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Technology trends for kids in 2013

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Abhigna
New Update

BANGALORE, INDIA: 2013 has been the year of interesting innovations. A lot has been said about the launch of the Apple iPhone 5c and 5s and the Nexus 5 and the rise of the year of smart phones, which have been designed to supplement the work-life balance of the adults.

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However, with kids being steadily identified in this year as primary influencers in household technology purchases, 2013 can be seen as the year for kids. With Christmas gifting moving beyond chocolates and toys, listed below are some of the popular innovations among kids in the year 2013 in India as well as broad.

1. Social networking for kids:

2013 saw the launch of India's first unique web platform worldoo.com for kids in India. The site has encompassed children likes over the internet into one space for kids to enjoy. The founder of this exclusive platform for kids, Mr. Monish Ghatalia says that he identified that since Facebook is for 13 and above and LinkedIn is for professionals, there was no single place that had been designed exclusively for kids on the internet. Hence, worldoo.com came into being. Since its launch in April 2013 it has already received over 60,000+ registrations and 11 million page views.

2. Tablets:

The industry has seemed to have understood the need constant cry of parent's hearts leaping into their mouths when their kids reach out to them asking to play a game on their tablets. Keeping this in mind, sturdier, break proof and durable, these feature educational games and e-books. Launches in India have included the Leap Frog 2, HCL Me Champ and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. With the range of these products starting from 7,999 the colourful tablets have been specially designed to grab a child's attention.

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3. Apps for kids:

Children's apps were another big trend. With the rise of parents buying tablets for their kids or handing over the smart phones to play games, kids as young as 2years have been a growing focus. Parents were spoilt for choice on the free apps that they could use to engage their kids with. Though on the other hand there were many cases of kids blowing their parents budgets on app purchases, games like Minecraft and Candy Rush which were extremely popular among kids gained approval among parents as well without any in-app purchases.

4. Virtual babysitters:

Creating a controversy since its launch a while back is Fisher Price's Newborn-to-Toddler Apptivity Seat. Equipped with a special holder for the I Pad, this device claims to provide another way to stimulate and engage the baby. The device was supposed to be an arena for entertaining your child thus helping them grow but has been criticized in the U.S. by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC) who have brandished the chair an "electronic babysitter" and criticized Fisher-Price for suggesting that babies as young as newborns should be left alone facing a screen for any amount of time.

5. Gaming Consoles:

Sony Playstation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One have launched in direct competition with each other targeting the hard core gamers. The launch extremely exciting for kids and adults alike. With the launch during the Christmas season, many of the orders were pre-booked and hence existing stocks fast sold out leaving many a teary eyed child in the U.K.

According to Harsh Wardhan Dave, head - experience & brand at worldoo.com, "Unlike the past, kids today spend a lot of time with technology. Thus, it is of utmost importance that technology is designed exclusively to suit their needs. With the internet penetrating into all devices, brands and consumers alike need to realise that kids have to be guided in a proper manner in order for them to gain positive experiences from technology at any early age itself. The future of technology for kids can be seen as more engaging with a lot more value addition whether it is a source of entertainment or for educative purposes.''

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