Weekly Click: April 10, 2012

Featured Article

Publishers Hustle to Make E-Books More Immersive

Book publishers have been forced to evolve in response to the sweeping storm of demand for e-readers and e-books. But there are a lot of decisions that come along with this adaptation: should a book become a dedicated app, allowing flexibility in terms of video and audio, though only on the iPad? Or should it become an “enhanced e-book,” compatible with the Kindle and the Nook as well, but with varying software differences for each one?

E-books are becoming more and more interactive and social experiences to compete with a young adult audience used to Twitter and YouTube.  Many e-books and e-book apps are incorporating video, audio, twitter feeds and check-in ability.  Will this make readers no longer rely on their imagination to hear character voices, picture their surroundings, or imagine what characters are wearing? As this technology continues to develop and grow towards things we can’t even imagine, reading, television, radio, and all media platforms may be seamlessly integrated into the e-book experience. E-readers are just beginning to give us glimpses into the potential interactive experiences on devices.

Turn your iPhone into a toy car

Makego has made an app that can turn an iPhone or iPod Touch into a toy vehicle, allowing parent and child to collaborate, learn, and play. Once your car is selected on the screen, you interact with the drivers through animations and sound in three different vehicles- racecar, ice-cream truck, and river boat!

Lego - Imagine

Check out these really clever and fun Lego representations of familiar characters. It’s amazing how far our imaginations and physical representations can truly take us!

PAX East 2012: Big and Occasionally Clever

Naomi Greenfield, Keith Zulawnik, and Ryan McNulty, three of our FableVisionaries attended the PAX East Boston gaming conference this past weekend, which was held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center just a few doors down from our studio! Not only did they get to see some incredible new games, apps, and innovative digital development, but Naomi Greenfield also spoke on a panel, addressing the controversy of introducing digital games to young children. Stay tuned for another blog post from Naomi, Keith, and Ryan on their experiences!

Jocelyn Goldfein, Facebook Engineer Explains Why It Matters There Aren't More Girl Geeks

According to Jocelyn Goldfein, not only are there not enough good software engineers in the U.S. but women are highly underrepresented in this field, representing only 20% of all computer science majors. To attempt to remedy this problem, Facebook has begun to target freshmen, promoting computer science courses at their universities. Above all, Jocelyn Goldfein firmly believes that social media have made women users of technology like never before, but there is a need for them to become leaders, not just consumers.

Weekly Click: April 2, 2012

Feature Article

How Apple Is Changing Kids' Brains

Children younger and younger are getting hooked on mobile technology, some of them as young as 2 years old! Apple has been marketing its products (namely, the iPad) as an effective and competitive learning tool for children and adolescents alike, but many experts worry about the effects on growing minds. Some studies show a strong positive correlation between media use and the emergence of ADHD, leading many to fear that children’s real world social skills are being permanently damaged by extended digital exposure. On the other hand, the job market in science and technology is growing fast, and many will argue that the more (and earlier) exposure to technology, the better.

There’s no doubt that Apple takes the lead in this market, largely in part due to the popularity of the iPad. Its widespread reach (from parents, to adolescents, to young children) only improves the appeal, providing entertainment and education for the entire family.

Not only are kids and parents embracing this technology, but educators are jumping on the bandwagon as well- many educators are depending upon the iPad to close the achievement gap. Teachers have used iPads to customize learning for each student, catering their lessons to each child’s individual needs. The argument over the advantages and disadvantages of increased screen time will continue, but technology is becoming ubiquitous, whether we like it or not.

'Life of George' Is an iPhone Game That Uses Legos

This new iPhone app is the first fully integrated digital-physical game from Lego that has you building in the real world to fill up a virtual scrapbook! Enter the app to see your next project assignment, then get building as fast as possible- it’s you against the clock!

Touch Gesture Reference Guide

Simple yet very informative basic reference guide for touch maneuvers on various mobile platforms. The descriptive icons can also be useful when wireframing or making specs for apps and games.

Is Online Social Networking Changing Your Brain?

As the Internet continues to infiltrate all aspects of our lives, humans have begun to drastically alter the way we socialize and interact with each other. Is it possible that online communication has also changed the way our brains function?

Digital-Only Kids' Brands Lag Established TV Rivals

The kids’ digital marketplace has been one of the fastest growing platforms, with new games and apps popping up daily. However, advertising in this space has been very slow to emerge- most advertisers are scared to younger audiences in the digital world where privacy rules have yet to be developed.