The attention-getters in the Toys Wholesale industry are toys with technological attitude, and this has been proven time after time, in a variety of venues. However, the latest showing of toys with futuristic appeal has created quite a stir, as these goods take off from being mere child’s play, to something that grownups can play with as well as they use their iPhones or other common electronic devices.

NEW YORK – Toys with a tech edge were the rage during Toy Fair 2011 in New York City, which put quite a bit of distance between classic board games and traditional playthings, by contrasting them with the future of toys today. Mattel, one of the leading toy manufacturers and retail giants of the industry, put a fresh spin on an old favorite by offering a built-in microphone to its Ken doll, giving him the ability to record and play back up to five messages.

On the other side of the toy biz juggernaut playing field, Hasbro introduced some new and updated versions of their cult classic hit game Monopoly, as well as Battleship. Of particular interest was Battleship’s use of infrared scanners to detect changes in game play.

For older toy lovers, with an iPhone already part of their daily accessory list, Jakks Pacific released a microphone that makes the user sound like rapper “T-Pain” when singing into it. Some other trends that should be examined closely are the ones that examine you back; motion-sensor technology is big, as is anything that works directly with apps and other social media elements that are already in use today. With movies always providing inspiration for the latest batch of tech toys, TRON: Legacy has provided the perfect opportunity for toy makers to come up with lighted rings that can be thrown over a fair distance, while looking a lot like the main weapons that were used in battle during the movie’s fight scenes.

The same company that produces the TRON ring, Tosy, is also th one who came up with TOPIO, the robot who uses artificial intelligence to play a match of ping-pong against a human opponent, and improve his game with every swat at the ball.

For younger players, toys have adopted a tech feel, and this time for tiny hands that aren’t quite at the level of writing emails or placing calls yet. The iCan Play Case, by Fisher-Price, makes the ubiquitous iPhone more baby and toddler friendly, with a special plastic case that provides safety for a parent’s delicate iPhone, while the child plays with it. Th case comes complete with rattling rings and teething handles, making this a must-have for all babies who are tech-savvy. There are also a few iPhone apps that are in the works from the company as well, like Animal Sounds, Where’s Puppy’s Nose, and Let’s Count Animals, which are built around current iPhone standards, requiring finger taps, shakes, and swipes, to activate and engage.

One particularly interesting toy that comes with a green earth message is the OWI, an eco-friendly car replica that runs entirely on salt water. Kids are able to mix up a saltwater solution, and administer it to the little car, giving it enough electrical charge for up to seven hours of continuous play. The company has also introduced a train set that runs on solar energy,. and miniature bicyclists that use wind power to pedal their bikes.

In the world of photography, the See Yourself camera debuts, as the company’s latest version of the Kid-Tough Digital Camera line. With the ability to survive even the harshest environments of drops, throws, and other rough treatment, the camera features devices and knobs that are easy to control, and a built-in flash for low light shots. An LCD panel completes the picture, allowing kids to se the results of their work in an instant. It even comes with  USB connection that can be used to upload images to th family computer for sharing.

The Toys Wholesale industry has rarely seen this kind of technology in its midst, and when it does, it tends to go all-out. Watching for these trends will help any wholesaler and retailer know what’s hot when it comes to play time.