Since 2010, the Boogie Board eWriter range has provided youthful imaginations with modern-day notepads for their digital doodles and sketches. Improvements since have seen the addition of onboard storage and stylish new designs, but the latest addition to the lineup may be its biggest leap yet. The Boogie Board Play n' Trace features a translucent LCD screen, meaning that further to regular drawings, kids (or expressive adults) can trace the two and three dimensional objects they see around them.
The Play n' Trace takes on a circular form, in a departure to its rectangular predecessors. The LCD writing surface measures 8.6 in across and is flanked by a purpose-built handle that mimics an artist's palette to make the device easier to handle.
Just like the earlier versions, the Play n' Trace is billed as a fun, environmentally-friendly alternative to wasted sheets of paper. Users can write or draw on the screen with an included twin tip stylus or their fingernail and when they're done, hit the erase button to start over. Just like a more responsive Etch-a-Sketch.
By making the screen translucent, the idea is to allow for improved learning and development of motor skills. To this end, Boogie Board has built a companion iPad app that incorporates lessons that seek to make the most of the see-through display. The topics covered include directions, numbers, colors and shapes.
Unlike some of the earlier versions which were powerless, the latest version uses two AAA batteries, though these are said to last for up to five years. The Boogie Board Play n' Trace is available from today with prices starting at US$30.
Source: Boogie Board