Digital Photography has arrived as a main stream product   -- for kids --   this year ( 1998 ).

Mattel's digital camera can be purchased for less than   $ 60.

The computer revolution has arrived.

Seven year old kids -- in large numbers -- are getting into digital imaging and digital image processing, though the toy company Mattel uses more kid-friendly language.

This represents a significant technical and societal milestone, and a considerable opportunity for educators.

		$ 60     ( cheap ) Resolution :   280 x 120 rebate available :   $15

The resolution of the camera is relatively low ( 280 x 120 ) but that's good enough for many purposes.

These are images of that resolution, taken with my own ( higher resolution ) digital camera.
		These fish are on my desktop, and while writing this page the big one demanded and got food.
	"Sam Donaldson, the Moehair Rancher" is on ( above ) my monitor and he is now a Java Analog Clock and his hands rotate, as you can see.   Some say he looks like "Woody the Cowboy" from the movie "A Toy Story".

Product Specifications :   The Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

• Resolution :   280 x 120
• Cost :   $ 60   "street price"
• Image storage :   6 Pictures
• Printing & Display :  Upload to your computer.
• View Finder :  Optical   ( no LCD video display )
• Technology :   Don't know ( CCD or CMOS ), I'm guess it must be CMOS, which is cheaper.
• Manufactured in :   China
• Flash :   none
• Other Features :   self timer for photographing yourself, software included on CD Rom.
• Lens :   Fixed Focus, don't know the minum range, the focal length or its 35 mm equivilent.
• Power source :   one 9 Volt battery, not included.
• Product Id (SKU) : 74299 20779
• You got a problem ?   Call Mattel :   1 888 628-8359   ( 1 888 MATTEL9 )

Things to do with a digital camera,   some are both fun and educational :

• Image Processing :   Improve under-exposed images and learn some math.
• Create a Rotating Photo Cube :   Place 6 pictures on a spinning cube, on a web page !
• Build a Snowman ( with your mouse ) :   Create artwork you can interact with !
• Build a Clock   and let your hands tell the time on a web page with Java.
• Create Animations :   Make your pictures move on your computer with Java applets.

Links :

• The Mattel Digital Camera ,   a technical aritcle from TechWeb.
• Digital Camera & Software product information from the manufacturer ( Mattel ) :  
     The Barbie   Photo Designer Digital Camera & CD (software)   pages.
• Buy it on-line at   E Toys,   or   F.A.O. Schwarz   but it may be more expensive than local stores.
• Toys R Us,   CompUSA   won't sell it to you on line !   Whats with that ? ? ?
• Kodak  has no comparble product   Why ?  ( a local company ).

Winner  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio   1999 Platinum Awards: Computer Products for Kids

Disclaimers :

I don't work for, or otherwise profit from Mattel or any of the other companies named here.

My interest is in computers, Java, and the internet and their educational and recreational uses.

I believe this product, at this price, is a signficant and important product and will change how we live and learn, and therefore is relevant and useful to educators, parents, kids, employers, merchants ... everyone.

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Last modified: 08/16/98 First Created: 08/10/98

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