Gadi Amit's studio New Deal Design has invented an Artificial intelligence-equipped toy to fight the "distraction economy" by nurturing children's attention spans.
Called Spot, the toy is geared at learning and discovery. It functions primarily as a handheld scanner that kids can point at an object around them ? think a flower or a bird ? to hear it talk back.

Using its AI software, Spot recognises the object and voices a little monologue from it, incorporating information to suit children ages five to nine.
There's also a secondary function that comes into play at bedtime, when Spot uses its in-built projector to present a story woven around the day's discoveries.

Spot is a concept at this stage, one that grew out of the research New Deal Design conducted into children's development. The designers found that the right kind of toy could encourage focus and "a natural pace of experiencing", as opposed to instant gratification. They wanted to foster a kind of junior-level mindfulness that would set kids up with positive life skills.

"By encouraging focus skills, Spot can battle the 'distraction economy' at a crucial stage of development," said New Deal Design.
"Being 'present' and 'in-the-moment' is a skill that can be taught, and studies find that it nurtures a sense of 'mindfulness' that incites self-confidence and self-awareness."
They have grown the project into a physical model, microsite and case study, all of which they are s...