The myPC Stage One Keyboard is a personalized computer keyboard designed especially for toddlers' learning styles and lifestyles! Unique features include: SPILL PROOF design, washable/removable cover, slightly larger rubberized keys and tough exterior to withstand the messiest of computing experiences. The Stage 1 Toddler Keyboard is ideal for two year olds to preschoolers and the perfect start to their technology experience.

Let' face the facts, toddlers are a strong concern both in positive and negative ways. On the negative side, toddlers have proven to be professionals when it comes to spilling things on a keyboard. Take a toddler, a cup of liquid, and a keyboard, and you can rest assured that toddler will at sometime find a way to spill that liquid on the keyboard. The myPC Stage One Keyboard overcomes that concern and at the same time provides an interactive tool that will stimulate a child's critical development skills.

As always, we did our intense testing and evaluation of the myPC Toddler Keyboard. We generally do not share a lot of our "unique" and most unusual manner of putting a product through the ropes, but some of our testing is quite likely more tough than what most labs will put a product through.

In reading about how the myPC Toddler Keyboard is supposed to be entirely spill proof and washable, we decided to go to the extreme and do our own testing of that claim. For this segment of testing, we dropped the keyboard into a bag with a liquid substance other than water and heat sealed the bag. The bag was then placed in a special secure frame which was then placed into a modified paint mixer. If you are familiar with paint mixers which you see at hardware stores, the mixer delivers abrupt repetitive motion at an extremely high speed. Now just imagine the myPC Keyboard in a liquid substance which is in a heat sealed bag, which in turn is attached to this paint mixer for 2 1/2 hours! Well, the claim was made that the keyboard was spill proof so we put it to the test!

By now I am sure you are wondering the results...The myPC Toddler Keyboard was removed from the bag and liquid upon completion, wiped off and plugged in to the computer to see if it withstood the torture test we had just put it through. The myPC Toddler Keyboard strutted its stuff with no variance in performance in any manner. Not only did the keyboard show it was truly spill proof, it demonstrated that it could withstand well beyond the norm abuse and still remain fully operational!

PLEASE NOTE: Although the myPC Keyboard passed this rather unique testing we performed, we do not guarantee it is "water proof". The myPC Keyboard is "Spill Proof" for those unexpected accidents by a child where liquid may get spilled on a keyboard, not full submersion. In other words, if your child spills something on it, we strongly suggest you do not go placing it in a dishwasher to clean it!

Providing a good educational tool for children ages 1-4 is a near impossible feat due to the factor of most products are designed for a limited age group range. Not so with the myPC Toddler Keyboard, it provides toddler friendly computing! Toddlers have a need for interaction between not just the toys they are playing with, but the family unit as well. Nothing is more powerful than a parent interacting with a toddler and the toy they are playing with simultaneously. The myPC keyboard goes even further and provides multiple venues of opportunity for parent/child interaction while playing with the myPC keyboard and mouse.

Now if you step back and think for a moment, critical skill development in a toddler is a primary concern which is surpassed in priority only by safety. The myPC keyboard delivers the stimulation for the development of an immense number of primary critical skills. When you take that fact and combine that with durability, long-term play value, and contribution to positive independent psychological development in a child, the myPC keyboard is an invaluable tool to have in a home.

Taking this one step further, just imagine the value of the myPC keyboard in the educational environment! Learning is taken to an entirely new level that has never been realized for far lesser cost and far safer than any other solution proposed to date! Simple, a competitive price point, durable for long term play, and visually appealing, the myPC keyboard and mouse provides a whole new perspective for the education environment with toddlers.

When the myPC keyboard and mouse was introduced earlier this year at Toy Fair '08, it was astounding to see so many people taking an avid interest to discover what this new gadget was all about. Little did we expect the same response to occur both in the NY tri-state area as well as California, and Nevada. Since Toy Fair '08 we have taken the myPC keyboard and mouse to multiple cities in multiple states and cities at trade shows and other events to get some REAL feedback from consumers through our hands-on consumer evaluation, which is a vital part of our overall product evaluation.

The most interesting fact that was consistent in every city was a single question that literally every last person made in regard to the myPC keyboard and mouse. "Is pink the only color it comes in?" We found it so interesting to see how the color of the keyboard was the highest primary concern of every individual who looked at the myPC keyboard and mouse. It turns out the primary reasoning for the question was that most of the consumers participating in our hands-on evaluation had a daughter AND son or even multiple sons and/or daughters. They would intend to purchase more than one keyboard so that neither of the kids would have an issue!

What was even more intriguing was the fact of the parents who participated were not in the slightest in discomfort with the web site for myPC not being finished yet so that they could gain a greater wealth of info on the product. According to the feedback forms we reviewed, all they were concerned about was what they actually were seeing and playing with during the evaluation. The overall response from all of our feedback forms were summed up by statements such as "This keyboard is HOT!, like my daughter was trippin with the color and I won't have to worry about here spillin stuff on it!" or as an educator from a private Christian school in California expressed, "This is a monumental success of a product that I intend to suggest we adopt usage of at our school; simply fabulous and such a blessing!" It is easy to see that this product has definitely found its niche before it even available in retail stores.

While other organizations will define their ratings in a "blanket" method which simply defines each rating in an overall usage, we choose to take a different approach. Each individual rating that was assigned to this product, based upon our evaluation process, is briefly explained as to how that specific rating score was reached. The ratings for this product are listed below.

Design Quality: Rating Level 5 - The incredible design quality of the myPC keyboard and mouse is more than just a statement of creative design. Well crafted in its design, materials used, quite effective in its intended purpose, it shows that it will hold up to long term extensive use with little or no wear occurring. The myPC keyboard and mouse earned a perfect score in this category. Even the mouse was designed to be simplistic, yet at the same time durable for a serious level of play. Some other important elements to consider are the over-sized keys and the fact there are also special function buttons on the keyboard as well, which enhance the use of the keyboard. In addition, you have color coded keys which help in the learning process. These additional features re-enforce the image of a strong level of design quality

Durability: Rating Level 5 - When you consider the rigorous testing we performed in a non-lab environment, the myPC keyboard and mouse seem to have written the book when it comes to durability. The materials used make it quite effective in regard to being pushed to the limits by toddlers. The myPC keyboard and mouse showed it will hold up to long term extensive use with little or no wear becoming visible. Just imagine a pre-schooler and their normal behavior patterns which can range from spilling liquid on a keyboard, to slamming their hands down on the keys when throwing a fit, or just being wacky. The myPC keyboard and mouse clearly has been designed to withstand this kind of abuse which is so common with toddlers. A score of "5" was established in this category.

Ease Of Use: Rating Level 4 - The myPC keyboard and mouse scored well above average in regard to ease of use. Pretty well simplistic, easily understood, and applicable for use in multiple age-levels, the myPC keyboard and mouse really score well in the category for ease of use, but a parent or guardian is still needed to plug the keyboard and mouse in. Although the simplicity is still there, a toddler can pull out a cable from a computer, that imply is their nature at some ages and that obviously would make the product non-functional if the child is playing alone. The myPC keyboard and mouse falls short of a perfect score by a single point in this category.

Functionality: Rating Level 5 - Functionality is a no brainer with the myPC keyboard and mouse. It is only obvious from the consumer feedback, first glance at the product, and our own evaluation, that functionality is of the highest level with the myPC keyboard and mouse. Simple yet effective this product delivers a perfect solution of functionality that hosts a dual function. It serves as a learning tool for a toddler while at the same time encouraging parent/child interaction. The myPC keyboard and mouse scores a perfect score of "5" in this category.

Innovation: Rating Level 5 - In regard to innovation, the myPC keyboard and mouse scored the highest possible points. The design, shape, and functionality are amazing when you think about the incredible developmental concept which the myPC keyboard and mouse represents; nothing but the highest in innovative design and quality built to last. It was quite evident that much time and effort was put into the creation of this product with the most innovative design coming forth as a result. In this category, the myPC keyboard and mouse scored a perfect score.

Visual Appeal: Rating Level 4 - When it comes to visual appeal, this was an easy call in one aspect yet not in another view of the product. At first glance, let's say with the pink keyboard it is visually appealing, but someone else may not see it the same way. For someone else, to see it in blue may make it visually appealing to them, but not in pink. If you ignore the color as an element of judging the myPC keyboard and mouse as being visually appealing, it is a hit without question, but when you add the color into consideration, we have to knock a single digit off the score in this category. What one person sees as visually appealing may not be the same as another person thus the docking of one point here. The myPC keyboard and mouse pulled a rating of just one digit short of perfect in this category.

EVALUATION RESULTS - From evaluation for induction into "The Toy Man® Product Guide"
Overall Rating: 5	Seal of Approval: Approved	eco-Recognition Seal: Not Eligible	Award of Excellence: Approved	eChoice Award: Selected

THE TOY MAN® SEAL OF APPROVAL "The first and original Seal of Approval... designed for product recognition and validation."

Since 1971 "The Toy Man® Seal of Approval" has served as an emblem and standard for professional recognition of a product or online service having met the globally recognized evaluation standards of The Toy Man® Product Guide. This emblem was first established in 1971 by the International Parenting Institute™. It is modeled after the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval®", an emblem of recognition for products which meet the globally recognized high standards set forth by the Good Housekeeping Institute®.

THE TOY MAN® AWARDS "The globally recognized awards that are received by a limited few... and give a product the well earned recognition it deserves!"

The Toy Man® Award of Excellence - The products and online services which become recipients of The Toy Man® "Award of Excellence” passed our intensive evaluation process.  Their evaluation was completed with an overall category rating average of [5] Stars, the highest level of rating available on a 1-5 scale evaluation basis.

"The Toy Man® Award - This is more than just an award, this is the "brass ring" so to speak; the award that serves as an emblem of recognition for products & online services such that contribute substantially to positive skill growth and productivity. This productivity is measured in the value of potential cognitive, motor, and critical skill growth and/or overall level of improvement in an individual or group from use of a product or online service. * This distinguished award is exclusive as well as unique, with the editor's signature which represents a product being selected as an . PLEASE NOTE: The eChoice™ Award images which were used from 1971-1984, 1984-2007, 2007-April 2010 have been retired. Although the former versions of the eChoice™ Award have been retired, they still remain valid.