Children

Bluetooth boxing game knocks out passive screen time

Bluetooth boxing game knocks out passive screen time
Jabbi is a "friendly boxing game" designed to get kids off the couch
Jabbi is a "friendly boxing game" designed to get kids off the couch
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The spring-loaded telescopic Jabbi glove can extend up to 38 in (96.5 cm) when a punch is thrown
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The spring-loaded telescopic Jabbi glove can extend up to 38 in (96.5 cm) when a punch is thrown
Jabbi is a "friendly boxing game" designed to get kids off the couch
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Jabbi is a "friendly boxing game" designed to get kids off the couch
Jabbi is all about physical fisticuffs with electronic scoring
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Jabbi is all about physical fisticuffs with electronic scoring
The soft rubber heads and the wrestling-style helmets are designed to make sure Jabbi is safe to play
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The soft rubber heads and the wrestling-style helmets are designed to make sure Jabbi is safe to play
Jabbi's telescopic segments are designed to absorb as much of the power as possible, to soften the blow
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Jabbi's telescopic segments are designed to absorb as much of the power as possible, to soften the blow 
Two players seems to be what Jabbi was made for, but the developers have said a solo training mode might be added
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Two players seems to be what Jabbi was made for, but the developers have said a solo training mode might be added
The winner of each match will be decided by the data gathered by the sensors in each player's glove, and will count towards the in-app character's RPG-style progression
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The winner of each match will be decided by the data gathered by the sensors in each player's glove, and will count towards the in-app character's RPG-style progression
The Jabbi glove contains a 9-axis accelerometer to capture data about the player's punches, and transmit the information via Bluetooth to a connected smart device
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The Jabbi glove contains a 9-axis accelerometer to capture data about the player's punches, and transmit the information via Bluetooth to a connected smart device
The mobile game side of the Jabbi system allows players to progress their characters, and unlock new gear
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The mobile game side of the Jabbi system allows players to progress their characters, and unlock new gear
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Ask a parent about the challenges of raising children today, and the conversation will probably steer towards managing screen time. The question of how much is too much is still up for debate, but one Danish inventor has come up with a way to get his kids moving around again – by making them punch each other. Jabii pits kids against each other in a hybrid of virtual and real world combat, using padded extendable gloves connected via Bluetooth to an app that tracks hits and scores.

Video games that get players off their butts have been around since at least the days of the Nintendo Wii, but slight hand waves and pointing can still be done from the comfort of the couch. Jabii is about physical fisticuffs with electronic scoring, and just enough RPG-style progression to trick the kids into thinking they're playing a mobile game.

The "controller" takes the form of a spring loaded glove, which looks like something from the Wile E. Coyote design studio, and telescopes out to 38 in (96.5 cm) whenever a punch is thrown. The springs are designed to take the power out of the punch, and any remaining potential pain on impact is softened by the squishy rubber head. Since you can't be too careful in kid-to-kid combat, the system also includes wrestling-style helmets.

The Jabbi glove contains a 9-axis accelerometer to capture data about the player's punches, and transmit the information via Bluetooth to a connected smart device
The Jabbi glove contains a 9-axis accelerometer to capture data about the player's punches, and transmit the information via Bluetooth to a connected smart device

Embedded inside the rubber head of the glove is a nine-axis accelerometer, designed to capture data on the punches thrown, how fast they were going, the hit rate on the opponent and where players are standing. All that information is sent via Bluetooth to the connected Jabii app, where it's crunched to determine the winner. Cheering and verbal instructions will also be played through the user's phone or tablet.

Details on the mobile game side of things are still a little vague at the moment, but the Janii team says there will be character classes, unlockable gear, vanity items and players will level up their characters by fighting each other or through solo training sessions.

The mobile game side of the Jabbi system allows players to progress their characters, and unlock new gear
The mobile game side of the Jabbi system allows players to progress their characters, and unlock new gear

As safe as it's claimed to be, Jabii looks to be a pretty violent solution to the problem of getting kids up and away from the big TV screen and games console. And all the precautions in the world aren't going to do much to protect defenseless antique vases. With that in mind, Jabii is probably best played as an outdoor sport – and under pretty strict adult supervision.

The team is about to launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund Jabbi, with a goal of DKK 500,000 (USD$75,000). Pledges will start at DKK 458 ($69) for a single Jabii glove and helmet, or DKK 631 ($95) for a two-pack. If all goes to plan, the kids will be duking it out by July 2018.

Jabbi can be seen in action in the video below.

Source: Jabii

Jabii Promo Video

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2 comments
2 comments
Bob Flint
Violence promoting high tech toys, linked with the kids phones? They will definitely put something else on the ends of those cones...
Tanstar
"With that in mind, Jabii is probably best played as an outdoor sport – and under pretty strict adult supervision."
My (very happy) childhood would probably make the author faint. As I'm only 40, I'm sure other posters here had even more extreme play than I did.
Personally, my friends and I would still enjoy this toy :) Once it's MP I may pick up a set.