Lazy Web 2.0 addicts use Nabaztag for updates
Written on February 7, 2008 – 4:19 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
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You probably already heard of Nabaztag, the smart Wifi-enabled rabbit with its famous moving ears. Its Facebook app was a real hype, and thousands of users fell for the rabbit’s charms. While most people might see this rabbit just as a funny gadget, its inventor Rafi Haladjian told during LIFT08 that there’s a lot more to it.
Haladjian is founder of several Minitel start-ups and Internet providers in France. His latest venture Violet is the company behind Nabaztag. One day, he was sitting behind his desk, thinking about how he could promote his Wifi services. His eye fell on a rabbit and he had his eureka moment. “With creating Nabaztag, we wanted to make a statement”, Haladjian said, “If you can connect a rabbit, you can connect anything.” Just imagine we made a Wifi-enabled frisk. People would have said, ok, so you can connect frisks now. Yet by connecting something absurd as a rabbit, people think: you can even connect rabbits now”.
After explaining his choice for a Wifi rabbit, Haladjian told about the functions the electronic animal has. I would like to highlight one, namely the speech function. Nabaztag for example updates you on the statuses of your Facebook friends. “Nabaztag tells you about things that are good to know, yet now worth the effort of looking up. The typical Web 2.0 info”.
It’s a great idea. By taking Web 2.0 data -such as Last.fm shouts - off the screen with an Ambient Information Device like Nabaztag, they become more accessible for people who are now only interested in content that IS worth the effort looking it up. Haladjian is also using it as a filter for his RSS reader: “Nabaztag is reading the RSS headlines out loud. I look up the ones that sound interesting.”
We’ve learned yet another lesson at LIFT08: next to the fun-factor, gadgets like Nabaztag also have the potential to change the way we use the web.
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One Response to “Lazy Web 2.0 addicts use Nabaztag for updates”
By nabzone on Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
All you need to play with your Nabaztag and custom the Smart wifi Rabbit of Violet is on http://nabzone.com . API & coding resources and samples to have fun with Nabaztag, the Wifi Rabbit created by Violet.
With Nabzone and your nabaztag, you can play lot games such as :
Nabaztag Rock Paper Scissors
Remember ! Rock breaks scissors, Scissors cut paper and Paper covers rock. Good Luck !
Nabaztag Love Test
Ask your Nabaztag if your dream partner loves you.
The translator Rabbit
Enter a short text; the Rabbit will say it to you in another language.
Nabaztag translates from French to English and vice-versa…
Magic 8 Ball
Ask the Nabaztag a question, give it a shake and then wait the ‘Spirit Slate’ voice for the answer… A divination tool that mysticaly answers your questions.
Telepathy Game
Intuition or telepathy ? Discover the card chosen by your Nabaztag and develop your telepathic potential.
Fortune Cookies
Your Rabbit breaks the cookie, read the paper included in it and eat it.
Biorhythm
Module generating a textual message and ‘choreography’ according to you current biorhythm.
Nabaztag Goofy vs Regular
To know the real pattern of your Nabaztag. Is your Rabbit Goofy or Regular?
Nabgo : The Rabbit Bingo
Play Bingo with your Smart Rabbit. Download and print your own bingo cards and your Nabztag will be the Bingo MC. One line win !
Twister
The famous ‘Twister’ game to play with your Nabaztag. Nabaztag spins the spinner, and you move your body !
Memory Game ‘Simon’
The famous ‘Simon’ game to play with your Nabaztag, replay the color sequence played by your Smart Rabbit. The memory game to test your concentration.
Nabaztag knows alphabet
A little game for young chidren : Nabaztag chooses a word, writes it, says it and ask a little question about it.
The Rabbit knows Times Tables
To practice the times tables, Nabaztag recites it.
Nabaztag read the News
NabNews
Your Nabaztag can read the french Daily paper libération.fr… or BBC News Front Page.
NabMessenger
Basic module to send a ‘Wink’ - short luminous and sound message - or a textual message that will be read by your Rabbit’s synthetic voice.
But also… Nabzmood
Communicate your mood thanks to your Rabbit.
This service offers to display on your Website a little picture that indicates in real time your mood.
And the Rabbits’GoogleMap,
Nabaztag Widgets,
No more naked smart bunnys: Clothes to print, cut and put on your Nabaztag;
Visiting Cards :Customized visiting cards to promote your Rabbit to your friends…
Nice and pretty Tshirts and goodies are in the nabzshirts shops :
http://nabzshirt.spreadshirt.net and http://nabzshirt.shirtcity.com