Categories
Kids/Babies Smartwatches/Bands

Octopus smartwatch teaches kids time and good habits

Kids’ smartwatches tend to merely be stripped-down versions of standard smartwatches, with fewer features but more colorful designs.

Octopus is a twist on kids’ smartwatches, featuring a simple, icon-based user interface designed to teach children good habits and the concept of time, while fostering independence, responsibility and self-esteem. The watch works in conjunction with Android and iOS mobile devices that allow parents to manage Octopus from their own smartphones and tablets. Octopus ships in March at $79, but Kickstarter backers can order one for a pledge starting at $49 for early birds. Its makers hope to raise $50,000 by July 22.

The design of Octopus sets it apart from many other kids smartwatches, such as Miiya. That it’s water resistant is a plus, but being waterproof would be preferable for any kids’ smartwatch considering how likely it is that the device will get wet at some point. More importantly, Octopus doesn’t –- at least for now –- have the ability to alert parents as soon as their child is about to be out of range. That’s a feature that its makers are working on and want to make available by the time it ships … or at least as a free software update later on.

 

Categories
Kids/Babies Smartwatches/Bands

Keep an eye on your tykes with the video calling dokiWatch

Parents are constant concerned about their children’s wellbeing. In this hyperconnected world, though, giving them a full-featured smartphone is often a bit of an overkill, especially since parents may want to avoid the excessive screen time younger ones are exposed to.

The dokiWatch introduces a happy medium. The kid-centric smartwatch is made out of colorful, soft, and flexible plastic that house a GPS tracker along with GSM and Wi-Fi technology to allow parents to accurately track their offspring’s every move. dokiWatch one-ups Apple with the ability for children to video call, voice and text message their guardians or any other friends that might have shared a contact with.