 Known for weather instruments and health-related devices,
Oregon Scientifics’ expedition into the toy market is a worthwhile venture. The
SmartGlobe is an extraordinary learning device while at the same time being a
captivating toy.
The SmartGlobe looks like the average globe of the world
which is attached to a sturdy base. The base and the globe contain all the
electronics needed to make this globe really knowledgeable, including a
speaking voice that is used to give information.
There is an electronic pen-type pointing device called a
SmartPen attached to the base. You use it to touch the item on the base that
you wish to choose. Then you touch the country or area of the world that you
want information about. For instance, choose “Population”. Then tap the pen on China
and the globe will tell you the current population of China.
Choose “Currency” then tap the United States
and Europe and the globe will tell you the exchange rate
between dollars and Euros. The globe contains of plethora of global information
including capitals, history, major cities, population, languages, history, and
current events.
The US
states are not outlined on the globe itself, but if you want to learn about the
United States,
you can simply pull out the hidden drawer in the base of the globe to find a
detailed map of the US.
The SmartPen can also be used to touch the US
map for information such as capitals, state flowers, and history.
Besides being informative, this SmartGlobe is also
entertaining. Touch a country and it will play a piece of music representative
of that country. It has 36 different activities including quiz games about
geographic information.
While the globe that you played with as a child is now
highly outdated, the SmartGlobe keeps itself up to date by downloading current
information from the Internet via the included USB cable and your own computer.
So if a country is renamed or the population grows, the globe always has the
most current statistics. The first two years of updates are free. After that
there is a small charge.
The SmartPen can be programmed for age-appropriate content. You
can download customized information for three age groups (Ages: 5-8, 9-14 or 15
years and older). If the child is playing alone, he can attach a set of
headphones. However, every adult should consider being a part of the
activities. The SmartGlobe is a wonderful toy for adults to use along with
their children or grandchildren. You can all learn together and have fun at the
same time!
Date of Review: 01-06-2007
Manufacturer: Oregon Scientific
Retail: $129.99
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