Meet Parker, the Apple-approved augmented-reality teddy

It’s 2017! It was only a matter of time before someone made an augmented-reality teddy bear...

Its name is Parker, and it’s just gone on sale exclusively through Apple stores, as that company continues to throw its weight behind interesting tech-toys for children that make use of apps.

Parker is at first glance a pretty normal teddy bear, albeit with a jazzy black-and-white tummy whose pattern wouldn’t look out of place on a pair of leggings in Shoreditch. Children can cuddle up to Parker like a normal bear with no technology in sight.

But… with its companion app, Parker turns into a toy designed to encourage children’s caring instincts:

“Help your new friend feel better. Cure a tummy bug, cool a fever, and take Parker’s temperature with the special thermometer. Use your mobile device to examine Parker’s bones, soothe a scratchy throat, and much more,” explains the website of its creator, Seedlings.

“The more you care for Parker, the more magical your world becomes. Watch Parker’s happiness factor go up each time you cure an ailment, solve a problem, or complete a game, then use the magic camera feature to see how Parker’s happiness transforms the world around you with augmented reality effects.”

Seedlings hopes that Parker will encourage children to draw, design, solve puzzles and solve problems, as well as helping them to develop their empathy skills.

As you may have guessed, Parker costs more than your average bear: $59.99 from Apple’s online store. For that, you get the bear as well as various doctor-play accessories: a thermometer, stethoscope, wooden medicine bottle and spoon, and felt X-Ray bibs to get a look at his bones.