New connected bike will trick your kids into exercising and learning
LAS VEGAS -- Pulling kids away from the TV in order to exercise can be complicated, but a new connected bike from Fisher-Price will at least trick them into doing a little workout, while getting an education.
The Think & Learn Smart Cycle is stationary bike that allows kids to play educational video games on a connected TV or tablet while pedaling through the level. The faster they pedal, the faster the game goes. It's not completely unlike that one episode of Black Mirror.
The bike comes with four games that focus on literacy, STEM exposure, math skills, science and social studies, and the company plans to launch more in 2018.
The bike can either hook up to streaming devices on a TV via Bluetooth or parents can download the app on iOS or Android and use a tablet. Parents can also download an accompanying app that can can provide feedback, and they can monitor their progression.
Nitya Madhavan, Vice President of Marketing at Fisher-Price said the toy was inspired by the fact that preschoolers take in information best while they're active and enjoying the activity, so what better way than to have them play video games.
An immediate, obvious criticism of the toy is that kids already have enough screens shoved in their face throughout the day and it's kind of sad to watch a kid pedal a bike watching a screen instead of enjoying the outdoors. But, at least it is educational and promotes exercise.
The Think & Learn Smart Cycle is slated to be released in Fall 2017 for $149.99, and Fisher-Price has partnered with Nickelodeon to release additional games for an additional price of $4.99 each.
Topics CES Family & Parenting
