PlayDate is a toy animal surveillance camera

Pets make our lives rich and exciting. They teach us responsibility and teach us to do simple things. Unfortunately, we cannot stay close to them all - almost everyone has work or training, urgent chores and home chores when we do not pay attention to our cat or dog. If cats do not need much support and do not experience much attention from their masters, dogs suffer greatly. Therefore, many animal gadget manufacturers are working hard to create interactive toys for pets so they do not feel abandoned and no one needs them. Today we are heading to New York (USA), where for several years now we have been successfully selling a PlayDate interactive animal surveillance camera that lets you play with them at any time when you are away.

Features of the novelty

Animals are simpler than we are - they can enjoy simple things, do not look for the meaning of life and do not create problems on their own heads. In America, there are entire units of psychologists who study the psychology of pets. They proved that the dogs, while being alone, experience sharp panic attacks. They think their beloved master has abandoned them and will no longer return. This explains their deviant behavior when they bite furniture, break dishes, tear cushions, etc. Even the quietest and sweetest dog, being alone, can do something you would never have done if you were there.

Do not rush to punish animals when you return home - they are driven by instincts and they are strong enough. That is why interactive toys have been devised in different countries to help your pets get distracted while you are away. In your absence, the animals are very sad, may be bored or even depressed. That is right - representatives of the animal world also have such conditions, which manifest themselves in apathy, full of indifference to everything around. They may lie down for hours waiting for you to return from work or study. Sedentary lifestyles in combination with feed often lead to obesity and various diseases.

For your pet to actively move and spend time with benefits, automatic toys have been developed that, when moving independently, attract his attention and increase activity. Earlier, we talked about Wicked Ball - an automated pet ball from Australian developers. The toy is made of durable polycarbonate, which protects the indoor control unit from accidental bite. Two versions were invented - for cats and dogs. The first has a hairy surface that is easy to pick up with claws, and the second - smooth, it is easy to carry in the mouth and bite. The autonomy of the toy is 8 hours, if the game alternates with half an hour of peace (more about it can be read by the link).

If the previous model does not have a camera and is fully automated, today's novelty has a built-in camera with a wide-angle lens, and can be controlled from a distance using a smartphone or tablet. The material of its manufacture is also a strong transparent polycarbonate, resistant to cracking, bumps and chips. It is not toxic, so do not worry about the health of your pets. The novelty connects to your home Wi-Fi, allowing you to stay always connected to your pet. It is managed through a specialized application for smartphones running iOS and Android. The software is easy to manage and allows you to "wake" the ball from sleep, roll it around the house, looking for your pet. A five-megapixel camera lets you capture fun videos and photos for your home archive.

In addition, the novelty can automatically return to recharging, since its autonomy is not yet too large and is about half an hour. Charging is done through the use of the docking station wirelessly. The smaller the connectors, the less likely your pet will get hurt or break the toy. In addition to the various variants of movement, the ball is equipped with a speaker that makes two-way communication with your pet. You can listen to his barking or howl and communicate with him - he will hear you.

The video has been stabilized automatically so you can create fun videos for your collection. PlayDate has several sizes for convenient use, both large and small animals. The younger model received a diameter of 7.6 cm and the older - 10.2 cm. Cats love to play with strings and ropes. In order to revive their interest in the toy, the ball has a small connector for tying the ribbons to it. When you click on the special button "squeak" in the application, the novelty will play a squeak to attract the attention of your pet to yourself. You just need a few simple steps to start the game: download the app on your smartphone, connect it to your home Wi-Fi and be in touch with your pet.

Design and tech specs

The novelty is shaped like a round ball with a built-in camera inside. The color scheme is represented by the orange color of the control unit and the transparent outer layer. There are no other color variations.

Specifications:

• Type - an interactive toy with a built-in pet camera;
• Shape - ball;
• Dimensions - 7.6 cm (younger model) and 10.2 cm (older) in diameter;
• Material - polycarbonate;
• Camera - 5 MP;
• Lens - wide-angle;
• Additional - mechanical and programmatic stabilization of video, option of a beep for attracting attention, a socket for tying tapes;
• Charging - wireless (docking station);
• Autonomy - 30 min;
• Management - application for iOS, Android;
• Color - orange (control unit), transparent (housing).

When it comes out and how much it will cost

The novelty raised 598% more money than it did had initially needed for its release. Production started, the first deliveries were successful. Currently, the ball can be ordered from the manufacturer's official website for for any version. Estimated delivery date is 2 - 3 weeks depending on your region of residence.

Your pets may also have their own personal corner where they will be comfortable. Together with GT Racer's pet loungers, every cat or dog, regardless of size, will be comfortable to rest at any time of the day. To study the full range of animal products, to see their descriptions, features, specifications and current prices for each model is available on our site.