LeapPad

LeapPad is an electronic educational toy for children aged 4-8 [cite web | url=http://www.leapfrog.com/content/press_releases/12.10.02_Awards_Release.pdf | title=LeapFrog Press Release | accessdate=2006-07-12 | format=PDF | date=2002-12-10 | publisher=LeapFrog Enterprises | pages=3 | ] that is produced by LeapFrog Enterprises.

Development history

The device, resembling a talking book, took 3 years to develop and was introduced to the market in 1999. In 2001 (sales $160 million) and 2002 it was the best-selling toy in specialty stores. Sales in 2003 reached $680 million and were only eclipsed by sales of the book and cartridge add-ons. The success of LeapPad helped Leapfrog Enterprises become one of the fastest-growing toy companies in history.

LeapPad was developed by a team from Explore Technologies, Inc. acquired by Leapfrog in July 1998. It uses the same patented NearTouch technology developed for the Odyssey Atlasphere. Investigation and development was started in December 1997.

Awards

LeapPad also won the Toy of the Year award from the Toy Manufacturers of America. [cite news | url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.11/leapfrog.html | first=Josh | last=McHugh | work=Wired magazine | publisher=Condé Nast Publications | title=LeapFrog's Wild Ride | date=November 2005 | accessdate=2006-07-12]

References

In 2001, LeapFrog's LeapPad won the first-ever People Choice Toy of the Year Award, sponsored by the Toy Industry Association.

External links