Comments on: Enhancing Play for Children – RFID and Technology Toys http://www.360kid.com/blog/2007/08/rfid-and-technology-toys-%e2%80%94-enhancing-play-for-children/ Exploring the World of Digital Youth Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:36:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Rich Fletcher http://www.360kid.com/blog/2007/08/rfid-and-technology-toys-%e2%80%94-enhancing-play-for-children/comment-page-1/#comment-53085 Rich Fletcher Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:33:10 +0000 http://www.360kid.com/blog/?p=29#comment-53085 I've been an RFID developer for 15 years. RFID can add great value to a toy if used properly and inctructed properly. The problem is that RFID is wireless, so there is no button or switch, and as a result, is completely non-obvious to the user. Without clear markings or instructions, people have no way of knowing that the RFID is even in there. The Hyperdash toy mentioned above is great simple example. But the Zounds toy (which was beautifully designed -- I own 3 of them) mentioned above had serious problems selling because no one knew what the heck it was or how to use it. The toy did not come with an AC adapter, so in the store, it was displayed with dead batteries, no working RFID, and as a result, it did not sell well. The Hasbro Star Wars RFID toy in the late 1990' was one of the first sucessful RFID toys onthe market -- more in Japan (Tomy, et al). I’ve been an RFID developer for 15 years.
RFID can add great value to a toy if used properly and inctructed properly. The problem is that RFID is wireless, so there is no button or switch, and as a result, is completely non-obvious to the user. Without clear markings or instructions, people have no way of knowing that the RFID is even in there. The Hyperdash toy mentioned above is great simple example. But the Zounds toy (which was beautifully designed — I own 3 of them) mentioned above had serious problems selling because no one knew what the heck it was or how to use it. The toy did not come with an AC adapter, so in the store, it was displayed with dead batteries, no working RFID, and as a result, it did not sell well. The Hasbro Star Wars RFID toy in the late 1990′ was one of the first sucessful RFID toys onthe market — more in Japan (Tomy, et al).

]]> By: Roger Shiffman http://www.360kid.com/blog/2007/08/rfid-and-technology-toys-%e2%80%94-enhancing-play-for-children/comment-page-1/#comment-7245 Roger Shiffman Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:37:31 +0000 http://www.360kid.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7245 Love your interest in high tech toys and especially RFID. As a toy manufacturere in the field of electronic toys for almost 30 years, I appreciate someone interested in such product. I've used RFID, most recently in a wonderful music product, ZOUNDZ. Here is a link to just one of many articles: http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/samiljan/3240 Roger Shiffman Zizzle Love your interest in high tech toys and especially RFID. As a toy manufacturere in the field of electronic toys for almost 30 years, I appreciate someone interested in such product. I’ve used RFID, most recently in a wonderful music product, ZOUNDZ. Here is a link to just one of many articles:

http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/samiljan/3240

Roger Shiffman
Zizzle

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