Toys, Games, And Media

This book is a state-of-the-art look at where toys have come from and where they are likely to go in the years ahead. The focus is on the interplay between traditional toys and play, and toys and play that are mediated by or combined with digital technology. As well as covering the technical aspects of computer mediated play activities, the authors consider how technologically enhanced toys are currently used in traditional play and how they are woven into childrens' lives. The authors contrast their findings about technologically enhanced toys with knowledge of traditional toys and play. They link their studies of toys to goals in education and to entertainment and information transfer. This book will appeal to students, researchers, teachers, child care workers and more broadly the entertainment 'industry'. It may be appropriate for courses that deal with the specialized subject of toys and games but many courses in Media studies, Education and Teacher Training, and Child Development will inevitably have a component to cover this topic. There is considerable scope for the growth of interest in computer games used by children as these games become more readily available and less expensive.

Contents: G. Brougere, D. Buckingham, J. Goldstein, Introduction: Toys, Games, and Media. Part I:Toy Culture. A. Powers, The Revival of the English Toy Theatre. G. Wegener-Spohring, War Toys in the World of Fourth Graders. W. Hartmann, G. Brougere, Toy Culture in Preschool Education and Children's Toy Preferences. C.R. Yano, Kitty Litter: Japanese Cute at Home and Abroad. E. Grugeon, From Pokemon to Potter: Trainee Teachers Explore Children's Media-Related Play, 2000-2003. Part II:Children and Digital Media. E. Seiter, The Internet Playground. M. Albero-Andres, The Internet and Adolescents: The Present and Future of the Information Society. S. Kline, Learners, Spectators, or Gamers? An Investigation of Digital Play in the Media Saturated Household. J. Linderoth, B. Lindstrom, M. Alexandersson, Learning With Computer Games. Part III:How Technology Influences Play. M. Allen, Tangible Interfaces in 'Smart Toys'. D. Bergen, Preschool Children's Play With Rescue Heroes: Effects of Technology-Enhanced Figures on the Themes of Play. L. Plowman, R. Luckin, Children's Interaction with 'Smart' Toys. M. Fabregat, M. Costa, M. Romero, Adaptation of Traditional Toys and Games to New Technologies: New Products Generation.