Kids have been spending a lot of time apart from friends and loved ones recently, but the new Amazon Glow could help them connect remotely – and in more fun ways than ever.

The Glow, revealed today at the Amazon 2021 event, is designed to remotely connect kids and family members like never before, giving the typical video calling a definitive upgrade. To do this, it uses projection and video technologies, which takes the virtual interaction between the two to new levels.

Amazon Glow: price and availability

Amazon Glow is available for an Early Access price of $ 249.99, but will cost $ 299.99 as standard. It comes with a mat as well as a mat case and 1 year of Amazon Kids +. You can apply to be part of the Glow Early Access program starting today.

Amazon Glow: Design

The Amazon Glow has a fairly sturdy and tall appearance, with an S-shaped casing and an 8-inch display on which kids can see and talk to loved ones. It projects a 19-inch tactile space where children can participate in all kinds of activities, including puzzles, drawings, card games and story time.

On the other side, the family member can call from their own smartphone or device and can participate using the free Glow app. By using this combination of digital and physical interaction, Amazon Glow makes virtual calls more interesting and engaging for both parties.

Amazon Glow: app and features

The Glow app includes content from Disney, Mattel, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Workshop, so kids can choose activities featuring their favorite characters, such as Elmo or Barbie.

For additional personalization, the Amazon Glow will also come with Object Scanning, which can turn your child’s favorite toys into digital stickers or even a puzzle. Even without that, you have thousands of books to choose from and dozens of games to choose from, with more coming later this year, so there’s no shortage of things to do together.

Amazon Glow: Privacy

Kids will only be able to call pre-approved contacts, and parents will also be able to see who they’re calling from the Amazon Parent dashboard. There’s also a privacy shutter that can be closed to turn off cameras and microphones if security is an issue.

It’s nice to see more investments in the smart home for kids from Amazon and we can’t wait to give Amazon Glow a try. The design feels durable, but it will be interesting to see how responsive the projected touch space is. It would also be helpful if loved ones could set preferred calling times, in case there is a time difference or an inappropriate time to call. Otherwise, it looks like an innovative product that will be in high demand given the lack of physical contact between families lately.