In my recent blog post Play and LeARn with Augmented Reality I noted the significant growth that we expect to see this year in AR-enabled learning applications for children.

Conventional toys and board games are getting AR overhauls as well.  I’m especially looking forward to Hasbro’s 2012 Nerf Lazer Tag blasters.  I have a 13-year-old boy at home, which means that for the past several years my son’s room has been a Nerf gun armoury, and my house a Nerf gun battle zone.

The new AR versions will feature an iPhone or iPod connecter to provide a heads-up display.  Thanks to AR, single-player mode will include aliens that appear on your iOS device screen.  The free app can be used to keep track of your gear and power levels, as well as start and host multiplayer games.

The blasters will be available on August 1^st.  It’s a long way from using your finger to play cops and robbers…

-Kevin