Categories
Connected Objects Toys

Leka smart toy appeals to parents of developmentally-challenged kids

Not every toy can meet the unique needs of autistic and other special needs children.

Leka is a ball-like, robotic smart toy with a display that has been designed for kids with developmental challenges. The customizable toy is equipped with sensors that enable users to play fun and educational games that motivate social interactions, increase motor, cognitive, and emotional skills, and also stimulate autonomy. Leka can detect and respond to a child’s interaction through autonomous behavior.

For example, if Leka is mistreated and thrown on the ground, it appears to become sad and turns red. An interactive response like this aims to help users better understand social cues and improve their social skills.

Categories
Food and Beverage Kids/Babies

Sili Squeeze is just the container for when you’re feeling mushy

The Premise. Children or recovering medical patients tend to stick with smoother foods, like purees and sauces. The only problem with eating these is that they can be really messy and are definitely not portable. Food manufacturers offer foods that come in these pouches, but are always disposable. This can result in a solution that’s less ecologically friendly and offers less choice.

The Product. The Sili Squeeze is a silicone food pouch designed for smoother foods. The removable lid makes it easy to wash the pouch and dispense food into it. The spout has a cover on it to prevent messes. This product comes in several different colors and one other variation called the Sili Squeeze with Eeze which is a more free-flowing version.

The Pitch. For a relatively wet product, the campaign video is a little dry, but does go into some cool details about how the Sili Squeeze is (accidentally) great for medical patients and special needs children. The campaign also shows prototypes and pictures of some adorable kids using the products. Sili Squeeze is aiming to raise $25,000 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. The 2 oz. Sili Squeeze goes for an early price of $15. A 4 oz. version costs $19 and a 6 oz. only $20. Other tiers offer different combination packs of these pouches with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. Reward tiers go up to $100.

The Potential. The pouch is perhaps the least appreciated food receptacle. As mentioned in the campaign video, food manufacturers offer disposable pouches, but these can be quite expensive. Similar products, like the Squooshi Reusable Food Pouch offer food pouches in the same way, but are geared only towards children and customer reviews show that they’re hard to clean. The Sili Squeeze offers a unique and portable way to eat pureed foods over and over again. Its added benefit of accessibility to toddlers, hospital patients and special needs children makes it all the more versatile.