Mattel Inc. unveiled on Monday a new talking Barbie that comes equipped with her own computer and a CD-ROM full of games and interaction, allowing girls to personalize the phrases the doll says.
Talk With Me Barbie, which will be available in October for a retail price of US$90, is meant to show girls - as well as tell them - that "computers are cool," said Mattel spokeswoman Sara Rosales. This is a far cry from the talking Barbie of yesteryear, criticized for discouraging girls in science by saying things like "math is hard."
The new Barbie has a built-in infrared sensor that allows her to communicate with her own "computer," which, in turn, can be hooked up to the user's PC or Macintosh. Using the CD-ROM software, the user can input information such as her name and hometown, and her personal interests and hobbies. This information is then uploaded to Barbie, who tailors her responses accordingly. If the user's name is not on the list of the 5,000 that Barbie can choose from, she can call a toll-free number and get help inputting her name.
The Talk With Me Barbie comes in the wake of a hugely successful Barbie CD-ROM, which sold 500,000 copies over Christmas, alerting the multimedia world to the potentially important market girls represent.
