The Pentop Computer – interactive pen that talks to you as you write

NEW YORK, January 12, 2005 - Educational technology developer LeapFrog has released details of a new pentop computer. Dubbed the FLY, the pentop computer is designed to bring interactivity to the most prolific and user-friendly interface of all (pen and paper) and offers real-time audio feedback to users as they write and draw on special FLY paper.

Computer-based products hold immense promise as ideal learning platforms regardless of the age of the user - computers have infinite patience, unfailing concentration and stamina and can provide individual nurturing and encouragement and responses appropriate to the student's ability and progress. At the same time, computers can promote the joys of learning, adding a fun and games factor to even the fundamental and dry subjects. Used in conjunction with teachers, computers will leverage educational outcomes to new levels, though it must be noted that it will be a long time before we can contemplate dispensing with the wisdom, sensitivity and insight of human teachers. LeapFrog is probably the foremost developer of technology-based educational products in the World, having been awarded the "Design of the Decade" by Business Week in 1999 for its Phonics Desk Learning System and following up with the release of the LeapPad interactive book learning system

The LeapPad was a global hit with parents and children, breaking records in the toy industry, being the first educational toy to become a genuine best seller and winning the American Toy Industry Association's Educational Toy of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The LeapPad was dethroned in 2004 by Leapfrog's new Leapster Multimedia Learning system, giving the company top honours in its category four years in a row. The FLY and what it offers

A user of the FLY platform will be able to write on a piece of paper and then interact with the writing directly on the paper. For instance, a FLY pentop computer user can draw a calculator, touch the handwritten digits and functions to perform an operation -- then hear the answer announced from the FLY platform. A user also can write a word in English and hear it translated into Spanish, or draw a piano keyboard and play it.

At the core of the product are a variety of state-of-the-art technologies including optical scanning technology licensed from Anoto, a widely acclaimed industry leader in digital pen technology.

"The introduction of the FLY pentop computer is an important milestone for LeapFrog as we strategically extend our successful learning products line into new markets, new technologies, and to broader audiences," explained LeapFrog President Jerry Perez.

"The FLY pentop computer strongly positions us to establish and grow a completely new market segment with broad potential for core FLY products and a tremendous range of application opportunities for both LeapFrog and for companies that will support this new platform."

"The FLY platform heralds the birth of a new industry market -- paper-based computing. With 'intelligent' technology, the FLY pentop computer will assist people of all ages in the mastery of core academic subjects and provide a new genre of entertainment," said Jim Marggraff, the father of the LeapPad(R) learning system, the visionary behind the FLY pentop computer and LeapFrog's Executive Vice President of Worldwide Content.

Cool Tween Applications

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