LeapPad facts for kids
A girl with a LeapPad
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| Developer | Explore Technologies |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | LeapFrog Enterprises |
| Type | Series of tablet computers |
| Release date | 1999 |
The LeapPad is a special type of tablet computer made just for kids. It helps children learn and play at the same time. Many different versions of the LeapPad have been created since it first came out in 1999.
Contents
LeapPad Models Over Time
Since 1999, many different LeapPad models have been released. Each new version often brought new features or improvements.
- LeapPad (This was the very first model!)
- LeapPad Plus Writing
- Read and Write LeapPad
- LeapPad Plus Microphone (also known as Read Aloud LeapPad)
- LeapPad Pro
- Quantum LeapPad (also called Quantum Pad)
- LeapPad Plus Writing and Microphone
- Learn & Go LeapPad
- Cocopad (This version was only sold in Japan.)
Modern LeapPad Tablets
Later, LeapFrog started making tablet-style LeapPads, similar to popular adult tablets but designed for kids.
- LeapPad Explorer
- This device looks a lot like an iPad.
- However, you can only download special LeapFrog apps for it.
- It can also record videos and take pictures.
- It was released in the summer of 2011.
- The LeapPad Explorer won a Platinum Award in September 2011.
- LeapPad2 (This model came out in the summer of 2012.)
- LeapPad Ultra (Released in the summer of 2013.)
- LeapPad3 (Came out in the summer of 2014.)
- LeapPad Platinum (Released in the summer of 2015.)
- LeapPad Ultimate (This model came out in February 2017.)
- LeapPad Academy (Released in the summer of 2020.)
LeapPad Spin-offs for Younger Kids
Some LeapPad devices were made for very young children. These versions worked differently and were not compatible with the main LeapPad games. They were perfect for preschoolers and toddlers.
- My First LeapPad
- This version was for preschoolers and kids starting kindergarten.
- The books for this LeapPad flipped upwards, which was different from other models.
- Later, this unit was redesigned to look like a school bus.
- A version with a British voice was also available in the UK.
- LittleTouch LeapPad
- This device was designed for babies and toddlers.
- It was special because you didn't need a stylus to use it.
- It also had a soft pad underneath, making it comfy to use on a lap.
How LeapPad Technology Works
The LeapPad uses a special computer sensor called an electrographic sensor. This sensor works like a capacitor. It measures tiny amounts of electricity flowing from its corners into a plate underneath the surface. This helps the LeapPad figure out exactly where the stylus is touching the book or screen. This clever technology is protected by US patents 5686705 and 5877458.
LeapPad's Competitors
Because the LeapPad was so popular, other companies tried to make similar learning devices.
PowerTouch Learning System
Mattel and Fisher-Price launched their own system called the PowerTouch Learning System in 2003. They also made the Power Touch Baby.
- The PowerTouch was more advanced than the LeapPad in some ways.
- You didn't need a stylus to use it; it had a touch-sensitive area.
- It could even tell when you turned a page using special infrared sensors.
- Even with these cool features and support from popular brands, the PowerTouch wasn't as popular as the LeapPad.
Other Electronic Books
Another company, Publications International, Ltd., also made electronic children's books.
- Their ActivePoint and Magic Wand books worked a bit like the LeapPad.
- However, their books were permanently attached to the reader and stylus.
- Later, they introduced the Story Reader and My First Story Reader systems.
- These systems mostly just read the story as you turned the pages.
- They had fewer interactive features, but they were often cheaper.
VTech's InnoTab
The tablet versions of the LeapPad also competed with VTech's InnoTab tablets. These were also interactive tablet computers designed for kids.
Awards and Recognition
The LeapPad has won many important awards for educational toys.
- In 2000, the original LeapPad won the very first People's Choice Toy of the Year (T.O.T.Y.) award. It also won the Educational T.O.T.Y. award. These awards are given by the Toy Industry Association.
- In September 2011, the LeapPad Explorer won the Platinum Award from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.
- The LeapPad2 continued the winning streak! In 2013, it won both the People's Choice Toy of the Year (T.O.T.Y.) award and the Educational T.O.T.Y. award.
Images for kids
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A LeapPad 2
