Kids' electronics company LeapFrog has released the world’s first activity tracker for children, the LeapBand, cashing in on both the quantified-self craze and concern around the problem of childhood obesity.
What is it?
The LeapBand is gamified-fitness tracker for kids with a screen that displays cartoon animals to encourage play. It looks like a large children's watch and talks to the child through a built-in speaker, hopefully getting them off the sofa.
What does it do?
The band’s screen displays a personalised virtual pet (a cat, dog, dragon, monkey, panda, penguin, robot or unicorn), which guides the child through a series of activity challenges and games. The more active they are the more points they win and the more games they unlock, with up to 50 activities on offer.
Who’s it aimed at?
LeapFrog is pitching the LeapBand at four to seven year olds, and it comes in green, pink, blue and orange to appeal to both boys and girls.
Will it be fun?
Some of the games promote learning, such as Pet Boogie, Pet Chef and Pet Salon, but quite a few are just silly commands, such as "walk like a crab," "spin like a helicopter" and "pop like popcorn”.
The beauty is that these games can be played anywhere and without the need for any extra kit, so no footballs, hula hoops or horses required.
Will it last the distance?
Users will undoubtedly get bored eventually, but beyond the initial 10 activities, which when completed unlock a further 40, there’s also a free app that connects the band to a tablet or smartphone, allowing the child to compete as their virtual pet in six mini-games including archery, surfing and bobsledding.
Winning a game wins a medal, and a new tracksuits for their virtual pet. The app is available for LeapFrog’s child-targeted tablet, the LeapPad Ultra, as well as the iPhone, iPad and Android.
What do parents get out of it?
With the increasing problem of childhood obesity, activity trackers such as LeapBand could become important tools to help encourage more active children.
Parents can see how active their child has been throughout the day, exporting the information using the LeapBand's companion app in much the same way as adult activity trackers like the Misfit Shine.
Will it be a distraction in school?
Parents remain in control and can lock down the LeapBand for a set time period to stop it being a distraction in school. Whether children find away around that kind of lockdown remains to be seen.
How long will it last?
The rubber band and thick plastic housing are tough and durable, as well as being water resistant and with a battery that lasts around four to six days on a single charge. The watch is charged via microUSB, which does mean it’s another device for parents to remember to charge.
How much will it cost and where can I get it?
LeapBand costs £29.99 and will be on sale in the UK from August.
Does my kid really need an activity tracker?
Probably not. But you can guarantee that they are going to want one for Christmas.
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