Hi lovelies! And hello new-to-the-site friends! It’s friday and I’m on the Today Show with my gal pal Hoda Kotb and my new friend Billy Bush… talking about back to school tech— gadgets and apps that will help your kids hit the books this school year!
Here’s a quick list of what we’re running down in the 10 o’clock hour. If you’re hitting the site earlier than that, stay home from work and tune in to watch instead! (And then go to work, I guess… I’m not the best influence.)
Update: Here’s a video clip of the segment!
Okay, on to back to school tech!
seedling design your own marble maze
Seedling’s Design Your Own Marble Maze ($59) lets kids have a taste of physical game building and virtual game development. The cardboard VR viewer kits are sold separately.
wacom bamboo slate
Wacom’s Bamboo Slate ($129) is the perfect mix of paper and digital— write on a paper pad with a special ink pen and your notes will magically turn digital in real time and be transferred to an app on your phone. You can then share, store and convert them to text.
sony noise cancelling headphones
Sony’s noise cancelling headphones are just what the distractable kid needs to get his homework done, and the price is kid-friendly too— just $45 (most noise cancelling models are in the $100s).
lg gizmopal 2
LG’s GizmoPal 2 is for parents who want to stay in touch with their kids during the day, but dont’ want to hand them a smartphone. The kid-proof, water-resistant watch allows for 2-way calls with up to 4 contacts, and GPS location, so you have a little extra peace of mind during the school day.
wearsafe
Wearsafe is a wearable for older high schoolers or college kids who want a way to let friends know if they’re in trouble. Clip a discrete button to your clothes or bag. When it’s pushed, a network of friends are notified of your location, and can hear audio so they can act if you’re in distress. A smart and timely idea.
epic!
Epic! is like the Netflix of children’s books: 15,000 titles are recommended to your kids based on their age, reading level and interests, and cute badges motivate them to keep reading.
studyblue
StudyBlue is like digital flash cards that will help kids crush their next quiz. Enter all your questions and answers into the app, then set it to create randomized tests— with multiple choice, fill in the blank, and true or false options. Then watch your progress improve over time. It will feel more like game play than studying.
