Avakai dolls: Traditional on the outside, high-tech on the inside

Avakai are smart wooden figurines that let users communicate via sound, light, or haptic feedback.

The merge of traditional and virtual-world toys is on the uptrend, with the likes of Disney's Playmation and Backyard Sports expected to be key growth drivers as the global toys and games market moves toward a market value of $135 billion by 2020.

Although it did not meet its Kickstarter goal, the Avakai is an innovative product riding the hybrid real/virtual toy trend. At first glance, the wooden figure appears to be a typical matryoshka-inspired doll. In reality, Avakai uses Bluetooth and motion sensor technology to "communicate" with other Avakai by emitting sounds, light, and haptic feedback.

An Avakai doll owner can send melodic messages to another by tapping the doll's heads. The Avakai app can be installed on any mobile device, so a child can play with the toy even without another one in sight.

Stressing the importance of emotional quotient, Belgium-based Vai Kai created Avakai to let users share their feelings. Owners can change the "mood" of their doll by stroking the figurine's head and send virtual hugs.

While the Avakai is a smart toy, it has no cameras or microphones, ensuring privacy, unlike the controversial Hello Barbie toy. It is recharged using a standard USB cable and its Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity is compatible with several smart devices. The figurines are made by craftsmen in Poland using wood from sustainably managed forests, and are EU safety standards compliant.

See a comparison table of smart & developmental toy suppliers on GlobalSources.com