LeapPad

Key takeaways

LeapPad belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect LeapPad to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of LeapPad from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The LeapPad (known as CoCoPad in Japan) is a range of tablet computers developed for children, specifically of the ages 3-9. Various models of the LeapPad have been developed by LeapFrog Enterprises since 1999.

Development history The device, resembling a talking book, took 3 years to develop and was introduced to the market in 1999. In 2001 (sales $160 million) and 2002 it was the best-selling toy in speciality stores. Sales in 2003 reached $680 million and were only eclipsed by sales of the book and cartridge add-ons. LeapStart is in red, Leap 1 is in orange, Leap 2 is in blue, and Leap 3 is in green. LeapPad was invented by Jim Marggraff and developed by a team from Explore Technologies, Inc., which was founded by Marggraff and was acquired by LeapFrog in July 1998. It uses the same patented "NearTouch" technology developed for the Explore Technologies Odyssey Atlasphere. Investigation and development was started in December 1997. Throughout the years, the LeapPad began getting more advanced and more similar to that of an iPad. The LeapPad Explorer sub-series of tablet-computers were the first LeapPads to introduce a touch capacitive display to the lineup.

Models

Various models of the LeapPad were developed between its launch in 1999 and 2020:

LeapPad (original model) LeapPad Plus Writing Read and Write LeapPad LeapPad Plus Microphone (aka Read Aloud LeapPad) LeapPad Pro Quantum LeapPad (aka Quantum Pad) LeapPad Plus Writing and Microphone Learn & Go LeapPad Cocopad (Japan exclusive)

LeapPad Explorer line

LeapPad Explorer (released in the summer of 2011): Similar to Apple's iPad, but unlike the iPad, users can only download proprietary LeapFrog apps and runs on its own operating system. The device has the capability to capture movies and take pictures. LeapFrog won the Platinum Award for LeapPad™ from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio in September 2011. LeapPad 2 Explorer (released in the summer of 2012) LeapPad Ultra (released in the summer of 2013) LeapPad 3 (released in the summer of 2014): A handheld educational tablet-computer considered by many to be the spiritual successor to the LeapPad2, although said device is part of the LeapPad Explorer line of educational tablets. It comes in 2 distinct colors - Green and Pink. The device has dimensions of 7.5 × 5.2 × 1 inches, and weighs 0.85 Ibs (385 grams). It has a screen size of 5 inches and has a resolution of 480 × 272 pixels, equating for 231 ppi (Pixels per inch). The device has a Lithium-Polymer battery, and can have up to around 6 hours of battery life. It has an approximate charging time of 4 hours while being charged with the included AC adapter. The device includes 2 cameras - The front and the back cameras - each being 2mp. Users may take these photos and edit them with effects inside the dedicated included application "Photo Fun Ultra". The device can also shoot videos of up to 480p in resolution, which aligns with the screen resolution. The device comes with a 1GHz quad-core processor. It also comes with a dedicated stylus with a mesh tip. LeapPad Platinum (released in the summer of 2015) LeapPad Ultimate (released in February 2017) LeapPad Academy (released in the summer of 2020)

Spin-offs incompatible with the mainstream series

The LeapPad's popularity helped spawn other LeapPad branded devices that are incompatible with the mainstream LeapPad series of players. These devices were meant for younger audiences who are not ready for the mainstream LeapPad's titles.

My First LeapPad - Targeted for preschoolers to kindergarten children, the design of the LeapPad is different from a regular LeapPad in that the books are flipped upwards. The unit was later redesigned to be shaped like a school bus. A British-voiced version was also available in the UK. LittleTouch LeapPad - Targeted for babies to toddlers, the unit operated significantly different from a regular LeapPad in that it did not require a stylus to operate. The unit also featured a soft pad underneath to allow for the device to sit comfortably on the parents' or toddler's lap.

Technology The LeapPad is a computer with an electrographic sensor. The sensor works as a capacitor and measures the amount of current flowing through corner electrodes into a plate beneath the table top, and uses that information to triangulate the location of the stylus on the table top. The LeapPad is covered by U.S. patents 5686705 and 5877458.

Apps These apps are typically available on the newer LeapPads, such as the LeapPad explorer series:

Notepad Clock Calendar Voice Memo Photo Fun Ultra Music Player Pet Pad Party Pet Chat

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

LeapPad: A LeapPad Platinum — A LeapPad Platinum

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with LeapPad

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what LeapPad claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to LeapPad before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about LeapPad ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of LeapPad

In research: LeapPad appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses LeapPad in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: LeapPad is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer-related introductions in 1999, Educational toys, Electronic toys, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for LeapPad outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study LeapPad in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what LeapPad means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain LeapPad out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is LeapPad in simple terms?

The LeapPad (known as CoCoPad in Japan) is a range of tablet computers developed for children, specifically of the ages 3-9. Various models of the LeapPad have been developed by LeapFrog Enterprises since 1999.

Why does LeapPad matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study LeapPad?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on LeapPad.