Picoo, an emerging educational software company, today announced plans to debut Picoo, the first outdoor game console for children at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Picoo is a portable and screenless console that requires no access to Wi-Fi or mobile networks during playtime, gets kids outdoors again, and helps to reverse the decline of fitness and physical literacy caused by excessive screen time. Press will be able to get “hands on” with Picoo for the first time during CES 2022, January 5 – 8 at booth 61928 at Eureka Park in the Venetian Expo, and at Showstoppers the evening of January 5 at the Wynn Hotel. Watch a short video of Picoo in action here.
According to Harvard Health, outdoor play is linked to children’s well-being, health, development and learning. However, outdoor play is increasingly uncommon because children spend much of their time indoors and on screens. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this development as families were forced to maintain social distance and children spent nearly eight hours a day on computers or mobile devices — more than twice the time they spent online before the pandemic — and also needed to maintain social distance from other kids.
How Picoo Works.
The Picoo outdoor game console for kids bridges the divide between technology and classic outdoor play. It is targeted for kids from four to 12, with a range of classic games like Whack-a-Mole and Hide-and-Seek. Each Picoo controller includes a core processor, a memory chip, a speaker that plays sounds and audio, an accelerometer to detect and measure movement, a vibration motor that “buzzes”, a tag scanner to scan the game cards, a radio network to communicate with other Picoos, LED lights and On/Off button. Picoo is also always ready to play — no network connection is required to play so there’s no hassle with Wi-Fi, GPS, 4G or 5G; a connection to an accompanying Picoo smartphone app (iOS and Android) and Bluetooth is needed to facilitate version updates.
Adaptive Design and Inclusive Play.
Picoo’s adaptive design and inclusive play means every kid can participate in their own way and level — no one is excluded. Picoo adapts the challenge per child based on detected proficiency level during a game, and automatically ‘balances’ the playing field by increasing or decreasing challenges depending on how adept children are at the game. Picoo automatically creates teams, eliminates favoritism and the “last picked kid” phenomenon. It is ideal for mixed groups and enables children with and without special needs to play together. Games for children with special needs are also available. The end result is kids have fun with their friends while playing a computer game, and parents are happy as their children exercise and engage with their peers outdoors.
Excessive screen time has increased the risk of childhood obesity and frayed the social bonds that are integral for a child’s development. A total of 39 million children under the age of five were overweight or obese in 2020, according to the World Health Organization. Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood.
“Children are healthier and happier when playing actively together, and Picoo’s lack of a screen is 100% by design. The goal of Picoo is to bring back the ‘neighborhood games’ we played as kids. In today’s digital and always connected world where many kids spend hours looking at a digital device or screen, playing together outdoors is no longer a rite of passage,” said Picoo CEO and co-founder, Iris Soute. “Picoo offers fun, intuitive gameplay and allows anyone to play, regardless of skill or physical ability — without requiring kids to stare at a screen. The combination of classic games with cutting edge technology gets kids moving again, helps them to build bonds with other kids in the outdoors and reduces the risk of obesity and long-term health issues.”
Picoo Specifications and Features:
● Console Features: Each console includes a core processor, a memory chip, a speaker that plays sounds, an accelerometer to measure movement, a vibration motor that “buzzes”, a tag scanner to scan the game cards, LED lights, a wrist strap and On/Off button.
● Battery Life: Each Picoo device takes four hours to charge and offers an average of four hours of continuous play.
● Always Ready to Play: No network connection is required to play so there’s no hassle with Wi-Fi, GPS, 4G or 5G; a connection to smartphone and Bluetooth needed for updates.
● Rugged Design: Playing outside means running, jumping, falling and getting up again and again. Picoo is extremely sturdy, splashproof and easy for kids to hold.
● Picoo Console Dimensions: 5.78” length x 1.9” width x 1.9” diameter (14.7 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm).
● Picoo Console Weight: Each controller weighs approximately 5 ounces or 146 grams.
● What’s in the Box:
○ Picoo Starter set for home use includes four Picoo controllers and five outdoor interactive games — Lightning Bolt, Zombierun, Kaleidoscope, Hide & Seek, Whack-a-Mole.
○ Picoo Education Kit for school use includes: 12 Picoo controllers, carrying/charging case and 20 games (eight released immediately — Lightning Bolt, Spyhunt, Zombierun, Kaleidoscope, Hide & Seek, Whack-a-Mole and two educational games, Sequence and MathMania — with 12 more games to follow.
○ Picoo Pro Kit for afterschool programs includes: 12 Picoo controllers, carrying/charging case, 20 games. 8 released immediately, with 12 more games to follow. Lightning Bolt, Spyhunt, Zombierun, Kaleidoscope, Hide & Seek, Whack-a-Mole, Three Musketeers and Gapper.
○ Additional Games: Available for purchase starting at $5.
○ Quick Start Guide and USB charging cable
● Cost: $249 for Picoo Starter Set or $1,449 for Picoo Education Kit and Picoo Pro Kit.
● Where to Buy: Picoo webshop
● Warranty: One-year, limited warranty
● Additional Accessories: Sold separately via the Picoo webshop. Additional accessories include a four-port charger that allows all Picoos to be charged together, an extension pack with two additional Picoo consoles, as well as additional games.
