Generation Z Disruptive Innovation

Generation Z Disruptive Innovation
June 1, 2015
Kids are growing up with a digital footprint
before they even leave the womb.
As Millennials begin to step into parenthood, Gen-Z is beginning to draft up their first college essays
and earn their first paychecks. The brands and businesses who learn to engage them now are going to
be tomorrow’s winners. But you already know that.
Gen-Z has never known a world without the touchscreen (and all of the educational, playful and
expressive opportunities found therein). Their social networks look different than ours–it’s
the immersive, constructive games they play and the messaging chat apps that allow them to
artfully communicate.
It’s Snapchat, Steam and Line, not Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr.
This document contains 106 products forming the
backbone of how Gen Z live, work and play.
Understanding this now, and continuously examining this landscape, frequently gives us a foundation to
predict new “Z” behaviors and engineer experiences for them that stick.
To be interesting to Gen Z you must first and foremost, be there for them on-demand and ever present.
This one feature, (known as a premium to Gen X and even some Millennials), is a forgone conclusion in the
world of Z. They have (and have always have had) unprecedented access to information and enrichment.
And that access is only becoming greater.
The following pages are an information blast of products that have inspired us, by clearly delivering on
and supplementing these demands.
The question is – will you?
© Makeable 2015
Making your Second-Screen,
your game encompassing
Only-Screen.
Have you ever wanted to watch your favorite
shows, while playing your favorite games,
based on those shows? Well now, if you live in
Australia, you can. Cartoon Network’s Watch
& Play app allows you to sync Cartoon
Network games right alongside your favorite
Cartoon Network shows.
Learn more: Cartoon Network Anything
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Step into your TV.
Abby’s Fairy Rock expands the world of TV
from the wall to your lap with this interactive
second screen companion. Learn and play
guitar with Abby's band and watch her fly
from the big screen to the one in your hand.
Do more than watch TV, be a part of it in this
amazing augmented reality screen merging
app. It made a huge splash at CES 2013 and
we’re looking forward to the next generation
of immersive TV experiences.
Learn more: twomoos.com
© Makeable 2015
There’s goblins and games
hidden all around you.
Hidden Park is the awesome augmented
reality game that gets your kids off the couch
and outdoors chasing down clues to unlock
adventures. Let the iOS app guide your kids on
mini geotagged missions in your local park
where taking photos, and memorializing the
experience is part of the game. While the app
isn’t new, it’s an excellent storytelling platform
bridging kid’s physical and digital behaviors.
Learn more: thehiddenpark.com
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
Finally, a way to build and
collect your own robots.
Let your imagination come to life within the
immensely creative Robot Factory. Build your
bots from the numerous custom features, then
let it run, roll, hop or tumble as you take it for a
test run. Kids can spend hours experimenting
with and sharing different robot combinations
and functions.
Learn more: tinybop.com
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
The virtual world taking over
every kid's life, and a little bit
of ours.
Minecraft is not only Gen-z’s hottest game,
but it's also their hottest social hang-out-spot.
In Minecraft, the possibilities are endless;
explore your favorite cities built to scale, ride
a rollercoaster, or play paintball and capture
the flag. The possibilities are growing
exponentially, and we’re on the edge of our
seats to see what will happen next.
Our advice, if you have time to kill, is just dig
around youtube. If you still aren’t convinced,
the next few slides of our favorite Minecraft
innovations should do it.
Learn more: minecraft.net
© Makeable 2015
Build it, explore it, and teach it
in a virtual classroom.
Minecraft is full of hidden gems, and it's not all
booby traps and giant recreations of mythical
worlds like you may have heard. Some people
are building educational experiences with the
platform that help players explore actualized
structures in a fun and new comprehensive
format. Walk through a human body or
explore the inner workings of an engine. You
can even find a personal tour guide on
Youtube.
Watch: Take a trip through the human body
© Makeable 2015
It’s really a virtual world when
countries begin colonizing.
Denmark recently built a 1-to-1 model of its
own country in Minecraft. The purpose was to
educate users and allow them to explore, even
build a house and move in. That is, unless the
whole city gets vandalized first. Some
Minecraft pranksters snuck in and blew it up
with TNT subsequently placing American flags
throughout. Aside from the controversial act
of virtual vandalism, the fact that Denmark
accomplished such a feat is an exceptional
tribute to the versatility of the creative
platform.
Watch: Take a tour of Denmark in Minecraft
© Makeable 2015
When you build a wall,
someone is going to figure out
how to tag it.
Graffiti has officially entered the world of
Minecraft in the form of a mod that allows
users to spray blocks different colors. Adjust
the brush and leave your mark on your
favorite brick wall. We wonder how much the
Banksy Minecraft wall will go for.
Watch: Digital graffiti in action
© Makeable 2015
Now you can visit Disney’s
Magic Kingdom from the
comfort of your couch.
The Magic Kingdom has opened its digital
doors. A family of servers host a recreation of
the world famous Disney theme park built at a
1-to-1 scale of the original. It’s downloadable,
explorable, and playable. Within the expansive
volunteer run creation, you will find nightly
fireworks, shows, events, games and more.
The expansive nature of the MCMagic servers
are a true reflection of Disney’s empire.
Learn more: mcmagic.us.
Watch: Take a virtual tour of the Magic Kingdom
© Makeable 2015
Skip the lines, cold hot dogs
and lost hats. Minecraft has
roller coasters you can ride for
free.
These Minecraft coasters offer something
different from the twisty vomit inducers you’
re used to. Each unique masterpiece of art and
engineering will take you dipping-n-diving
through an elaborate visual journey. Words
cannot describe the brick-by-brick attention
to detail it takes to create these experiences.
Watch: The Night Rail Before Christmas
© Makeable 2015
You would think, in a virtual
Lego-like world, building
things by hand would be the
fun part.
Well, it is, even if you’re building and
programming a giant virtual 3D printer that
can make everything for you. The complexities
of the processes that run this virtual machine
are outstanding in-and-of itself. It takes a
binary genius to engineer something as
complex as this out of blocks.
Watch: 3D Printer With 16 Colors (Minecraft Invention)
© Makeable 2015
On the internet, pranks are
inherent. But the “Rickrolling”
world we once knew is gone.
In a game with little-to-no rules, and
exhaustive creative options, the pranks are
amazing. From drowing users hard earned
houses to boobie traps, Minecraft is a world
laden with prank wars.
Watch: Creative pranks in Minecraft
© Makeable 2015
Have you ever been playing a
game, just wishing you could
conjure that magical tool you
need to beat a level?
Typically you’re stuck with the boring tools
the game provides you, we’ve been there,
except when we’re playing Scribblenauts. It’s
the fun little game that lets you unleash your
imagination, type and conjure almost anything
to overcome the level at hand. Will a
firebreathing-unicorn-pegasus get the job
done? Type it in and try it out. It’s that easy,
and that awesome.
Learn more: scribblenauts.com
© Makeable 2015
Here’s another reason to shout
over your friends at the bar.
Headsup is the mobile game sweeping friends
and families across the nation. It’s the fun
crossover game of hot potato and
Scattergories. Hold the phone to your head
and guess the object you’re holding up as your
friends describe it aloud. But don’t get caught
with the phone when your timer runs out. We’
ve seen many thrown phones in our
experiences with this game, so make sure you
have a good case.
Learn more: ellentv.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
You know all those in-between
moments in traditional RPG’s…
...when you’re fishing between dragon hunting
or getting clothes for your character after
killing some zombies? Well, Animal Crossing is
an entire game made up of those moments
combined with an aspiration to collect, only
comparable to a 12 year old on “Free Magic
The Gathering Card Pack Day.” Spend your
days farming, selling for profit, trading,
decorating your house or collecting for your
museum. It’s extremely addicting and kids love
it.
Learn more: animal-crossing.com
© Makeable 2015
Who knew something so
hideous could sound so good?
In this extremely creative economy simulation
game, you can build a sustainable village of
monsters, that sing. Each monster makes a
unique noise, but together, it’s a symphony.
Make money, hire new monsters and
customize your song. Grow, breed and collect
tons of fun creatures to make your own unique
orchestra.
Learn more: mysingingmonsters.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
It’s all around you. Outside
your window, on your way to
work, at your mom’s house…
everywhere.
Ingress is the augmented reality game that
you’re always playing. Identify geotagged
portals, capture them and solve puzzles
created by the other team. It’s essentially a
giant AR game of capture the flag, played all
over the world.
Learn more: ingress.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
The 8 second game you could
play for hours. Always fresh,
never tiered games, videos and
more.
There’s not much else to say for CN Anything,
but it’s always changing and you never know
what you’re going to get next. The game cycles
through 8 second mini challenges, or
sometimes it’s just a clip from one of their
shows. Whether you like it or not, it’s perfectly
designed for the bite sized content this
generation craves. It’s a perfect commercial
break app if you ask us.
Learn more: cartoonnetwork.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Welcome to Snapchat’s official
expedition into taking over TV
and the disruption of cable as
you know it.
Snapchat recently unveiled two serialized
series: one by their studio, and one by AT&T.
Without discussing the extremely poor writing
of the show, let’s talk about how this is
actually one space where the future of
scripted and unscripted TV will live. With the
attention span of future generations dropping,
and Snapchat processing over 100 million
monthly active users, short, ephemeral,
limited edition video, is exactly what they
need.
Learn more: snapchat.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Chat has just been project
manager-ed.
Slack is the chat network taking over
companies everywhere. It’s an amazing way to
organize team conversations by project or
task, send files through, or simply connect and
collaborate with a client or partner. Investors
are banging down their door and we wouldn't
be surprised if we saw a more social, less
professional network come from their lab in
the future.
Learn more: slack.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Maybe, chat should have just
been a doorbell this whole
time.
Dingbell recently launched along with the
Apple Watch to be a minimalist chat network.
It’s as simple as one “ding” for a positive
response, two “dings” for a negative response.
In a world heading towards easily accessible
buttons on our wrists, it’s easy to imagine how
this could take the place of follow up texts like:
“Did you get home okay” or “Are you there?”
Learn more: dingbel.com
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
Here’s the product that’s
pissing off PPV TV, and
redefining what it means to
share an experience.
It used to be, sharing an event meant either
attending with a friend, or telling them about it
after. Even virtual experience sharing had a
time delay through existing platforms. Now
sharing experiences can be done in real time,
and it’s raw and uncut with Periscope; it’s the
most authentic real-time experience sharing
network that has ever existed.
Learn more: periscope.tv
Try it: Android
© Makeable 2015
The ephemeral media network
taking the world by story.
Follow friends, brands and influencers as they
unleash 24-hour stories of raw, unedited
glimpses into their most personal moments. It’
s amazing how the ephemeral nature of
Snapchat makes people feel more comfortable
sharing their unedited and personal stories. It’
s like a stream of everything that wasn't quite
good enough for Instagram.
Learn more: snapchat.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
The messaging app turned
commodity.
The app that began with fun and creative
emoji-like characters has become such a
phenomena that it’s expanded into a suite of
apps, shows, physical toys, and brand
partnerships. It’s a collectible culture filled
with limited edition and premium characters.
But that’s not all–the expansive selection of
emojis is easily accessible at your fingertips
with an autocorrect-esque suggestion UI that
we wish Apple would incorporate into
Messages.
Learn more: line.me
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
It’s starting to look like one
day, we might just ditch our
phone numbers.
We have to hand it to Facebook on this one.
They recognize that Timeline might not be
timeless and the future of social networking is
in messaging. They’re in the infancy of taking it
one step beyond Line by allowing a variety of
creative apps to be used as messaging content
through their platform. Genius Facebook,
just… genius.
Learn more: messenger.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Emojify yourself.
Create surprisingly accurate cartoons of
yourself, add captions and make comics with
your friends. But that’s not all, take your
character and create a unique set of emotive
iterations you can use in Facebook’s
Messenger app. It’s yourself as emoji.
Learn more: bitmoji.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
The little yellow genderneutral face that started…
words without letters.
Words are used to define emotions and
expressions are how we convey them. When it
became a keyboard, it was the most fun way
tell someone how you felt. In 5,000 more
years, scientists will be attempting to decipher
encrypted digital hieroglyphic-esque
conversations filled with yellow characters to
understand the complex nature of
Generation-Z.
Learn more: getemoji.com
© Makeable 2015
It’s just like passing notes in
class… but without killing
trees.
Sometimes, not everything can be put into
words or emojis. Those times call for Sketchat;
the app that lets you draw on a piece of digital
paper and slide it down the aisle to your
friends. Play games, collaborate, chat, or just
send a clever illustration. We think it’s cute,
and if Facebook Messenger hasn’t already
thought to add it to their platform, they
should.
Learn more: sketch.at
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
It was only a matter of time
before the conversation
around movies, became more
important than the movie
itself.
That’s what happened in select Chinese movie
theaters. They finally stopped fighting the
whole “turn off devices” issue and decided to
embrace it by allowing people’s text
conversations to show up on screen. It was a
huge success and they are intend to expand
the Bullet Screens.
Learn more: Bullet screen
© Makeable 2015
It’s more than just playing a
game… it’s hosting it too.
Gaming has already trumped TV in media
consumption, especially now that gaming is
passive entertainment as well. Twitch is the
streaming network for gamers. Over 45
million users stream their live games through
Twitch, so there’s always something on and to
no ones surprise, it has created a new breed of
celebrity–the game host.
Learn more: twitch.tv
© Makeable 2015
Teen style icon, DIY Youtuber
and teen star of the year,
Zoella is the sensation
sweeping the Internet.
Her infectious personality shines through her
DIY, hair and makeup tutorials and other
creative videos to the extent of 8 million plus
subscribers.
Learn more: zoella.co.uk
© Makeable 2015
Meet the unofficial official
host of Minecraft.
With almost 6 million subscribers to his
Youtube channel, Stampy entertains his
viewers by exploring the vast world of video
games. His personality shines through his
spirited dictations as he uncovers traps,
structures and servers from the deepest
corners of the platform. It’s a real treat to run
into Stampy, you never know when you, or
something you built might end up on his
channel and be seen by millions.
Watch: “Stampy” Youtube Channel
© Makeable 2015
Top Chef, from the kids-table
to the White House.
Founder of the Kids Can Cook show, TED Talk
host, and being a guest speaker/chef on almost
every major cooking network are only a few of
the many accomplishments 12 year old Haile
Thomas has accrued lately. She gained an
interest in cooking at the age of 5 and has
been hard at work since, spreading her
knowledge of healthy eating to kids
everywhere. She’s even been invited to the
White House (several times) and helped the
Hyatt figure out their kids menu.
Learn more: hailevthomas.com.
© Makeable 2015
All any kid has ever wanted
was to be on TV.
If you were a TV network, think about how you
would reach every kid if you were to treat
them each as their own unique market
segment. They would need their own
commercial, right? Well, that’s what CN Sayin’
is. It allows every kid a chance to express their
creativity on one of Cartoon Network’s
between-show bumps. It’s your time to shine!
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
From the hallway to the
runway, she’s got major
fashion labels offering her gigs
at the age of 4.
It started when a mother made a blog to
showcase the mock red carpet dresses her
daughter made out of paper. Soon enough, the
blog built up steam and big brands like J.Crew
were knocking on her figurative door to design
a children’s collection. If she doesn’t have her
own line in the next few years, our jaws will be
on the floor.
Learn more: fashionbymayhem.com
© Makeable 2015
The TV network born on
Youtube.
It’s the aggregate channel for some of the
internet’s best Youtube talent. From scripted
to non scripted shows, it’s literally for kids by
kids. They continue to discover new talent and
are bringing it from your desk to your living
room. It’s even on services like Roku. Watch
out Netflix, Hulu, HBO, etc. AwesomenessTV
is stepping up to plate.
Watch: AwesomenessTV
© Makeable 2015
The app captivating even the
shortest of attention spans.
Vine’s bite size videos are perfect for the
short, snackable content kids demand. It’s
great for car rides, commercial breaks or even
some friends gathered around the iPad. It
allows anyone to be a creator, and has
spawned a new network of celebrities. Vine
kids gives the younger Gen Zs the opportunity
(and parental peace of mind) to view all the fun
COPPA compliant content currently on the
network.
Learn more: Vine and Vine Kids.
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
It’s giving the term “movie
magic” a new leg to stand on.
Select a couple photos and videos, a movie
style and song, and sit back and wait. What will
soon come to you in the form of a push
notification is a beautifully edited video
montage of the clips you selected. Yup, now do
it again, and again, and again...
Learn more: magisto.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Hit the action button in your
boring life.
Make any scene explosively awesome with the
Action Movie FX app. It’s as easy as selecting
an effect (or disaster), recording a video and
watching that video become annihilated. Any
kid (and even us as “adults”) could easily have
a blast with this easy actionify button.
Learn more: actionmoviefx.com
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
Don’t eat anything from Oscar’
s trash can… well maybe a few
things.
Cartoon characters and puppets are
celebrities too. So why not give them a life
outside of the scripted shows they originated
from. It’s a great way to build on the character’
s personalities and engage kids outside of TV.
Kid’s eyeballs are shifting screens more and
more each year, we wouldn't be surprised if
we didn’t see more characters expanding out
of their shows into new media platforms.
Learn more: sesamestreet.org
© Makeable 2015
The eyedropper tool for the
real world.
This seemingly magical pen enables you to
scan any object, of any color, and draw in that
color on any surface, instantly. Bonus: it saves
the hex code and doubles as a stylus. No
kidding.
Learn more: getscribblepen.com
© Makeable 2015
Redesigning breakfast with
pixels.
We all know kids love to play with their food.
We still make make gears with pancake batter
for breakfast every morning. So naturally,
these two creative breakfast devices will be a
hit. Pop pixels in a waffle maker and make
edible pixel art, or if you’re a little more
advanced, render a pancake image for this
pancake printer. Syrup sold separately.
Neither product is in production yet, but we’ll
be very disappointed if they don't pop up
sooner or later.
Learn more: Pixel Waffle Maker and Pancakebot
© Makeable 2015
A suite of videos, books and
games, starring YOU.
From the dream of a couple of dads seeking a
safe digital platform for their kids to play and
learn on, Storybots was born. It takes your
face and makes it the main character of all the
activities. It’s fun, even for adults.
Learn more: storybots.com
© Makeable 2015
Full bleed clothing, from
camera roll to closet.
We can see how this simple app could take off.
Full bleed clothing is popular. So why not make
a shirt from your favorite memory, or maybe
your favorite hamburger. Whatever image you
use, its fun, simple and unique–pretty much
the recipe for success. There was recently a
newer version of the same concept called Yo
Shirt, check them both out.
Learn more: Snapshirt and YoShirt.
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
Lip sync battle with your
friends, through messenger.
Everyone from Taylor Swift to our parents are
doing it. Dubsmash is the fun new app (and
Messenger plugin) that allows you to use your
front facing camera to record yourself lip-sync
singing your favorite songs. Things can get real
goofy, and it’s taking off. Just search
#Dubsmash on Instagram. We just wish they’d
integrate it with Snapchat.
Learn more: dubsmash.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
So strange, so entertaining.
The latest self animation craze
has hit the internet.
Recently we saw a lot of our friends end up on
a stripper pole in videos on the internet. And
the weird thing is, the job market is fine. It was
animated versions of themselves through the
My Idol app appearing on Instagram. Take a
selfie, and watch your dance skills come to life
in your animated likeness.
Learn more: myidolapp.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Animate your own creations
directly into the magical world
of Disney.
Draw your character and watch it come to life
right beside Mickey, in his world. Allowing kids
to participate in the shows they watch is one
of the most innovative ways to engage them
that we have seen in a while. We can’t wait
until this gets more expansive.
Learn more: disneyimagicademy.com
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
The karaoke meets guitar hero
social network.
In Smule you can start a cover band with
anyone, anywhere, anytime. Pick the
instrument you want to play, and play along
with other real people. Over time, you build a
rating, unlock new songs and even gain
followers. It’s fun, addicting and social. It’s
every kids dream.
Learn more: smule.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Animate cartoons, live.
Adobe’s character animator is an amazing way
to bring your photoshop characters to life with
your webcam. It analyzes your facial
movements and records your voice through
the character you're animating. Endless fun
for any Adobe-savvy artist (which is a
significant percentage of kids these days).
Learn more: blogs.adobe.com
© Makeable 2015
A totally customizable app for
a totally customizable snack.
Lunchables launched these two apps to really
allow kids to express their creativity either
visually or acoustically. They are both
incredibly simple, easy to use and provide a
fun and unique sort of remixed version of
yourself. Mix up your voice, or your face with
K-Face and Kabeat Kabox.
Learn more: kids.lunchables.com
Try Kabeat Kabox: Android and iOS
Try K-Face: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Mashup the Internet.
Trio is the fun mixer app that allows you to
mash up text, gifs, video, sound and images to
create a small shareable video. Creating
personalized content to share is practically
currency among Gen-z, so this is pretty much a
brick of gold.
Learn more: trioapp.co
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
Create and stream custom
videos with this COPPA
certified video platform for
DIY creatives.
The cool part about viddiverse (aside from
being totally kid friendly) is the tools it gives
you to customize your videos with effects. It’s
essentially an online video streaming and
editing platform in one.
Learn more: viddiverse.com
© Makeable 2015
A genius repurposing of your
iPad camera.
This innovative application uses a mirror to
redirect your iPad camera to the table so you
can interact with the app using physical
objects. The games allow kids to learn and play
through a fun and collaborative physicalmeets-digital interface. Its so simple, and so
smart.
Learn more: playosmo.com
© Makeable 2015
Build against the clock and
chalk up points in this creative
lego physical-digital platform.
Unfortunately, this platform is no longer
available for download (most likely due to
Lego’s evolving suite in the physical-digital
world), but this game was a fantastic way to
put your lego engineering skills to the test.
Compete in challenges, build your project and
scan it into the app to earn points.
Learn more: george.lego.com
© Makeable 2015
The race is physical and the
battle is virtual.
These complex racing robots are powered by a
digital world of superchargers and laser
cannons–all controlled via your phone. These
cars may automatically steer themselves
around the track, but you control the speed,
lane and most importantly, the weapons you
use.
Learn more: anki.com
© Makeable 2015
A reactive smart bulb
expanding your shows beyond
the TV.
Remember when the Syfy Channel built an app
that synced your Hue bulbs with certain shows
on your TV? Huey does that with anything you
watch. Sync your Hue bulbs, point your phone
at the TV and watch your whole room come to
life.
Try it: Android
© Makeable 2015
The ball that’s a game.
This amazing remote control ball integrates
with a seemingly endless amount of apps. Our
favorite apps on the platform are the AR
integrated games where the ball becomes the
character you control.
Learn more: gosphero.com
© Makeable 2015
The RPG that plays itself.
Set your alarm clock and let your player get
some rest. Check on him throughout the day,
at any time he could be defeating monsters,
socializing with robots or just walking around.
The more he does, the higher level he gets. All
you have to do is let him sleep an appropriate
amount of time and he does the rest. As a
generation that’s always connected, they are
always playing to.
Learn more: dreeps.net
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
Draw your game, beyond the
Adventure Time world.
This mobile game comes with some incredibly
creative, customizable features. One of the
best ones is the ability to draw your own level
on paper, scan it in and play it. It truly allows
kids to use Cartoon Network as a channel to
express their creativity, and that’s a step in the
right direction.
Learn more: atgamewiz.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
The conditional logic for your
smartphone, packaged for the
everyday user.
This packages scripts to seamlessly connect all
of your tech with if-then statements, either
automatically or through the push of a button.
This seemingly magic app has opened its
platform up to developers to submit and
search recipes making the possibilities for
non-developers virtually endless.
Learn more: ifttt.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Bringing Legos to life through
your gaming console.
Lego Dimensions is Lego’s latest foray into the
toy-to-life market. It’s expansive system of
legos connect to the game allowing you to play
as whatever character you want, when you
want. It’s the latest product up against
Skylanders, Disney Infinity, and Nintendo’s
Amiibo. It’s a great new market blurring the
lines between the physical and digital
playspace.
Learn more: lego.com
© Makeable 2015
Mix and match toy characters
to unlock unique abilities in a
virtual world.
These Lego-compatible brick characters have
interchangeable body parts and accessories
that, when scanned into the game, give them
unique powers in play. We love that they are
compatible with Lego sets, as it gives kids the
opportunity to truly take the SickBricks
experience wherever they want.
Learn more: sickbricks.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
How to bring your iPad to the
playground and make it active.
Clip this motion sensor onto any standard
playground equipment and watch it transform
into a digital game on your iPad. The physical
play controls how the digital game is
navigated. Let’s just hope no one drops their
iPad.
Learn more: hybridplay.com
© Makeable 2015
Bring your imagination to life
adding real sound effects to
playtime.
This amazing wearable acts as a sound effects
device triggered by your movement. It’s as
easy as setting the sound on your app, and
you're off to play rockstar, secret agents or
whatever you or your kid can dream.
Learn more: moff.mobi
© Makeable 2015
The Star Trek-like
communicator for kids and
parents.
This awesome communicator lets parents stay
connected with their kids, and kids stay
connected with friends, wherever they are.
The nifty parental control UI is what won us
over, and we think it offers some great insight
into how technology can help parents monitor
their kids digital activities.
Learn more: heycubi.com
© Makeable 2015
The invisible leash for your
kids.
The guardian is essentially a tracker that lets
you monitor your kids at all times and set
perimeters that alert you when they are
breached. It just goes to show, even helicopter
parents are tech savvy.
Learn more: beluvv.com
© Makeable 2015
The wearable kid’s
smartphone.
FiLip gives kids most of the functions a phone
would allow; calling, texting and time. It also
comes with built-in parental controls. It’s
another example of the trend of parents
wanting to control their kid’s technology
connections through wearables.
Learn more: myfilip.com
© Makeable 2015
The activity-fed Tamagotchi.
Miiya is an activity tracker designed like a
game to keep kids active. At the end of the day
parents can monitor their kids activity, and
kids are motivated to stay healthy. We’re glad
to see some companies using technology to
battle the childhood obesity epidemic instead
of feeding it.
Learn more: mymiiya.com
© Makeable 2015
Who said your phone’s games
need to be limited to your
phone’s screen?
This game links with your Chromecast device
to build a Wii-like experience using your
phone as a wand. The accelerometer in your
phone has many uses, and in our opinion, it's
often under utilized.
Learn more: motiontennis.tv
Try it: Android
© Makeable 2015
The coolness of coding real
apps fueled by getting
presents in the mail.
It’s your kid’s monthly box of code! We know
kids have a short attention span, and can tire
easily. The answer? Each month there’s a new
coding activity to keep them interested. Kid’s
are growing up with coding as a new language
and a new interest. It’s only natural we figure
out a way to fuel that interest, and our future
programmers.
Learn more: bitsbox.com
© Makeable 2015
Bringing coding and game
development to the real world.
Recess just got a whole lot more tech savvy.
This ball comes equipped with color changing
LED’s and an accelerometer to program games
through if-then statements. Kids can stay
active and social while also being able to apply
their creativity to learning new tech skills.
Learn more: hackaball.com
© Makeable 2015
Learn to program and code, off
screen.
Sounds like an oxymoron? It’s not, and it’s a
great way for families to play together, while
teaching kids basic programming
fundamentals.
Learn more: robotturtles.com
© Makeable 2015
Program Robbie the robot to
help him get home.
Help Robbie navigate each level by writing
code telling him what to do. Having access to
robotic hardware can be difficult for some
kids, but this is a great gaming based solution
to help any kid learn to program on any budget
(as long as there’s access to an iPad).
Learn more: robotschoolapp.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Tiny, affordable,
programmable and
customizable robots for
everyone.
Cost shouldn't be anyone’s barrier to
accessible technology. Edison isn’t just
affordable, it's compatible with Lego parts. So
if you can think it, you can built it, and program
it too.
Learn more: meetedison.com
© Makeable 2015
Transforming ideas into
robots.
Makeblock offers extensive kits to build
almost any machine. The best part is, it’s all
affordable and completely customizable. The
possibilities are almost limitless with the
extent of hardware offerings in their store.
Learn more: makeblock.cc
© Makeable 2015
Kickstarter for Lego sets.
Brickstarter?
Who better to inspire the next Lego sets than
the Lego builders themselves. If you have a
great idea for the next Lego set, go over to
their site, get 10,000 backers and it might just
get made.
Learn more: ideas.lego.com
© Makeable 2015
The Lego of circuit boards.
These little miniature circuit boards, sensors
and various electronic pieces clip together like
magnets so you can build all sorts of fun
contraptions. They even sell a set to build a
synthesizer. Their platform integrates with
IFTTT and their instructions are easy to follow.
It’s a great way to learn about building and
programming hardware.
Learn more: littlebits.cc
© Makeable 2015
Coding with color.
These little programmable robots are
operated by a color based coding language to
teach deductive reasoning and robotic
behavior in an easy to understand interface.
They work with iPad games and even paper, as
long as there’s color patterns for the sensor to
pick up.
Learn more: littlebits.cc
© Makeable 2015
Learn to build electronics
while playing every kids
favorite game–Minecraft.
Navigate a custom Minecraft adventure map
as a buggy robot, by building hardware pieces
from mission control. The game gives you
feedback to unlock new abilities and power
ups as you successfully build your way through
the game.
Learn more: withpiper.com
© Makeable 2015
The open API that made
coding fun and easy.
Invented by google, reinterpreted by MIT,
Blockly is the innovative way to teach kids to
code. Code is visualized as blocks to stack and
program actions in anything from games to
robots.
Learn more: code.google.com/p/blockly
© Makeable 2015
Programmable robots driven
by Blockly.
Strapped with sensors, fun interactive lights,
and somehow, a personality, these robots are
the fun way for kids to program games,
interactions and endless fun. Take it from us,
this is the most fun way to turn your kids into
programming geniuses.
Learn more: makewonder.com
© Makeable 2015
The inception of circuit board
art.
We’re going to make the best Hallmark cards
ever with this circuit board creating pen filled
with conductible ink. Using circuit scribe you
can make your circuits look however you
want. Connect devices and batteries and
watch it come to life.
Learn more: circuitscribe.com
© Makeable 2015
Highly conductive arts and
crafts.
These circuit board stickers are a great way to
teach kids about electronics through arts and
crafts. Stick them together and make a paper
crown that lights up, or just an awesome
birthday card for mom. Either way, there’s no
denying the creative ways kids are using
electronics today.
Learn more: chibitronics.com
© Makeable 2015
Playing “don’t touch the lava”
just got real.
This interactive projector allows kids to
customize and play games on any surface. The
projection reacts to your motion for a wide
range of activities so kids can really push their
imagination to the limits. We love the idea of
interactive projections and game design baked
into kids playtime.
Learn more: lumoplay.com
© Makeable 2015
Build it, program it, play it.
Lego robots are here.
This is exactly what you think it is. Build these
robots based on Lego’s reputable instruction
manuals, then connect them to your app to
steer with a remote-like command center.
Don’t want to steer it, use a Blockly-esque
coding interface to program it to your bidding.
Learn more: lego.com
© Makeable 2015
Imagine, draw and print your
next favorite toy.
This kid friendly 3D printer is the easiest 3D
design experience anywhere. It’s totally safe
and totally educational. Just draw what you
want on the ipad app, pick a color and print
away. Unfortunately, they aren’t making them
any longer, but we love the idea of kids 3D
printing their own toys.
Learn more: printeer.com
© Makeable 2015
A colorful, playful approach
to get girls interested in
STEM.
A suite of products geared towards girls
encourages them to build their own play
environments, just like doll houses, but this
time, they connect all of the electronics
themselves. We’re talking working circuits,
lights and fans, enthusiastically being built by
little girls.
Learn more: roominatetoy.com
© Makeable 2015
It wasn’t just a good April
Fools joke, it was a really good
idea too.
Some smart tech publications thought it would
be a good idea to tease this in front of us. We
don’t know how Play-Doh didn’t take the hint
because they need to figure this one out.
Learn more: thinkgeek.com
© Makeable 2015
Watch your napkin sketch turn
into the real thing.
Submit your idea and watch its lifecycle unfold
as it get’s reviewed by Quirky’s innovation
staff and, hopefully, turned into a real product.
There’s a whole community of inventors,
collaborators and contributors here who help
get the job done.
Learn more: quirky.com/invent
© Makeable 2015
Never compromise on family
movie night with this dual
screen, full screen experience.
Sony recently filed a patent for a screen that
allows a dual viewing experience. Now parents
can watch their adult TV shows and kids watch
cartoons at the same time. Whether this is the
actual execution or not, we don’t know. But it’s
a cool idea none-the-less.
Learn more: singularityhub.com
© Makeable 2015
The social network connecting
families, and friend’s families.
Familybook?
It’s the great network for finding and planning
family activities in your local area. Connect
with other parents and schedule a playdate or
see what family fun events are coming up near
you.
Learn more: redrover.co
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Mom has backup.
These days everyone is constantly out and
about, from soccer practice to the food store.
Luckily, they’re all still connected via their
phone, so let’s use the phone as a tether to reel
us all back together for when it counts. Poll for
dinner, text your kids, share photos, make a
list and schedule the family camping trip. It’s
the app that let’s families collaborate digitally.
Learn more: savethemom.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
“Dinnnnnnnnnner!!!” Tech
time is valuable to your kids,
but not as valuable as family
time.
Sometimes, the only way to reach your kids is
through the device they're connected to. Let
your kids know when it’s time for their daily
activities, monitor their device usage and even
set limits. It’s the parental controls for your
kid’s mobile device.
Learn more: dinnertimeapp.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
Monthly mail order
adventures for your young
imagineers.
These are hands on creative projects for your
kids delivered monthly. Select your child’s age
group and receive targeted craft projects from
a variety of trusted vendors at your doorstep.
Learn more: kiwicrate.com
© Makeable 2015
An endless supply of DIY.
While the website tackles the physical DIY
projects with constantly fresh and updated
ideas and activities for families, their app
brings it into the digital space. Take photos
and creatively edit them with an advanced
selection of tools, all geared for family fun.
Learn more: moonfrye.com
© Makeable 2015
The closed family social
network.
Your family is always busy, and sometimes it’s
hard to find time to coordinate between
extracurriculars and yoga class. On Squarehub
you can keep up to date on family happenings,
all in one place, through this fun social app
designed for keeping in touch with loved ones.
Learn more: squarehub.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
A pinch of quality time goes a
long way at the dinner table.
To encourage families with connection issues
to connect over dinner, Dolmio gave a few
families a “magic” pepper shaker that disables
devices when the food hits the table. Just a
twist, and and a sneaky installation of device
management software, kills the family’s Wifi
connections while in use. Dinner time, is family
time again.
Learn more: FirstWeFeast.com
© Makeable 2015
The social network connecting
parents and teachers.
This simple experience sharing app allows
teachers to freely update class activities for
parents to follow. This is great for kids who
need to stay home sick, or parents who want
to be more involved.
Learn more: GetHomeroom.com
Try it: Android and iOS
© Makeable 2015
It’s Facetime on wheels.
This is the programmable telepresence robot
on wheels. Learn to program Romo through a
series of games, even play fetch or control him
with a remote. Romo works with Facetime too,
so you can virtually be in the room, on wheels,
from the other side of the world.
Learn more: Romotive.com
© Makeable 2015
Your new personal assistant,
just a text away.
Ask your own personal operator any question,
for any service, or any favor and they’ll get the
job done. It’s still in private beta, but the
capabilities are fantastic. We’re big fans of
text-UI based apps and this one takes it to a
new level.
Learn more: Operator.com
© Makeable 2015
It’s like as if Yelp was a real
person.
Cloe, is an artificially intelligent
recommendation service, controlled by a
human. You can ask Cloe to recommend any
place to you, have real conversations and she’ll
remember the little things; like that peanut
allergy, or your affinity for craft beers. Man,
she’s great.
Learn more: MeetCloe.co
©Makeable
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Makeable2015
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The “intelligent” robot for your
whole family.
He’ll take your photos, tell you stories, stream
video and even send messages. It’s as close to
the Jetsons’ Rosie as it gets, without the arms
and wheels. Sorry, but we’re still waiting for
that dishwashing robot too.
Learn more: Jibo.com
© Makeable 2015
The artificially “intelligent” pet
dinosaur that responds and
learns as you interact.
Treat it right, and it’ll happily comply, treat it
wrong and it will throw a tantrum. Or, if you’re
at a lack of patience, grab the remote control
and take over.
Interactive “friend” toys are usurping the
market as their technology evolves, and we’re
expecting to see a lot more of these in toy
chests, or on nightstands.
Learn more: ZoomerDino.com
© Makeable 2015
The smarter smart home hub
and personal assistant.
Amazon’s foray into the smart home
department comes in the form of a connected
hub for all your devices, online accounts and
even Google. It’s always listening for the
activation word, and then it becomes a voice
commanded source of information and
operations.
Learn more: Amazon.com
© Makeable 2015
The character from TV, in his
true form.
Cartoon Network took the game boy
character from the show Adventure Time, and
put him in his natural form. A phone app, that
talks, plays games and takes photos. It’s a little
meta, and very awesome.
Learn more: CartoonNetwork.com
Try it: iOS
© Makeable 2015
A new way to let your kids play
with your phone–like a friend.
Just insert your phone into this plush
character and watch as the conversation
unfolds. Ubooly’s software is as much of a
scriptwriter as it is voice recognition. It
actually interacts and tailors conversation to
what is relevant. Amazing
Learn More: ubooly.com
For more Unconventional Wisdom,
or to continue the conversation on Gen Z,
contact [email protected]