New reader, but quickly becoming a big fan! For Emily’s notes about the B-Book: my little brother (born in 2005) had two similar “laptop” style gaming devices, one branded with Batman and one branded with Marvel characters. He used them almost daily somewhere in that window between ‘10 and ‘13.
They had all the same features, “language learning” and math-based game programs, but no calculator function or dictionary.
Obviously the exterior/branding of each device was based on sexist marketing & design choices, but I think the functionality of these toys was simply of a lower caliber than electronic dictionaries across the board, even those that were much older. A fascinating comparison though!
S02 Episode 9: China Dreams of Electric Words
New reader, but quickly becoming a big fan! For Emily’s notes about the B-Book: my little brother (born in 2005) had two similar “laptop” style gaming devices, one branded with Batman and one branded with Marvel characters. He used them almost daily somewhere in that window between ‘10 and ‘13.
They had all the same features, “language learning” and math-based game programs, but no calculator function or dictionary.
Obviously the exterior/branding of each device was based on sexist marketing & design choices, but I think the functionality of these toys was simply of a lower caliber than electronic dictionaries across the board, even those that were much older. A fascinating comparison though!
There was this commercial catchphrase for one of 步步高's products：
"步步高点读机，哪里不会点哪里，妈妈再也不用担心我的学习!"
There was this joke that changed it to
步步高打火机，哪里不会烧哪里，妈妈再也不用担心我的学习!
When it comes to homework, there's a pyromaniac inside all of us :)