Read an interesting interview with Bieke Zaman on the Internet of Toys: advantages, risks and challenges of a consumption scenario that is intriguing parents and researchers. She also participates in the DigiLitEy COST action together with us.

“With every new technology there are obviously opportunities and challenges we have to consider. Connected Toys promote different types of interactions. Some of these interactions simulate human interactivity, see for instance a connected doll that responds to voice recognition and talks with your child. Toys-to-Life is another category that comprises of video games with physical action figures that are brought to life within a digital environment, like Skylander and Disney Infinity. To date, a proper classification of this variety of toys is lacking. For instance, it can also include puzzles or wearables. Thus, as online and offline become increasingly blurred it is not easy to draw the line. On the one hand, we can consider new opportunities linked to enhanced literacies and dimensions of storytelling in such a cross media environment. Imagine children having figurines in their hands, and building a story that is continuing in the virtual world, with feedback loops between online and offline; between the digital and the non-digital; the material, the non-material; the public and the private; the local and the global. In such a hybrid
media environment, there are clearly advantages regarding personalized play, physical and collaborative play. Moreover, connected play can motivate children to engage in learning activities and scaffold their learning. On the other hand, Connected Toys are very recent and this calls for proper media and psychological research over time in order to anticipate on its challenges and potential risks.”

You can download the full interview here: Internet_of_Toys_advantages_risks_and_ch