Very Cool Toy: Osmo

Now this is a really creative idea. The inventor, as I understand it, was concerned that kids no longer talked with one another when playing. They all had their heads buried in their smartphones or tablets, playing individually without collaborative problem-solving, interaction or social engagement.

Not your kids, of course. Other kids.

Anyhow, he created a very cool bundle of hardware and software that allows kids to learn and play together. It's called Osmo and you can check it out at PlayOsmo.com.

Osmo is a unique gaming accessory for the iPad that comes with games that will change the way your child plays.

Setup is a snap. Simply mount Osmo Reflector over your iPad's front‑facing camera. Reflective Artificial Intelligence and a built‑in mirror recognize and respond to your every real‑world move.

Osmo is crafted for kid‑durability and always ready to go: no batteries, electronics, or Wi‑Fi required. Works with the latest iPads including the iPad 2 and iPad Mini.

...Top educators from over 150 elementary schools nationwide, including the Bay Area’s best preparatory institutions, are raving about Osmo’s natural ability to foster creative, social, and emotional learning ‑ and how much their students love it...

...Osmo was invented by young parents out of Stanford and Google. Engineers at heart, the founders are personally committed to innovating new technologies that nurture positive play experiences for kids.

The basic gist of Osmo is that it intelligently reads the surface in front of the iPad when it's on its stand. It thereby allows kids to interact using game pieces, magic markers and the screen. Here are a couple of the games:

Early backers can get a 50% discount on the device.