The new Barbie doll that is going to be released sound very exiting. Hello Barbie, new doll that will have conversations with kids.
America’s most popular doll, Barbie is getting an improvement, and the next generations of Barbie will join the expanding connected toys category. The company behind the doll, Mattel, has teamed up with ToyTalk to create Hello Barbie, which is aimed to be a doll that can have a conversation trough Wi-Fi and voice recognition technology. The new Barbie is still under development, but Mattel is planning to release it in stores before the holiday season.
Apparently, the idea of the talking Barbie, came after little girls all over the world said that they wanted to have a conversation with Barbie. And this new technology, will allow Barbie to have a two way conversation with the girls.
Even tough a talking doll is not something new to the market, this certain Barbie will be brought to the 21st century, with several features. One of them is the fact that Hello Barbie, will remember the responses of the users and will arrive to know them better with time, similar to Cortana or Siri.
For example, if a child was to tell her they like a specific singer, Barbie might refer to that in the future. Also, Hello Barbie, will be updated periodically trough an internet access.
The doll will require a Wi-Fi connection and its battery can last up to an hour, on a single charge. The necklace of the doll, will have incorporated the microphone and the speaker, but also the two LED lights. The rechargeable batteries will be placed in its legs and will connect to a wall mounted charger. The price of the Hello Barbie will be of $74.99.
A prototype of the talking Barbie has been displayed at the Toy Fair that took place New York. Presently, the doll is able to hold just a few minutes of conversation, which is only about her being at the Toy Fair and some things about herself. In the upcoming months, ToyTalk will be working on the further development of the doll, giving it the ability to discuss on various topics.
The main idea is that they are going to bring out the things that kids aspire to be and the career direction that Barbie represents, starting from a scientist, a mathematician, painter, surfer, all of the things that Barbie has been along the time, explained ToyTalk, CEO Oren Jacob. Adding that, kids and Barbie will talk about feelings and why not, fashion, since it’s Barbie we are talking about. The company will be seriously analysing Barbie and what girls and boys who love to play with the doll want to do, and the things they want to ask her.
The plan of Mattel seems a pretty good one, since the sales of Barbie have lately suffered a decline. But their idea does rise some privacy questions, especially since the doll will be remembering what the kid is interested in. There is also a greater fear. Theer are concerns that the doll might be hacked and set to say things that are not suitable for children, something which has happened before with connected dolls.
Image Source: Our Muddy Boots,tom’s GUIDE, TIME
