Intention

"Keep Me Safe" is an IoT toy that is centered on connecting children through a toy that they would play with. The game could be played by children in a shared location or in different locations. We centered the value of the toy on collaboration and gentleness as the game entails a shared stick model where each side is controlled by a child. Then, the children are required to make the model dance by pulling a side of a rope that is tied to the model's arms. As they do that, the children need to use their joystick to ensure that neither one of them exerts an excessive force that will hurt the toy, which is indicated by a slight nudge and a red alerting light to visualize the loss of life. 

 Essentially, this toy is an IoT manifestation that enables players to use their joysticks to remotely play with the toy, thus connecting children and providing them with a means of entertainment that doesn't require a digital screen. Meanwhile, the sharing of the toy resembles a feeling of closeness and connection. Ideally, we want the children to treat their toy as the pet that they are responsible for (Kardefelt-Winther, 2017). 

Kardefelt-Winther, D. (2017). How Does the Time Children Spend Using Digital Technology Impact Their Mental Well-being, Social Relationships, and Physical Activity?: An Evidence-focused Literature Review. Florence, Italy: UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti.