>
The playground of the future? Virgin Media O2 opens an interactive adventure park in London where the swings and slides are transformed into musical instruments as children play on them
- Virgin Media O2 has opened a high-tech playground in Islington, London
- The swings, slides and climbing frames have sensors to track interactions
- These interactions create a unique piece of music that the child can download
Want to get your kids off their computers and let them go outside? A high-tech playground can offer a solution.
Virgin Media O2 has opened an interactive adventure park in London where children can make music while playing on the equipment.
The swings, slides and climbing frames of ‘The Connected Playground’ are equipped with sensors, pressure cushions and infrared rays that follow the child’s movements.
Each device adds a different layer to a unique piece of music as they make their way through the track, and their interactions change the pitch and tempo.
The track can be heard through speakers located throughout the park and then downloaded to take home.
Virgin Media O2 has opened an interactive adventure park in London where children can make music while playing on the equipment
The swings, slides and climbing frames of ‘The Connected Playground’ are equipped with sensors, pressure pads and infrared rays that follow the child’s movements
All the play equipment, currently set up at King Square Gardens in Islington, is connected via gigabit broadband and 5G mobile networks.
Research from Virgin Media O2 shows that 64 per cent of UK parents are concerned that their children are not getting enough outdoor stimulation.
A study from the University of Cambridge found that only 53 per cent of six-year-olds in England get an hour of vigorous exercise a day – the amount recommended by the NHS.
Indeed, the amount of time children spend on screens each day has increased by more than 50 percent since 2020 – the equivalent of an extra hour and twenty minutes.
The new playground is inspired by these findings, believing that the future of play is a combination of technology and the outdoors.
Gareth Malone, famed choir director and parent, has endorsed the idea.
He said, “Our kids live in a connected world of gadgets and gizmos. It’s the world they grew up with.
“I think it’s essential to lure young people out with a style of play that excites them and that reflects their style of play.
‘Virgin Media O2’s Connected Playground is a good example of this. It uses technology, lighting, sounds and musical elements to provide a sense of achievement that all children strive for when playing.
“I’m intrigued to see what else can be done with future technologies and connectivity.”
All play equipment, currently set up at Kings Square Gardens in Islington, is connected via gigabit broadband and 5G mobile networks
Numerous studies have shown the benefits of more time outdoors for children as they improve their happiness, health, eyesight and even school work
Numerous studies have shown the benefits of spending more time outdoors for children as they improve their happiness, health, eyesight and even school work.
Dr. Sam Wass, child psychologist and expert on Channel 4’s Secret Life of 4 and 5 Year Olds, said: ‘The scientific evidence is overwhelming now that spending time outside has both immediate and long-term benefits for children’s concentration and mood. .
“But encouraging this as a parent can be difficult as children’s expectations and what they get from digital play are constantly evolving.
‘New hybrid environments, such as Virgin Media O2’s Connected Playground, could play a vital role in the future in encouraging children to embrace technology in outdoor environments, and help provide children with the tools they need to think and play creatively .’
The Connected Playground is open all day today and tomorrow. Click for more information or to reserve a slot here.