ViewMaster is one of those iconic toys, like Etch-a-Sketch, the Hula-Hoop or the Wham-O frisbee, that carries a sense of history and nostalgia to an earlier generation of kids. While some of these toys have aged well, others have not faired so well. I believe that the ViewMaster brand is ripe for a serious makeover.
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Avatar was the highest grossing film of all time, mostly due to its amazing 3D effects. All new Pixar films are being rendered in 3D. Nintendo has announced the coming of the Nintendo 3DS, its 3D enabled portable video game system. The biggest news at this years Consumer Electronics Show was the introduction of 3D enabled LCD TVs for the home.
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Kids these days and in the future will expect their entertainment to come in 3D. The ViewMaster brand is positioned perfectly to ride the wave of interest in 3D content that is sweeping these other areas of entertainment.
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“But ViewMaster already shows content in 3D”, you say! The other thing that kids today expect is that their toys do more and allow them to express their individuality. For ViewMaster to move into this new age of content creation, al a iMovie, and user generated content consumption, al a YouTube, it must be reengineered for the digital age.
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In the following pages we will outline a vision for the evolution of the ViewMaster brand and the ViewMaster toy for the 21st century. We are happy to introduce the ViewMaster3DX!
The ViewMaster 3DX is designed to be a device for kids and 3D hobbyists to both consume and create content. By purchasing professionally produced, digital 3D content through the VM3DX application, and downloading it to the VM3DX device, a child can experience entertaining or educational stories, similar to the way they would on the classic ViewMaster toy. Onboard memory and a simple interface allow the storage and playback of multiple stories without having to carry any white film reels.
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But there is so much more to the VM3DX than watching superheroes or dinosaurs. The device has two small cameras in the front panel that allow a child to record 3D stills or video, and then to easily edit these with the VM3DX application into his or her own reel. This reel can have captions or voiceover and sound effects and can be shared with the VM3DX community via the ViewMaster website. Friends and family can then experience a child’s vision in 3D with the help of cheap 3D glasses.
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The VM3DX is also equipped with an HDMI output which will allow easy connection to a 3D enabled LCD TV. The whole family can then sit back on the couch and watch a homemade 3D adventure unfold in their living room.
Kids will love taking 3D pictures and video of friends playing, family get togethers, and chasing the family pet. But kids also enjoy making up stories when playing with their toys as well. This is where the focal mode comes into play with two settings: human scale and toy scale.
Human scale sets the left and right cameras about the same distance apart as your eyes are and the focal length is set for a range from 3ft - infinity. Switching to toy scale moves the camera sensors together towards the center with a shorter focal length. By moving the sensors closer together, images and video of smaller objects such as toys or small pets will seem to be human scale, or you will feel like you have been shrunk down to toy size.
The toy scale option will create a whole new world of creative opportunities.
The thing that makes the iPod the most successful MP3 player on the market is not that the device itself is so cutting edge, it is that it is well integrated with easy to use software, which provides a consistent user experience. With the addition of the iTunes store, iTunes and the iPod became a powerhouse combination.
The ViewMaster3DX is an innovative piece of hardware, but to truly leverage the possibilities of 3D content delivery and creation, a well though out application is required. The VM3DX application would combine three basic function into one:
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ViewMaster shop
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Reel management system
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Reel editor
ViewMaster Shop
The ViewMaster shop would be the place where reels can be found, purchased and downloaded. The latest story book or hero comic would be featured at the top and all other content would be categorized and searchable. User generated content could also be made available via the store.
Reel Management
The “My Reels” management system is where all downloaded reels are found and can be loaded onto or removed from the VM3DX device. All reels are categorized and can be searched. A simple check mark next to the reel indicates if the reel will be on the device after the next sync, and a memory meter shows available space as reels are added and removed.
Reel Editor
The reel editor is where captured images and video can be edited together into a custom reel, to load onto a VM3DX device or to share with others. A simple drag and drop editing system, will combine with easy to add captions, voiceover, sound and video effects to make the creative experience fun and intuitive.