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CogniToys: The smart toys that can hold a conversation

The internet of things is set to make all our devices smart, so why not toys too? That’s the idea behind Cognitoys, a new breed of Wi-Fi-connected toy that can hold a conversation with you.

Just like Google Now and Siri, ask it a question and it will give you an answer. Press the belly, and ask away, and it will give you thousands of age-appropriate answers. The toy can tell stories and jokes, and you can give it commands to discover its hidden talents.

Because it’s connected to the internet, new features can be added as easily as a software update. It will remember what you tell it too, and be able to use this information in future conversations. The plus side is it will be like having a real companion with an actual personality. The negative? You can’t reuse any of your old jokes.

It’s educational too, but manages to sneak it under the radar. It can help your child with rhyming, spelling, vocabulary tests, maths and more. As your child interacts more with it, the difficulty increases.

Read more: Barbie to get digital makeover with Wi-Fi connectivity

It sounds a lot like the Hello Barbie that broke cover just a few hours ago. But it’s a green dinosaur.

It runs using the IBM Watson supercomputer, which is so smart it can play a game of jeopardy.

It’s sailed past its funding goal, and should start shipping in November.

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