This device is like Hallmark’s recordable storybooks for the Internet of Things era.
Everyone can agree that one of the most exciting things about being a kid is having a vivid imagination. Back in the day, one of the ways to stimulate those creative ideas was through bedtime stories. Aside from strengthening the bond between parents and their children, these tales were an excellent way to gradually ease a young one into their nightly slumbers. Though recent advancements like Skype and FaceTime on mobile devices are helping keep loved ones together like never before, the magical aura around listening to a narrative as you hit the hay has been lost.
This is what led to the development of StoryHome. The white, eggplant-shaped device, which resembles a Russian nesting doll, was designed as a simple way for families to connect and share stories with one another. This enchanted audio system enables users to tell and record, listen and play, as well as store some of their fondest memories.
How it works is pretty straightforward. A grandparent or another loved one plugs in the unit to their Internet router or connects to their Wi-Fi network, and presses a button to begin recording. This is uploaded to the company’s cloud service, and transmitted to a child’s companion device. Before bed, the gadget begins to glow, prompting a young one to pick it up and listen. What’s more, unlike those Hallmark recordable storybooks, everything remains stored in the cloud where those recordings can be managed, edited and organized using a web-based portal via smartphone or PC. Users can even invite extended family members to link their StoryHomes together.
While it may not beat having a parent tuck a child into bed, this product certainly makes for a great alternative for when mom or dad is away on business, vacation, or simply steps out of the house at night.
Based on an ARM-based processor, each StoryHome features a microphone, a speaker and a 3.5mm audio jack for easy listening, a micro-USB connector, Flash memory for more than four hours worth of stories and messages, a built-in battery that can last up to several days on standby, as well as a magical RGB LED interface for visual notifications.
Think this gadget would be put to good use in your home? Head over to its official Kickstarter page, where the Campfire UG team is currently seeking $153,804. Should their funding goal have a happy ending, delivery is expected to get underway in February 2016.
Atmel | Bits & Pieces 