Animal life: App puts children in the picture

Helsinki – A new app, Drawnimal, provides children with a physical-digital learning experience using a tablet device or phone.

Children are increasingly playing on tablet devices, as we reported in our Generation I macrotrend.

Created by Lucas Zanotto, the app invites children to use a pen and paper with an iPad or iPhone to draw pictures of animals. Kids place the tablet or phone on a piece of paper and the face of an animal appears on the screen. They then draw around it and add extra details such as ears and a tail. When they tap the screen, the animal picture comes to life.

The app is also designed to teach children the alphabet. Each letter is represented by an animal, and the app reads out the letter and the name of the animal.

The app is a good example of bringing together digital and physical play, ensuring children keep in touch with physical play, while incorporating the latest digital technology.