COOL STUFF FOR KIDS FROM COMPAQ AND FISHER PRICE
By Adnews Staff
Houston-based Compaq Computer Corp. and U.S. toy maker Fisher-Price are planning to launch a group of computer products in the second half of the year. These are the first offerings in the new Wonder Tools line for kids aged three to seven, jointly marketed by the two companies. Advertising will back the product launch, although it hasn't been decided yet whose agency will get the assignment. In Canada, Ammirati & Puris/Lintas of Toronto does advertising for Compaq. Ogilvy & Mather of Toronto works for Fisher-Price, which is a unit of Mattel Inc. The launch products are the Keyboard, the Cruiser and a group of interactive software titles. The Wonder Tools Cruiser package consists of a driving console, complete with a steering wheel, throttle and functioning radio, run by CD-ROM. It allows children to navigate through specially created software adventures and interact with characters, unscramble alphabet picture puzzles, sort through a spaceship scrap yard and invent and assemble toys. The Cruiser comes with one software title, called Spruce Squirrel's Hiccup Mix-Up, which takes kids on an exploration of land, sea and space. Other titles will be available in the fourth quarter of 1996. The Wonder Tools Keyboard features a combination of hardware and software that creates a children's environment. It was designed to be used by pre-schoolers. The keyboard has over-sized keys and numbers, a finger mouse, and special function buttons. The interactive software covers topics such as arts and crafts, storymaking and the alphabet. Titles include Cyber Grannies, Over in the Meadow and Wacky Jacks - The Family Edition. All products will be available in North America.