Smart Babies
Hammacher Schlemmer, an innovative company known as "the place to go for things hard to find”, was established in the 1800s and was the first store to offer products such as the steam iron, electric dry shaver, pop-up toaster, microwave oven – each of which have become common household items. Their main goal is to provide consumers with new, on-the-edge products which will “enhance customers' lives by bringing them unique products that either solve problems or further their lifestyle, and eliminate their need to comparison shop by providing them with, not only the best products in the marketplace, but the information supporting the reasons why these products are truly the best.”
The company also features a toys/games section on its online site and in particular, I noticed a recurring theme among the infant section. There seems to be a trend in introducing children to interactive DVDs as a way of encouraging development and increasing stimuli.
The first program is a customized DVD filled with family photographs and voice clips to stimulate facial recognition among babies. Like the hit Baby Einstein series, this DVD also comes along with music, footage of animals and bright colors, and toys in action to hold the attention of the child. The DVD is perfect for children with lots of family who live far away and in maintaining the child’s memory and relationship. I really the idea because my family is constantly on the move and the only way that we’ve been able to retain a close relationship with my younger cousins is by constantly having other family members show them our pictures. Using that system of recognition, my cousins have constantly been able to view us as family rather than strangers and gives us extra valuable which could be used in fostering a relationship rather than trying to use the time to reestablish the relationship once again.
The second developmental DVD comes paired with a plush stuffed animal. There are three different animals you could choose for your child and depending on your choice, dictates the main character of the DVD. The DVD- doll duo was created to encourage child interaction with the screen and therefore stimulate learning rather than being simple observers. There is a stimulation device inside the doll which is activated by benign electronic signals from the DVD and results with the doll laughing, singing along, and flashing lights In tune with the program. The doll also uses age-appropriate vocabulary and the lamb & dog are for 3 to 12 month olds while the cow is for 12 to 36 month olds. Although I initially thought it was a cool idea, the more I thought about it, the more I disliked it. The program is geared towards 3 to 36 month olds, an age which is considered unsafe for children to left alone. Furthermore, this is when parent/child relationships are established and by providing a toy which does all the interacting for you, it discourages parents from getting involved and encourages laziness.
It is sometimes amazing how one company can feature two items which can be so far from each other in practicality and use.
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