“[M]ore than 6 million Americans… have a job that keeps them away from home, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor,” says an article from USA Today. That is six million Americans who can’t see their children when they get home. This is all about to change with the new Amazon Glow.

“My wife and I are both full-time truck drivers,” said Pierce, who is only home four days a month. This is an issue around America, but now, families with the new Amazon Glow can communicate and have fun with family members who are out of town due to work. Designed specifically for kids, Amazon Glow combines a tablet, camera, and projector. With a touchscreen tablet, a camera, an interactive projection, and a mat, Amazon Glow is a hands-on digital experience for kids ages three to nine. The Glow understands kids want to do more than just chit chat about their day with their family members who may be far from home. They want to learn, play games, solve puzzles, create art, and read books – together with their families no matter how many miles may keep them apart. 

“To do this, Glow brings technology magic to the world of preschoolers and grade schoolers, making it easy to have lots of fun with. It creates a virtual shared space, where kids and adults can engage with the same content — kids on their Glow devices and adults using the free Glow app on their smartphone or tablet,” says an article from USA Today. Working seamlessly together, the device and the app make kids feel like they’re sitting in the same room as remote family members. There are many different activities one can explore on the Glow: draw pictures with digital pens and paintbrushes, scan everyday objects to turn them into a puzzle, and much more. “We built a solution to a problem many kids and their loved ones face – being separated by distance,” said Babak Parviz, VP of Amazon Glow. “We wanted to create something good for kids that helps the adults who care about them be more present in their lives. So, we created a tech-forward solution that allows kids to bond with family when they’re not physically present,” says the VP.

“The games are designed to be engaging for both the child and [the] remote person. All of our content is child appropriate and provides a safe, fun environment. We knew that traditional video calls weren’t fun or engaging for kids – so we came up with ideas for games and activities that would keep them engaged and foster connection,” added Parviz. One of those ideas was including physical puzzle pieces kids could hold in their hands, which became known as Tangram Bits. With the same appeal as those brain teasers on social media, Tangram Bits foster problem-solving skills for young learners. Adults can encourage kids as they figure out where the pieces fit together. It’s only one example of how Glow keeps everyone, regardless of their age, immersed in the activity. 

Another real-world issue they considered was how to keep Glow a safe space. For instance, parents approve their kid’s contact list, limiting the list to people they know, such as grandparents and relatives. Kids can only place and receive video chats to that list, and a quick slide of the privacy switch on the side of the device instantly disables the microphones and cameras on Glow. 

As technology advances in the world and the lives of people, humans are forced to commute with and through that technology. Even children need to learn to use these modern tools. The Amazon Glow is a great, new, and fun way to get kids in touch with their families, learn with games, and for parents to see their kids after (or during) long hours of work as they adapt to a more tech-savvy environment.

Reference

www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/amazon-glow/2022/03/29/never-miss-another-bedtime-story-amazon-glow-connects-families-like-never-before/7194371001/?mvt=i&mvn=300bf22b8b514a3ebf36bf3188735674&mvp=NA-GANNLOCASITEMANA-11238693&mvl=Key-tangent-tile%20%5BTangent%20Desktop%20Tile%5D&utm_campaign=afc70f3964ec4bc68b889782305b5232&utm_source=polar&utm_medium=cpc