From the looks of it, this toilet-seat mod is meant to potty-train and encourage kids by promising them a reward after they've done their business. The prize? The happy song, a high five, and some toilet paper! Frankly, this toilet would terrify me even at this age. I also have to wonder, won't this potty produce some sort of Pavlov's Dogs-esque side-effect? Hopefully when he's older, the kid won't poop his pants whenever he hears, "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!" [Engadget]

The first interactive TV-based learning system to engage full-body movement, ZIPPITY leads kids through eight lively learning games that use an interactive mat for lower-body movement—such as running, dancing, jumping and marching—and a tummy-high giant joystick, or "bopper," for upper body action—such as left, right, forward and back. The easy-to-use system comes with all eight learning activities pre-loaded plus a foldable mat and bopper, which interacts wirelessly with the ZIPPITY console.

These learning games utilize popular Disney characters like Mickey, Pooh, Handy Manny and the Little Einsteins to trick kids into learning about subjects like math, problem solving and the arts. All-in-all, it seems like a great way to introduce fitness to young children—something that they will hopefully take with them throughout their lives. Zippity will be available for kids between 3-5 starting this summer. It will be priced at $79.99, with 3 additional games running at $24.99 apiece. [Leapfrog]

LEAPFROG AND DISNEY INTRODUCE NEW ZIPPITY™ SYSTEM FOR PRESCHOOLERS

First Interactive TV-Based Gaming System Combines Full Body Movement, Music, Education & Fun

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: LF) and Disney Consumer Products (NYSE: DIS) are proud to announce their first co-developed product, the start of a planned line that expands the duo's existing relationship. Set to launch in summer 2009, the ZIPPITY high–energy learning system is the first interactive TV-based gaming system for preschoolers that combines full body movement, music, education and fun. By joining forces to introduce the ZIPPITY system, LeapFrog extends its innovation and leadership beyond handheld educational gaming and reading to movement-based learning and Disney grows its presence in the preschool segment, complementing its award-winning Playhouse Disney programming with meaningful toy lines.

Combining LeapFrog's learning products expertise with Disney's storytelling heritage and curriculum-oriented programming especially developed for preschoolers, the ZIPPITY system lets kids bring the magic of Playhouse Disney and Disney characters to life in their own home. Kids can dance, jump and move with characters from Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny, as well as Disney Little Einsteins, Winnie the Pooh, Disney Princess and Disney·Pixar's Cars. As they groove and play, kids can gain a greater understanding of core preschool skills such as math, language, music and culture.

Full Body Movement Drives Learning

The first interactive TV-based learning system to engage full-body movement, ZIPPITY leads kids through eight lively learning games that use an interactive mat for lower-body movement—such as running, dancing, jumping and marching—and a tummy-high giant joystick, or "bopper," for upper body action—such as left, right, forward and back. The easy-to-use system comes with all eight learning activities pre-loaded plus a foldable mat and bopper, which interacts wirelessly with the ZIPPITY console.

"Combining full-body movement with educational challenges can deepen children's learning," said Dr. Jim Gray, director of learning for LeapFrog. "The ZIPPITY system is designed to provide a powerful blend of learning and play by incorporating Disney characters and stories children love and parents trust and engaging children on multiple levels as they jump to explore letters or 'bop' to reinforce memory skills. Studies have found that young children have a better understanding of words and concept—such as over and under—when they're able to physically experience them. "

"Leveraging LeapFrog's leadership in kids learning products, the new ZIPPITY system provides a wholesome experience for children that brings Disney characters and stories to life right in their own living room while also engaging them with developmental activities that are made to be pure fun," said Catherine Bachmaier, director of toys for Disney Consumer Products. "

Learning in Step with Their Favorite Characters and Shows

The system's eight onboard preschool learning games feature Playhouse Disney characters in television-quality animated sequences. Each game features two levels of play—to keep kids appropriately challenged and engaged—and promotes preschool skills through fun play with favorite characters: Mickey Says focuses on math skills; Super Sleuths on the Case focuses on problem-solving with Tigger and Pooh; Tool Box Beat, focuses on music and phonics with Handy Manny; and Rocket's Musical Mission focuses on music, art and culture with the Little Einsteins.

The fun can be expanded with three additional ZIPPITY games also featuring popular Disney characters, Disney Princess and Disney-Pixar Cars – which are among the top three licensed characters in the preschool learning category*, as well as a game based on the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated theatrical film, The Princess and the Frog releasing this holiday.

As with all LeapFrog products, the ZIPPITY system is on the LeapFrog Learning Path, a free online resource that provides parents with insight into their child's passions by providing details on the LeapFrog products that have kept their kids most engaged, the skills their kids have learned and what learning milestones are on the horizon. With the ZIPPITY system, parents will be able to access the Learning Path both online as well as on the TV through the main onscreen menu.

Availability

The ZIPPITY system for children ages 3 to 5 will be available this summer at www.leapfrog.com and all major retailers. The ZIPPITY system has an MSRP of $79.99, and additional games an MSRP of $24.99.

Specifically, the Pentagon is soliciting proposals to "develop a highly interactive PC or Web-based application to allow family members to verbally interact with 'virtual' renditions of deployed Service Members."

Parameters include:

"The child should be able to have a simulated conversation with a parent about generic, everyday topics," the solicitation says. "For instance, a child may get a response from saying, 'I love you,' or 'I miss you,' or 'Good night mommy/daddy.' This is a technologically challenging application because it relies on the ability to have convincing voice-recognition, artificial intelligence, and the ability to easily and inexpensively develop a customized application tailored to a specific parent."

Like other DARPA-esque endeavors, this task is much easier said than done. And, to be honest, I don't know what to make of it. I understand that deployed parents might not have internet access at all times, but this solution seems preposterous and costly when compared to, say Skype. On the other hand, its kind of touching—like the military's awkward cloak-wearing, bony-fingered way of expressing compassion. [Information Week via Medgadget]

And the remote bear can also be moved by you, which opens up the chance for the possibility of remote-controlled cuddles. It may, at this point, help to remember the bear's intended for uses in places like hospitals, and in early-learning applications.

It's the latest version of a device that MIT's Personal Robots Group has been working on for a while, and as you can see it's a research device so it's not exactly wonderfully cuddly at the mo. Still, the group's working on a refined version that'll be used in real-life human-computer interaction experiments. [MIT via BotJunkie]

"If you think of a classic recruitment center, [all of] its forms and brochures are about as exciting as the post office," said Marc Babej, partner at marketing consultancy Reason Inc. "Why talk about it when you can demonstrate it."

So instead of campy handouts, potential Army recruits will get an accurate, interactive representation of what awaits them on today's battlefields. By the Amy's definition of "realism" that includes battle simulators, replica firearms and America's Army, the 2002 video game that lets players act out battlefield scenarios DOOM-style. In a word, games—not maiming and killing. The first interactive Army store location has yet to be established, a spokesperson said.

All I ask is, when this doesn't work, what's next? Never-ending WWDC Baghdad keynotes? Black turtleneck body armor? iPhone controlled UAVs? More "BOOMs?" What? [BrandWeek]

Looks like a great way to improve your tech knowledge and get geeky for a purpose. If nothing else your giant swiveling board/webcam combo will make a great conversation starter at your next shindig. [Interactive Multitouch Display]

ITP Spring Show 2007

The sound was a bit flat, but the reviewers preferred it that way. The main draw, however, is the 160x43 LCD display on the right speaker.

The same LCD that's on the Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard gives you "current track information, your latest POP3 emails, the time and date, your current CPU and RAM utilization, a countdown timer, and a stopwatch." There are also a bunch of mods for the G15 LCD, where you can find on the mod websites below.

There's also support for all the major media players—probably not the Zune—and you can even set radio favorites on the thing. You'll most likely be using the touch-sensitive buttons that control standard playback, volume, and power controls more, and they're definitely slick looking. They're $149 on Amazon, which isn't bad but a bit more than the older Logitech Z-2300s that come with a sub. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Amazon]

Logitech Z10 Interactive Speaker System Review [Everything USB]

G15 Mods
G15 Forums

Product Page [Via Shiny Shiny]

We got this email yesterday from a tipster who mysteriously insisted on anonymity (cough, cough):

I work with ABC and wanted to give you a heads up on an unprecedented interactive project ABC is working on, a project that has never been done that combines the internet and a international hit television show. They aren't releasing the information wide until next week.

ABC, Channel 4 Television in the U.K, and Australia Channel 7 will launch the "Lost Experience," a revolutionary interactive experience based on the international hit television series, "Lost". Working together, more than 30 broadcasters from Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East will release clues with new information regarding the mystery and mythology of the island featured in the series. Fans looking to solve the puzzle will find audio, video, and text clues in locations around the world, along with an online community in which to connect and collaborate with others. Just like any other good mystery, clues can and will happen anywhere at anytime across multiple platforms.

This type of experience is more commonly known (at least to nerds) as an alternate reality game, or ARG. The first one of these to go supernova was The Beast, developed by a team at Microsoft in 2001 to promote the movie A.I. We didn't play it ourselves but became totally obsessed with it anyway—it turned out to be far more absorbing than the movie it was meant to drum up interest for—and followed the daily progress of the players who banded together to solve it over at Cloudmakers.

The team behind The Beast went on to do ilovebees (a.k.a. Haunted Apiary) to promote the game Halo 2, and eventually ended up leaving Microsoft to form a company dedicated to ARG development. We don't know if they're involved in Lost Experience, but we're looking forward to seeing how this thing develops nonetheless.