Fitbit Unveils Kid-Friendly Smartwatch: A Fusion of Wiimote and Tamagotchi Features

In a move to get more kids active, Fitbit introduced Ace in 2018, a fitness tracker designed for children. Come Wednesday, the line expands with the Ace LTE, taking cues from the Versa smartwatch. Owned by Google, the company is setting its sights on children aged 7 and above, integrating exhilarating Wii-like motion games, location sharing capabilities, and messaging features for parents.

This new iteration shifts from merely quantifying physical activity to actively engaging kids through a tangible approach to gamification. The device boasts various 3D interactive games that reward more movement with extended gameplay.

“Be it racing as a chicken in a bathtub in outer space or catching a Blob Fish in ‘Smokey Lake’, the Ace LTE is designed to keep youngsters on the move. The addition of new games to the Fitbit Arcade every few months ensures that the enthusiasm never wanes,” states Fitbit.

It’s a refreshing method to encourage kids to engage with the outdoors, reminiscent of the golden era of Wiimotes and Microsoft Kinects, not to mention Tamagotchi pets. Eejies, akin to those digital pets, thrive on physical movement, offering a modern twist on caring for virtual companions.

Completion of tasks earns kids ‘arcade tickets’, which can be exchanged for new attire and home furnishings for their Eejie, much like accumulating points at a Chuck E. Cheese. Unlike these models, Fitbit introduces a variety of six watch bands, accentuated with downloadable content, including unique environments.

Designed with a child’s wellbeing in mind, the Ace LTE sets limitations to prevent excessive use. “In creating the Fitbit Ace LTE, we’ve collaborated with top independent experts in child psychology, public health, privacy, and digital safety to ensure it’s enjoyable, secure, and beneficial,” Fitbit emphasizes.

The notion of entrusting a fitness tracker from a technology titan with extensive data collection capabilities to children understandably ignites a mix of concerns. Fitbit assures that location sharing is confined to the app on a parent or guardian’s device and that location data is purged daily. Activity data is retained for a period of up to 35 days before being removed. Moreover, adding friends on the Ace LTE necessitates in-person interaction with guardian approval. Notably, the device offers cellular connectivity, rendering it independent of tethered devices. Preorders begin Wednesday at a price of $230, with a subscription service available for an additional $10 monthly or $120 annually, which is mathematically equivalent. Shipping kicks off on June 5.