Mary Manz Simon's Blog, page 36
February 15, 2017
AR afterglow
The holidays are long gone, but children who opened toys powered by augmented reality might be leading the charge for more AR applications.
The immersive experience of even a small, hand-held magnifying glass to create AR viewing of insects is engaging, even for non-bug lovers.
After the worldwide phenomena of Pokemon Go followed by the deluge of AR powered toys last Christmas, augmented reality is a feature kids might expect in the future.
February 13, 2017
IoT chatter
In the weeks since the Consumer Electronics Show, there’s been a lot of chatter about the many ways parents are engaging with the Internet of Things IoT).
Research shows that moms and dads have gone beyond smart baby toys and infant health tracking devices. Parents are big buyers of Smart TVs, home security devices and kitchen appliances.
Why are people so surprised?
Parents look for ways to make life easier. And that was true long before connected cars and smart baby gear.
February 10, 2017
New for soup season
Have you breezed past the Well Yes! cans stacked high?
On the outside, there isn’t a hint of the familiar Campbell’s label. Inside the totally recyclable can, there’s no MSG and ingredients including the predictable quinoa, kale and farro.
The Well Yes! brand isn’t organic, but I’ll give it a taste test.
February 8, 2017
Millennial wave hits
We’re on the edge of the Millennial parenting wave.
As 18-35 year olds become moms and dads, will they substitute soup at home for Friday night Happy Hour? Save to buy a car (really!) instead of spending a bonus check on luxe travel?
Although the age of first marriage and childbirth is going up, having a baby is still a major life event. Soon we’ll see what shock waves that creates for Millennials (and the rest of us.)
February 6, 2017
Eight seconds
Researchers say that the average length of a person’s attention span is eight seconds.
I guess they’ve never watched a three-year old play in a bathtub.
February 3, 2017
Secondary parent?
The push toward gender equality has changed how dads are shown in advertisements. Have you noticed?
Dad is no longer the clueless, tag-a-long “secondary parent.
He’s right there changing the diaper in a public bathroom, fixing breakfast and comforting a crying child.
Good to see that ad execs recognize that dads really are choosing to engage physically and emotionally in active parenting.
February 1, 2017
Identity theft? Not for new moms
Eighty percent of new moms are Millennials. That’s the reason we hear so much about identity theft prevention.
Millennial moms don’t want to lose their personhood, just because they have a child.
This generation is determined to keep their pre-parent identity. From what I’ve observed, these moms have a strong start toward meeting that goal.
January 30, 2017
Exercise + academics = achievement
Researchers have shown that integrating physical activity into the school day improves academic performance.
Although the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity, schools struggle to meet the standard.
That won’t get any easier now that we’re in the heart of the “teaching year,” or these weeks before annual academic testing.
And that’s part of the challenge: schools are held accountable for academic achievement, so math and reading are emphasized. Extra time for gym or recess simply doesn’t happen.
Adding physical activity would mean massive overhauling of personnel, space and schedules. Will this happen during the 2017-18 school year?
January 27, 2017
Real vs. VR
With all the virtual reality toys and gadgets children and adults are still playing with so long after Christmas, I wonder: will digital experiences soon be better than real-time experiences?
I mean, if you can enjoy a Caribbean beach via VR instead of going through TSA and fighting sand flies, the digital experience almost seems preferable!
January 25, 2017
At your service
If your local McDonald’s hasn’t installed mobile ordering and table service in your area, it’s coming.
“Create Your Taste” digital kiosks passed the test in 500 US locations. This “Experience of the Future” means the Mickey D version of the future will soon arrive at your door.
