Augmented Reality Teddy Bear From Seedling Now Available Exclusively at Apple Retail Stores

[MacRumors]

Seedling today announced the launch of Parker, which it says is the world's first augmented reality teddy bear. Parker the bear is currently being sold exclusively at Apple's retail stores.

Designed for children aged three and up, the teddy bear is just a plain plush bear with no electronics or batteries, but it "comes to life" with the accompanying Parker augmented reality app that's available for iPhone and iPad.

The app uses Apple's ARKit to allow children to interact with Parker in unique ways. Kids can become Parker's doctor and examine his bones and address illnesses with accompanying accessories like a toy thermometer, a stethoscope, x-ray bibs, and medicine, with the app bringing Parker's inner organs to life.

There are mini games included, like squashing stomach germs to help Parker fight a stomach bug, and there's an augmented reality camera feature that lets children watch as Parker's happiness grows and transforms the world with new augmented reality effects.

Kids can also help build Parker's augmented reality world through the "magic camera," creating an under the sea garden or a magical mushroom forest.

Parker is available from the Apple Store for $59.95. That price tag includes the bear, a backpack, a toy thermometer, a toy stethoscope, a wooden spoon, wooden medicine, felt x-ray bibs, and a letter from Parker.

Article Link: Augmented Reality Teddy Bear From Seedling Now Available Exclusively at Apple Retail Stores

 

[now i see it]

Getem hooked up to the matrix at an early age. Atta boy!

 

[Duane Martin]

Kids can also help build Parker's augmented reality world through the "magic camera," creating an under the sea garden or a magical mushroom forest.

I am so in but I am not sure how this is appropriate for children.

 

[Matthew.H]

I am so in but I am not sure how this is appropriate for children.

I doubt most young children would know about the drug version of magical mushrooms and if they do surely that says more about the parents than it does the company that makes the toy.

 

[5105973]

I doubt most young children would know about the drug version of magical mushrooms and if they do surely that says more about the parents than it does the company that makes the toy.

True, but I laughed my butt off.

 

[JosephAW]

Something seems unnatural with all this.

 

[nikicampos]

And every time I see a new video of AR I can't help but laugh at the people that say that this is the future, nooooooo, this a gimmick that even kids get bored with, even in the ad, they played a few seconds with AR and the other stuff they played on the iPad seemed more fun, and the most fun the kid had was ridding a bicycle outside like a normal person.

 

[WarHeadz]

Yeah this will get old in two seconds flat.

 

[acctman]

give a kid an iPad Pro without a case ... okay. i'll stick to the actual teddy bear, not everything needs to be tech

 

[darkarn]

It will be just a toy once the app gets taken out of the App Store

 

[Nozuka]

Something seems unnatural with all this.

well duh, it's AR

 

[BruceEBonus]

Ha ha. Virtual teddy. Teddy. Not there. Only onscreen. Make man laugh. Funny teddy. Teddy not there. Dumbing down good. Intelligent reasoning bad. Funny teddy. Ha ha. Zzzzźzzz

 

[mijail]

Waiting for the Surgeon Simulator extension pack!

 

[JosephAW]

Where is Teddy Ruxpin? Or ALF?

 

[Hater]

Oh god I hope the furries don't get wind of this.

 

[WarHeadz]

Oh god I hope the furries don't get wind of this.

I hope they do...

 

[ToomeyND]

Do you want Screamer teddy bears? Because this is how you get screamer teddy bears.

 

[Duane Martin]

I doubt most young children would know about the drug version of magical mushrooms and if they do surely that says more about the parents than it does the company that makes the toy.

Thanks, Sheldon.

"You can pretend to be serious but you cannot pretend to be witty." - Sacha Guitry

 

[acctman]

Once your child gets sick of the app and accessories, a plain old teddy bear is all that will remain. And then you'll realize you just paid $60 for a teddy bear and feel like a complete idiot.

I would not purchase this tech nor the bear. I was saying that I would stick to a teddy bear (as in the traditional one) and not purchase a tech bear...