Samsung Electronics has launched the world’s first interactive Smart TV apps designed specifically for children.

The newly released apps allow kids to interact with content on the TV using motion control, virtual mirroring and mobile device connections, for a completely immersive experience geared toward education, development and entertainment.

The six new apps – titled ‘Playing Nado Hutos,’ ‘Sticker Theater,’ ‘Gingerbread Man,’ ‘Three Little Pigs,’ ‘Kindergarten’ and ‘Best Kids Song’ – are available immediately to Samsung Smart TV users worldwide.

Samsung also plans to double the amount of kids-focused Smart TV content by the end of the year, said Kyung-shik Lee, vice president of Visual Display at Samsung Electronics.

“Over the past several years, Samsung has focused on offering consumers more intuitive ways to control and interact with their televisions,” he said.

“These innovations have made Smart TV even more accessible for young children in particular, who may not be used to using a remote control.”

One of the new kids-focused apps incorporates Samsung’s Smart Interaction functionality, which allows users to control the TV through voice and gesture. In ‘Playing Nado Hutos,’ children can interact with a character named Hutos by moving their hands in front of the screen.

Kids can tickle or pet Hutos, or spur him to interact with various objects within the game; the character reacts in different ways, depending on the gesture. The app also offers an on-demand video telling Hutos’ story, for a stronger emotional bond with the character.

Reflecting the increasing convergence of TVs and mobile devices, three of Samsung’s new TV apps – ‘Sticker Theater,’ ‘Gingerbread Man’ and ‘Three Little Pigs’ – offer additional functionality when used with an accompanying mobile app, which parents can download via Samsung Apps or Google Play.

Samsung’s virtual mirroring service is available on both the ‘Kindergarten’ and ‘Best Kids Song’ apps, allowing children to truly become part of the action. Using the Smart TV’s built-in camera, virtual mirroring allows users to watch their own movements in real-time.

Samsung currently offers about 90 popular Smart TV apps for children, including ‘Pororo’ and ‘Canimals.’

The company plans to offer an additional 90 kids apps by the end of 2012, including video-on-demand content, quiz games, language learning apps and children’s stories. – TradeArabia News Service