1.4 - Pay Tribute to Old New Media: OK BOOM

OK BOOM

The millennial generation is all grown up! These eighties and nineties kids grew up with some very peculiar toys: the spirograph, tamagochi and the most annoying one of all, the Furby! During this assignment, I wanted to pay tribute to this very nostalgic toy, which has obtained both retro and cult status. Furby is known for making cute, high-pitched noises, making it appear to be of similar age as the then-children who played with them. But the 80's and 90's children are all grown-up and have turned into millenials. What would have happened if we all had not at some point pulled out the batteries, in a desperate attempt to silence the Furby? What if Furby had aged along with us? In 2013, Hasbro released a revamp of the original Furby: the Furby BOOM. This toy was aimed toward children-of-the-now and can be connected to a phone or iPad. The nostalgic in me was disappointed. The electronic eyes in no way represent the original Furby vibe. This is why I acquired a Furby BOOM and try make the revamp that Furby our good old retro Furby deserves: one that has grown with us millennials, without 2013 interactive eyes, that converses in a way us millennials understand. Launching project OK BOOM!

(Sadly, this Furby originally spoke Dutch. Teaching it a second language

within two weeks seemed like too much of a challenge.)

Material can be found under this link.