babyWow! 2000
© 1999 Bowwow House
Just press any key and you get an interesting picture as you hear it labeled in one of eight languages. That's the idea of this easy-to-use program designed to put over 300 interesting pictures and eight languages at your child's fingertips. First released in 1998, this second version contains a more responsive design and more beautiful pictures that include real toys and the ability to add your own pictures into the mix. So does it work? If you're looking for a no-fail way to let your baby bang on your computer, this works, but don't count on your child suddenly being able to recite his or her ABCs. We doubt if your child actually learns "colors/shapes, object permanence, opposites and parts of the body" as the program states on the box. We shudder to think that this might be used by some enthusiastic parent to try to formally "teach" a baby a new language. Our testers liked this version more than the first, although they found the process of adding their own pictures to be too cumbersome to bother. They also wished for a way to add their own personalized narration to the pictures they add. All in all, this is a responsive, playful computer experience.
$29.99, Win 95, 98; Mac OS (CD-ROM)
Teaches: foreign language; about 200 words in English and others