https://www.neowin.net/news/a-quick-look-back-at-when-microsoft-made-an-interactive-barney-toy/ Neowin Login Sign up Facebook Twitter Follow @neowinfeed YouTube Mastodon RSS [ ] * Log in * Sign up * News News + Software Microsoft Gaming Guides Closer Look Windows 10 Windows 11 + Latest + Microsoft + Google + Apple + Software + The Echo 4 smart speaker Prime members can save on Amazon Echo smart speakers now ahead of Prime Day 2 hours ago windows11pro Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for up to three devices for only $29.97 5 hours ago [tweetdeck-] Some Twitter users can go back to using the old and better version of TweetDeck 9 hours ago Microsoft Actimates A quick look back at when Microsoft made an interactive Barney toy 9 hours ago View all recent news + windows11pro Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for up to three devices for only $29.97 5 hours ago Microsoft Actimates A quick look back at when Microsoft made an interactive Barney toy 9 hours ago A Windows Subsystem for Android logo Windows Subsystem for Android Preview gets network, PiP, storage, and other improvements 12 hours ago A Microsoft Weekly banner Microsoft Weekly: Windows 12 concepts, Windows 11 hidden features, and malware-like Edge 15 hours ago View all Microsoft news + The Google logo Google alleges Indian antitrust authority used its position to protect Amazon Jul 8, 2023 Google Tensor G5 delayed to 2025 Google will reportedly use TSMC to make its first custom Pixel chip; delayed to 2025 Jul 6, 2023 A big Microsoft Edge logo with a Chrome logo inside it Microsoft Edge force-installs Google Docs Offline extension without permission Jul 6, 2023 The EU flag against a blue sky Microsoft and Apple slapped with gatekeeper label, says EU Commissioner Jul 4, 2023 View all Google news + Apple stream Foundation on YouTube The first episode of Apple TV+' Foundation will stream free on YouTube Jul 8, 2023 apple vision pro The "appointment-only" Vision Pro will reportedly arrive in UK and Canada by the end of 2024 Jul 7, 2023 Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac and Windows Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac or Windows Price Dropped to just $29.97 Jul 5, 2023 iPhone SE 4 delayed again Report: OLED iPhone SE 4 apparently delayed again, won't be released until 2025 Jul 5, 2023 View all Apple news + [uninstalle] Total Uninstall 7.5.0 18 minutes ago [lock_secur] WinLock 9.1.5 3 hours ago [librecad_m] LibreCAD 2.2.0.1 4 hours ago [1470991171] CrystalDiskInfo 9.1.0 5 hours ago View all software news * Features + Reviews + Top 10 + Guides + Unboxings + Trending + Editorials + Reviews + Top 10 + Guides + Specs Appeal + Trending + Editorials + geekom as 6 screenshot GEEKOM AS 6 review: Ryzen 9 6900HX desktop power inside a Mini PC Jun 11, 2023 Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 8TB - Thumbnail Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 8TB NVMe SSD review - Go big or go home Jun 11, 2023 Corner picture of the QNAP TS-464 with three drive sleds slightly out Review of QNAP's 4-bay NAS, the TS-464, a worthy upgrade from the TS-453D Jun 4, 2023 Intel NUC 13 Pro Intel NUC 13 Pro review: Packing 13th-gen Raptor Lake power inside a tiny body May 31, 2023 View all reviews + A Windows 11 wallpaper with a large 10 on it Top 10 apps to fix Windows 11's inconveniences Apr 11, 2023 A Windows 11 logo surrounded by thumb up emojis Top 10 most requested features Microsoft has already brought to Windows 11 Mar 4, 2023 A File Explorer icon next to thumbs up and down emojis Top 10 features and changes Windows 11 users want for File Explorer Feb 5, 2023 An image showing a screenshot of Windows 11s Settings app and thumb updown emoji Here are the top 10 improvements Windows 11 users want for the Settings app Jan 29, 2023 View all Top 10s + Pre-follow people on Threads You can pre-follow Instagram users on Threads, here's how Jul 8, 2023 New Windows 11 Copilot interface Want to try Windows Copilot now? Here's how you can enable it now on Windows 11 Jun 30, 2023 powershell on linux How To Install and Use PowerShell on Linux - Free Guide Jun 19, 2023 The Ubuntu logo with people jumping in the air How to quickly update all software on Ubuntu with this single command chain Jun 4, 2023 View all guides + The 2023 Apple Mac Pro Specs Appeal: Here is how the new Mac Pro compares to its predessor and Mac Studio Jun 7, 2023 The 2023 MacBook Pro lineup Specs Appeal: Here is how 2023 MacBook Pros compare with the previous models Jan 23, 2023 The M2 Mac Mini Specs Appeal: Here is how the new M2 Mac Mini compares to the M1 and Intel-based variants Jan 18, 2023 View all Specs Appeal + Microsoft Actimates A quick look back at when Microsoft made an interactive Barney toy 9 hours ago A Microsoft Weekly banner Microsoft Weekly: Windows 12 concepts, Windows 11 hidden features, and malware-like Edge 15 hours ago Corsair K55 keyboard Get these great gaming mice and keyboards for less than $50 each on Amazon Jul 8, 2023 Visual Studio Code Visual Studio Code 1.80 arrives with terminal image support Jul 7, 2023 View all trending news + apple vision pro I wanted the "Wow" factor for the Apple Vision Pro reveal, but all I got was a "Why?" Jun 6, 2023 A robotic arm with Microsoft written over it Navigating Microsoft's AI Frontier: Unveiling tech giant's path with caution and critique May 28, 2023 Elderly man and screen with information that his services are no longer needed Editorial: It's right that big tech leans up with layoffs, focusing on profitable activities May 27, 2023 The NVIDIA logo NVIDIA shares recently hit $380 each, but is the price fair? May 26, 2023 View all editorials * Forums * Store + Recent + Highlights + Interests + On a Budget + windows11pro Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for up to three devices for only $29.97 5 hours ago [1523446954] Save up to 61% off Windscribe VPN Pro subscriptions Jul 8, 2023 ultravpn artwork Save 89% on a 3 Year Subscription to UltraVPN + Free Antivirus for 30 Days Jul 7, 2023 getflix Save 69% on a lifetime subscription to Getflix Smart DNS & VPN Jul 6, 2023 View all recent deals + Best Sellers Best Sellers Pay What You Want Pay What You Want Gear + Gadgets Gear + Gadgets Software Bundles Software Bundles View all Neowin Deals + For Developers For Developers Productivity Productivity Accessories Accessories E-Learning E-Learning View all Neowin Deals + Under $20 Under $20 Freebies Freebies Giveaways Giveaways View all Neowin Deals * More + Subscribe + Store + Chat on IRC + Send News Tip + Write for Neowin + About Us + Advertising * Software * Gaming * Microsoft * Deals * Windows vNext * Windows 10 * Windows 11 * Insiders * Server * Write for us * Send news tip A quick look back at when Microsoft made an interactive Barney toy John Callaham Neowin @JCalNEO * Jul 9, 2023 09:10 EDT * Hot! with 3 comments Microsoft Actimates In past features, we have taken a look back at some of Microsoft's older hardware products, including the fact that it made add-on cards for Mac PCs, and more recently teamed up with Razer for a short lived PC gaming accessory line. We even took a look at how the company released a mouse-like joystick for RTS gamers. All of these products were things I was previously aware of. However, when I took a deep dive into the interwebs, I found something that I had never heard of before, or at least don't remember. Microsoft actually launched its own interactive toy line for young kids in the late 1990s. It' was called Microsoft ActiMates, and it was first introduced in February 1997 at the New York Toy Fair with a tie-in to perhaps the biggest children's TV show at that time: the PBS sensation Barney. Yes, Microsoft actually sold a Barney toy. The premise of the Microsoft ActiMates lineup was that your kids got a plush small version of Barney in the box, and when you connected the plush toy to your TV with a special transmitter (sold separately), and then played specially coded VHS tapes on your TV (also sold separately), the toy would react to what was playing on the tape. The toy could also be connected to a PC and could interact with videos and software shown on the monitor. In both cases, the toy Barney could talk by using an extensive vocabulary. He could "talk" about what was being shown on the TV screen or PC monitor, ask questions to the kids that are watching the videos with them, and more. Microsoft ActiMates The TV version allowed Barney to use up to 4,000 words, while the PC version, made to work with Windows 95 (naturally) increased his vocabulary to 14,000 words. The increase was likely because the PC version included special games and interactive activities that kids could play, and have Barney react and interact with them. Microsoft marketed this toy line as "educational". In fact, the initial press release quotes an Erik Strommen who has a Ph.D in developmental psychology and who Microsoft stated was a consultant on ActiMates. He stated: Young children learn through play. While playing with the ActiMates system, the child is encouraged to explore and discover the curriculum that's built into the software programs, videotapes and the games available in the character itself. The full system gives parents a library of information from learning experts on children's growth and development, and suggested activities to enhance the child's mastery of important skills. The toy Barney could also be interactive on his own, without a TV or PC. Microsoft stated: Through sensors in his eyes, feet and hands, the plush 16-inch ActiMates Interactive Barney is able to respond to a child's touch and, with a 2,000 word vocabulary, can talk a child through a wide variety of learning-oriented activities - always with an emphasis on fun. Squeeze his foot and he'll sing one of 17 songs such as "Alphabet Song," "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and his signature "I Love You." Squeeze his hand and he'll engage the child in one of 12 activities including counting, rhymes and ABCs. Cover his eyes and he'll play peek-a-boo. The actual toys went on sale later in the fall of 1997. They were not cheap, by the way. The Barney toy itself was sold on its own for $109.95. You had to purchase the ActiMates TV Pack and ActiMates PC Pack transmitters on their own, and they were $64.95 each. Both included one VCR tape or one CD-ROM disk. Additional VCR tapes cost $14.95 each, and additional CD-ROM software cost $34.95 each. The Barney ActiMates toy and accessories were apparently a big enough sales success that the line expanded later on to include plush toys, tapes, and software for other PBS-based kids shows; specifically, Arthur and his sister DW, along with the Teletubbies. However, the toy line ended up being short-lived. Microsoft stopped selling ActiMates toys, tapes and software in 2000. There's no specific reason I could find online for the fairly sudden end of this lineup, but it's possible that after the big promotional push in the fall of 1997 for the Barney line, parents may have had enough of buying an over $100 plush toy for their young kids, even if it could talk, along with all of its accessories. Tags * Microsoft * Microsoft actimates * Barney * Arthur * Toy * Look back Like Tweet Share Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed [tweetdeck-] Next Article Some Twitter users can go back to using the old and better version of TweetDeck Insignia 24-inch fire tv Previous Article Get this 24-inch Amazon Fire TV for just $64.99, and the 32-inch version is just $79.99 Related Stories windows11pro Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for up to three devices for only $29.97 Neowin Deals * 6 hours ago with 3 comment s A Windows Subsystem for Android logo Windows Subsystem for Android Preview gets network, PiP, storage, and other improvements Taras Buria * 12 hours ago with 8 comment s A Microsoft Weekly banner Microsoft Weekly: Windows 12 concepts, Windows 11 hidden features, and malware-like Edge Taras Buria * 15 hours ago with 0 comment s Microsoft will help cover its American employees&039 travel costs to bypass anti-abortion laws Woman settles 'Windows' brand dispute with mighty Microsoft over a reading tool Sayan Sen * Oct 7, 2022 with 28 comment s Subscribe to NeowinGoogle News button Subscribe to our Newsletter Community Activity Refresh * What was the last movie you watched? (2023 edition) in The Media Room * Your Favorite Music Player? in Software Discussion & Support * My Frustration when trying to use a tablet for something productive. in Jokes & Funny Stuff * Windows 11 login stuck on corrupt profile in Microsoft (Windows) * Odd BSOD Crashes on a Newer Mini PC in Hardware Hangout * What are you playing? in Gamers' Hangout * Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) in The Media Room * Passkey vs. 2FA vs. Password manager in Smart Home, Network & Security * Problem with light blue bar in Windows 7 showing last action. in Microsoft (Windows) * What are you listening to? in Wall of Sound Advertisement Trending Stories Microsoft Actimates A quick look back at when Microsoft made an interactive Barney toy 9 hours ago with 3 comments A Microsoft Weekly banner Microsoft Weekly: Windows 12 concepts, Windows 11 hidden features, and malware-like Edge 15 hours ago with 0 comments Corsair K55 keyboard Get these great gaming mice and keyboards for less than $50 each on Amazon Jul 8, 2023 with 0 comments Visual Studio Code Visual Studio Code 1.80 arrives with terminal image support Jul 7, 2023 with 0 comments Advertisement Join the conversation! Login or Sign Up to read and post a comment. Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Twitter Sign in with Google Sign in with Microsoft 3 Comments - Add comment [Sort by oldest first (thread view)] Advertisement Report Comment Close Please enter your reason for reporting this comment. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [Report Comment] geekom as 6 screenshot review GEEKOM AS 6 review: Ryzen 9 desktop power, but inside a Mini PC geekom as 6 TWIRL logo in front of moon This Week in Rocket Launches #122 India to launch Chandrayaan 3 lunar lander mission twirl 122 sabrent rocket 4 plus 8tb artwork review Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 8TB NVMe SSD review - Go big or go home rocket 4 plus Picture of the QNAP TS-464 with the front bezel off to the side exposing the drive bays review QNAP's 4-bay NAS, the TS464, is a worthy upgrade from the TS-453D qnap Intel NUC 13 Pro review Intel NUC 13 Pro packs 13th-gen Raptor Lake power inside a tiny body intel nuc 13 pro A Microsoft Weekly banner Microsoft Weekly Copilot and other new features for Windows 11 microsoft weekly The 2023 Apple Mac Pro Specs Appeal Here is how the new Mac Pro compares to its predessor and Mac Studio mac pro Build 25393 Windows 11 Insider Canary Build 25393 is yet another small update windows 11 insider preview Build 22621.1926 Windows 11 Release Preview adds lots of features and bug fixes windows 11 insider preview Build 23493 Windows 11 Dev Preview adds Windows Copilot and lots more windows 11 insider preview Build 22621.1972 Windows 11 Beta brings WinUI 3, fixes issues related to RAM, BitLocker windows 11 insider preview Company * Contact Us * About Us * Write for Neowin * Advertising Community * Forums * Subscribe * Chat on IRC * Neowin Deals Social * Facebook * Twitter * YouTube * Mastodon * RSS Partners * Star Control * Fences * Brad Wardell * Store * DMCA Policy * Terms of Use * Privacy Statement (c) Since 2000 Neowin LLC. All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Top of Page Login Close Username or email: [ ] Password [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Twitter Sign in with Google Sign in with Microsoft Loading