It’s been a while since I’ve seen a toy that compelled me to comment, but when I saw the new Barbie Video Girl I knew we would have to have a talk. Video Girl is a Barbie with a “real working video camera” hidden in her necklace (well, actually in her chest) so you can make movies of Barbie’s friends from Barbie’s point of view (or at least from the point of view of Barbie’s chest–which is a little strange from my point of view).
Anyway, there’s free video editing software available on Barbie’s website (Windows/PC only–sorry Mac users) which will allow you to add music and special effects to your Barbie movies. Just hook Barbie up to your computer and share movies with your family and friends!
If you think about it, unless you are Sid the evil genius in Toy Story, there are really only two things you can do with a Barbie–change her clothes and make up stories. So I’m not surprised that someone would invent a way for children (mostly little girls) to capture the narratives they’ve always invented for Barbie. It’s a cool idea and I’m all in favor of teaching girls to upload and edit video at an early age. But the camera placement is going to take a bit of getting used to. Hidden NecklaceCam reminds me of Cold War espionage and ChestCam is too much like Hooters ( a name which we all know refers to the owl in their logo). Ah well, at least if some doll gets fresh, we’ll have it on tape–er, hard drive.
Finally, in the Just For Fun Category, take a look at this video comparing the Barbie Video Girl to a Canon 7D. You never know. Maybe one day Video Girl will be a classic, just like the Easy Bake Oven.
Well! No doubt someday the developments in tiny electronics will allow for us to see through Barbie’s eyes, and won’t THAT be spooky? the doll, I mean! Yikes!
This is just bizarre. I suppose I’d have to agree that encouraging young girls in technology is a good thing. However, the Barbie itself (or herself) just looks odd. But you’re right, better than a hooter cam!
I don’t know, my daughter and her friends mostly liked to pop the heads off their Barbies. I guess all of this just demonstrates the versatility of the Barbie doll over the decades.
The latest on these dolls is, some folks are afraid they’ll be used to make kiddie porn. It’s a desperate world where people are so clever and others so fearful even to imagine such a thing, isn’t it?
This just in–Hot Wheels Video Racer! Now you can shoot POV as you rocket around that orange track.