Evolution and change is nothing new when it comes to Barbie. This well-loved doll has undergone many transformations to suit the times and the circumstances. It shouldn't come as no surprise, then, that in this digital age, Barbie creator Mattel should make sure she "blends in"; hence, the introduction of the Barbie Digital Dress Doll.
Features of the Barbie Digital Dress Doll
Barbie has become a household name ever since she was created by Ruth and Elliott Handler in 1959. To this day, she remains to be a fixture in little girls' lives all over the world.
The latest Barbie – Barbie Digital Dress Doll – is pretty much the same doll little girls all over the world fell in love with: flowing blond locks, baby blues, and beautiful smile. However, she is more fashion forward, in more ways than one.
The Barbie Digital Dress Doll lights up the catwalk with a – yes, you guessed right – digital dress. Using the latest in touch screen technology, the dress comes with a 4.5-inch touch screen and is studded with 114 tri-coloured LED lights with three distinct functions that you can toggle using her necklace.
First, you can personalize the design of the dress itself. Draw your own design or patterns, in the color of your choice, using a stylus that comes with the doll upon purchase. The stylus is also used to switch the LED lights on and off.
Second, with a few slides of your finger, you can change Barbie's dress without actually undressing her. Choose among the many animated designs and patterns to change the entire look of Barbie's dress. A dress with heart patterns, perhaps? Maybe you want a fireworks design instead? It's entirely up to you.
And, of course, there's also the sound sensitivity feature. Make the LED lights on the dress move and react to any sound or music within close proximity.
The Barbie Digital Dress Doll is especially designed for girls who are 6 years old and above (yes, adults too), who are keen on designing their doll's dresses. Don't worry; the controls and features have been designed to be user- and kid-friendly.
What Is There To Like About Barbie Digital Dress Doll?
A large part of the fun of spending time with Barbie comes from changing her clothes and making her strike different poses to show them off. With the Barbie Digital Dress Doll, changing or updating her look has become easier.
Changing the settings is very easy that even a child can do it. The necklace has three heart-shaped buttons that can be pressed to switch through the three different functions.
The personalization of the designs is also a very good addition. It will help nurture the child's creativity since she can draw whatever design she wants to appear on the dress. It will also improve color recognition aptitude and her skills in using colors. In addition, the ease of making changes is perfect for children, who have very short attention spans and easily get bored.
How much is the Barbie Digital Dress Doll?
The retail price for the Barbie Digital Dress Doll, which is set to hit the shelves on August 2013, is around $50.
Does the Barbie Digital Dress Doll Have Guarantees?
There is no word yet on any product guarantees and warranties.
What Is There To Dislike About the Barbie Digital Dress Doll?
The upside mentioned above is also the very thing that we're not too happy about with this interactive doll. You see, the Barbie Digital Dress Doll comes with only one dress. That means the act of dressing it up in the "conventional manner" is no longer applicable since you'd simply be changing the patterns on the dress.
As expected from anything electronic or involving the use of LEDs and touch screens, it is possible that they could break or shatter when subjected to impact. Caution your kids to handle the doll with care to avoid damaging the parts.
What Do Other Customers Have To Say About the Barbie Digital Dress Doll?
During the first unveiling of the Barbie Digital Dress Doll in the 2013 Toy Fair, it was very well-received. However, since this product has not yet been officially released in the market, there are no official customer reviews yet.
Should You Buy the Barbie Digital Dress Doll or Not?
If you want to give your child a toy that would entertain and, at the same time, hone her design skills, the $50 you spend on the Barbie Digital Dress Doll is, without a doubt, a very good investment.
Where can You Buy the Barbie Digital Dress Doll?
The Barbie Digital Dress Doll are going out for sale online (Mattel, website and other online retailers) and in major stores and toy shops (Walmart, Toys R Us, etc) on August 2013.
