfect!


So if this toy was polished up and actually produced, would you be interested in it for you child?

Could you see your child enjoying playing with this toy?
What do you dislike about the product?

Thank you so much for reading this, I really appreciate it.

[Choppy]

To be honest, it sounds a little complicated to me. I likely wouldn't pay for it.

My concerns:

(1) How often do you lose pens? Mine get lost all the time. This sounds like an expensive toy that would end up in that crook in the couch between the back support and butt rest along with fifteen cents in change, a one-armed Luke Skywalker, and stale popcorn.

(2) Do I have to keep buying "magic" paper?

(3) What happens when the pen runs out of "magic" ink?

(4) Children (and adults for that matter) can have a habit of biting or chewing pens.

(5) I think I understand the concept, but what I need to know is whether or not this is better than writing out lines on lined paper for developing penmanship.

(6) Does the child go through the process of critically evaluating his or her own work? Or is the child just playing a game, trying to stay on the write path?

(7) I'm not sure if you just typed it out or if this is the official product description you're using for your product, but as it stands, the product description contains imperfect grammar. Why would I trust a company that can't write its own product description properly to teach my child to write sentences?

I'm not trying to sound harsh or cynnical. I'm just trying to explain why I wouldn't part with my money for your product.

[bssage]

I gotta agree with choppy. I'm sorry but it sounds like something that would end up in a drawer or basket quickly. I have visions of chargers papers ect getting lost broken. I am not saying noone will buy it. I am say I wouldnt.

Make a toy that picks up and puts away other toys. Then you have got something.

I'm not trying to be mean either. Sorry

[PAYRENT]

No, thank you guys. I know posting in a forum will generate harsh critiques but hey, I can take it.

Since there were some vague details, a group member went ahead and developed a better description. Also, I consider it splitting hairs when picking at grammar etc. This is the rough of the rough concept.

Name: Magic Pad, Kid Pad, Magic Tablet, Whiz Kid...? (Help! Need ideas desperately, as you can tell. haha)
Concept: This interactive pen and electronic tablet is designed to teach children ages 5-6 how to write letters and words, as well as match pictures with the words they learn.
Goal: To create a fun and intriguing experience in which the child can learn. Various learning techniques, including sound, vibrant colors, interaction, positive feedback, and building upon skills, are applied to create the most successful outcome.

Pen Features:

* Colored flashing lights, matching success levels and accomplishments within the tablet's activities.
* Ability to change the color of writing on the tablet through buttons on the pen. (Magic "swirl" of colors occur when child completes a task successfully.)
* Ability to write not only on the tablet, but on paper; Forms a connection with the child to promote learning when away from the tablet.
* Interacts with/speaks to the child, giving positive feedback/encouragement and directions for activities. (Ex: "Way to go!" "Perfect!" "Almost there.")
* Learns the child's name and his/her skill level to recommend specific areas in which to practice/play on the tablet.

Tablet Features:

* Available to customize; cover design preferences and stickers offered.
* Guides child through stroke patterns in the beginning stages of learning how to write.
* Child does not trace letters, but rather learns to form letters on their own through verbal and visual guidance.
* Interactive Letter/Alphabet guides.
* Interactive word guides. (Includes picture to match each word the child is learning to write; associates a visual image to their task)
* Child has the opportunity to color in each picture, promoting a fun experience. Upon completion of coloring the picture and learning the associated word, the picture becomes animated for a short and encouraging 10-second film.
* Upon the completion of each activity, child "unlocks" a new game to play before moving on to the next activity.
* Future development: Various learning packages focused on different subjects, learning packages for older age groups.


Thank you.

[bssage]

I have to stick to my original opinion. To me this is a item that people without kids get people with kids. Which means there is probably a market for it.

The specific area's that are cause for concern. Durability, maintenance (ink paper ect) and ease of use (I would need to learn to use it before I could teach them)

JIMHO

[TabascoNatalie]

i understand that the OP is just trying to do his college assignment. but my thoughts of a certain product is that it may be a one-day toy, but not much future ahead of it. i remember lollipop-pens from my childhood. they aren't around anymore.

[IADad]

Hasn't Leapfrog already done this? My experience with those is that they're coneptually interesting but not that useful day to day.

I think if it was marketed correctly, yes, it could certainly sell, many of us are suckers for anything we perceive to be helpful to our kids regardless of any actual science of educational value. There are plenty of marginally valuable aids that sell like hotcakes (esp when Grandmas looking for something they believe won't be just another thrown away toy.

[Jeremy+3]

yeah they do, as do crayola I don't know if their national or just in the UK.