 Evaluation Summary - Category Ratings
Category ratings based on scale from 1 to 5 [3] = Meets Passing Criteria [4] = Excellent [5] = Outstanding / Best
( Only scores of 3 or higher are published. )
Product and service final rating is averaged from the sum of all evaluation category scores.
( With a total of 323 evaluation categories, only 6 of the applicable evaluation categories are featured for public view. )
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Content Quality |
Critical Skill Development |
Educational Value |
Marketability |
Response Level |
Visual Appeal |
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 Safety / Quality Classifications |
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CE Marked | UL Approved | JPMA Certified |  | (Not Applicable) | (Not Applicable) | | | ASTM Compliant | eco-Friendly | eco-Conscious | | (Not Applicable) | | (Not Applicable) |
| CPSIA Compliant | Independent Lab Tested | Independent Lab Name | | (Not Applicable) |
| | LeadSafe™ - Surface Coatings/Paint
(Complies with 16 CFR 1303/CPSIA 101) | LeadSafe™ - Content / Substrates
(Complies with CPSIA 101) | PhthalatesSafe™
(Complies with CPSIA 108) | | (Not Applicable) | | (Not Applicable) | |
| BPASafe™ (Complies with CPSI EN71) | Soluble Heavy Metals
(Complies with ASTM F963/CPSIA 106) | Mechanical/Physical (Complies with ASTM F963/CPSIA 106) | | (Not Applicable) | (Not Applicable) | | | Flammability - Solids/Textiles (Complies with 16 CFR 1500.44/CFR 1610) | Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials (Complies with ASTM-4236/16 CFR 1500.14(b)(8) ) | iWatchDog™ Approved (Complies with ICCS™ Certification Standards) | | (Not Applicable) | | |
| UPC | Manufacturer SKU | Age Grading | | | | |
| Manufactured In | Safety Hazard/Warnings | | U.S.A. | CAUTION: Can be addictive! |
Shapes, Color, and Classical Music
The folks who produced artsee smartsee left no stone unturned in their design of this DVD which is a radical shift from what some may consider "the norm" with the delivery of a DVD which despite its design being targeted for infants and toddlers, in actuality it has proven it is for all age groups. artsee smartsee is well beyond captivating...it's literally addictive!
How would I best describe it? Well, the eyes have it with the artsee smartsee DVD and its cavalcade of spoken word, classical music, animated geometric shapes and basic colors which children from infancy to toddler age are in recognition of, all combined into one incredible experience! Created by an Emmy winning designer, artsee smartsee contains a 30-minute movie of animated high contrast objects and shapes choreographed and finely timed to a mix of 24 popular classical recordings.
There are three main options from which to choose from on the DVD menu, plus a chapter selection option to select a specific chapter to listen/view. They are "Play Animation", "Animation and Vocabulary", "Vocabulary Lesson", and "Chapter Selection". In the space to follow you will find a brief description of what each option the first three options are about.
Play Animation
The Play Animation provides a combination of classical music, geometric shapes and primary colors. The intro starts with a fast moving classical music piece with black and whites squares progressing into triangles, and so on, forming and disappearing in a vast variety of manners. The movements of the objects are in sync with the music being played, encouraging concurrent coordination of visual and thinking processes.
As each chapter of music, objects, and animations continues its procession to the next chapter to follow, whether infant or adult, the combination of animation and sound is literally mesmerizing.
One of the key underlying features that creates the educational value of the artsee smartsee DVD is the focus on the primary colors, black, white, grey, blue, red, and yellow. Unlike adult eyes which can distinguish between a literally boundless number of different shades of light and color, an infant's eyes can only detect large contrasts between light and dark, or black and white.
Research has found that newborn’s eyes register contrasting color such as white, black and red the best. As they become toddlers, the color range increases with their development. This is the reasoning for the animations starting out with black and white checkered squares and rectangular shapes, slowly progressing into a larger variety of primary colors and shapes. With artsee smartsee's shape animation, infants' perception of unity and form is stimulated dramatically with a progressive development of their object perception skills.
* Johnson, S. P., Cohen, L. B., Marks, K. H., & Johnson, K. L. (In press). Young infants' perception of unity in rotation displays. Infancy.
Animation and Vocabulary | Vocabulary
The next two options on the DVD menu are "Animation and Vocabulary" and "Vocabulary". The only difference is that "Animation and Vocabulary" shows the same animated shape/music chapters, then artsee smartsee transitions into a 12-minute vocabulary section where 50 objects appear and transition from black-and-white shapes to contour line drawings, then to full color. With the "Vocabulary" option alone, an infant, child, or adult experiences only the 12-minute vocabulary section.
With the "Vocabulary" visual and audible experience, as each object or animal is introduced, you hear the identifying name of the object or animal. It appears first as a black and white shape, evolving into a contour line drawing. The image remains in a static form then eventually transitions into the either the actual object/animal, or a detailed and life-like simulation of same. In addition, you now have a background and foundation which creates an illusion of a real-life environment having gone from two-dimensional perception to the inflection of a three-dimensional environment.
The Vocabulary section offers six different languages to choose from: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese and Russian. As each object appears, a word is spoken which represents the object which is being displayed, (ie; car, butterfly, camera, etc.) The words are spoken in the specific language which has been selected. This is an excellent tool for infant object perception and segregation. This is vital in critical skill development.
* Cohen, L. B. & Cashon, C. H. (2001). Infant object segregation implies information integration. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 78,75-83.
Chapter Selection
The final option on the DVD is "Chapter Selection
 Independent Evaluator Reports
Obtaining An Independent Perspective...
In this section we will cover "artsee smartsee" from the perspectives of qualified individuals in the specific field associated with the product being evaluated. To accomplish that task we have called upon the assistance of two top level industry professionals who know their stuff and have the credentials to prove it.
Our professional and independent evaluators have formed their own opinions from extensive analysis and produced detailed, in-depth reports connected with their study and evaluation of artsee smartsee. The information to follow is comprised of excerpts from those same reports which have been paraphrased in order to encapsulate the primary points being conveyed in each report. This approach provides completely independent perspectives in the evaluation of artsee smartsee.
PLEASE NOTE: The names of our independent evaluators are not disclosed to protect the privacy of these individuals upon their request. Their labors are provided at no charge to assist us in providing a well-balanced and qualified product evaluation summary. Their title is provided to clarify for our readers the specific type of specialist from which the information provided has been included in each product evaluation summary.
Professor of Educational Studies, Ed.
"There is nothing so invigorating as a challenging task which requires us to evaluate or develop a qualified study. This artsee smartsee DVD holds within it, a compilation of the most creative composition which satisfies that incessant need for challenge of our intellectual skills. With artsee smartsee we are presented with the task of providing an in-depth assessment of not just a single primary line of creative thought, but rather a multitude of interpretations of both visual and audible media.
For two individuals to 'create' not just an intense collection of media which serves as a venue to stimulate and educate, you have a masterpiece of creative intellectual talent which represents what many would assume as an impossible merger. This merger is one of educational value which takes the intellectual talents of multiple geniuses, multiple forms of stimulating media, timeless and proven influential media content and pools them together seamlessly.
This same pooling of content has created an alluring collection of experiences which is literally almost impossible to resist. Although it is designed for infant to toddler age individuals for skill development, the artsee smartsee DVD has broken the barriers and spreads to almost every individual willing to partake of the experience.
Every participant in my study of artsee smartsee whether infant or adult, demonstrated a virtual need to have more of the experience with the artsee smartsee DVD. A substantial change in behavioral patterns with all individuals was clearly noted, primarily in the 3 month to 11 month old infants used in the study. artsee smartsee encourages movement in an infant and stimulates cognitive and critical skill development, although realistically, a much longer period would be needed to establish a well documented measure of improvement levels and behavioral response.
artsee smartsee appears to provide a strong contribution to visual perception and acuity. From an educational standpoint, artsee smartsee serves as an excellent vehicle to improve memory retention and expressive thought. As far as cognitive and critical skill development are concerned, artsee smartsee couldn't be a more perfect match to ensure maximum level of development at an accelerated rate.
ECD Learning Specialist and Behavioral Psychology Analyst
We have taken a different approach with this portion of our independent evaluators reports by calling in a third independent evaluator to get a fuller and wider range of perspective in their interpretation of the study of artsee smartsee. The excerpts from both evaluators have been combined together in the same section with no definition of which quotes are from which evaluator.
"artsee smartsee is in my personal opinion one of the most dynamic and innovative concepts I have ever seen in a DVD product for infants and toddlers. Whether a child is special needs or general ed in their specific developmental needs, the DVD provides all of the proper elements needed to stimulate creative thinking and take the imagination of an infant or toddler to levels never before imagined.
In my study of the DVD I found my own self playing the DVD repeatedly without even thinking about it. Such subtlety in the way the content of the DVD establishes a direct virtual link to the mind of a infant or other individual has such an impressive demonstration of its functionality. Most important of all, it dispenses the perfect form of stimulation to educate, develop, and enhance the current state of an infant's skill levels and so many other aspects of their personal selves."
"The DVD was carefully designed with an excellent balance of content and learning with a no-fail concept. The DVD evokes a masterful manipulation of emotion, and stimulation where it it has the most productive results. No matter who the infant is, there still remains no failure in productive results in an individual. The age group for which this DVD has been designed is one in which critical, cognitive, and motor skill development is of the highest priority.
artsee smartsee develops a strong influence in positive psychological impression. In conclusion of my report I will state that artsee smartsee represents a developmental stimulation which carries after-effects which are dominant and useful for any infant or toddler in the age group from which it was designed. artsee smnartsee is a true vision of productive benefit for infants, toddlers and people of all ages brought to reality whether intentionally or not.
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 Consumer Hands-On Evaluation
Nothing is more powerful than hands-on experience by a consumer with a product when it is being evaluated. Based upon that fact we put every single product we evaluate at the mercy of consumers in a hands-on evaluation where anything goes. Shall we see how "artsee smartsee" was seen with consumers?
artsee smartsee was part of a consumer hands-on evaluation performed in a busy public mall in the Los Angeles area, along with multiple other products. Having several products available for consumer evaluation all at once provides a more well balanced and unbiased evaluation of the products. Many of them had two or three copies available to provide a larger base of opportunity for consumer evaluation but artsee smartsee took on the challenge with but a single copy of the DVD. I am sure you are eager to see the results from the consumers feedback of artsee smartsee.
At the public mall where we brought artsee smartsee for evaluation, we were setup adjacent to what were probably the busiest entrance/exit doors to the mall. As soon as we had artsee smartsee on the 52" flat screen with the entertainment center showing the quality of sound it could produce, people going in and coming out of the mall began to stop and watch the entire DVD presentation!
The point of all this is that after a while, people were literally blocking one of the entrance/exit doors due to their standing there watching artsee smartsee. We ended up having to re-position the screen so it was not causing a "potential fire issue" according to the mall management
Several of the products we had available for consumer hands-on evaluation did quite well, but when it comes to visual appeal with products, artsee smartsee stole the show! Whether people were actual participants in our product evaluation or just standing around outside our area to see and hear artsee smartsee, there were more people looking at artsee smartsee than any other product in the history of our labors.
From the beginning to the end of both days we were there, we never had any lack of interest in the products we had available for evaluation, but artsee smartsee had the largest amount of response over any other product in our entire load we brought in. A rather humorous part of this is that even myself, I was so relaxed from the visual display and music from artsee smartsee that I was becoming lax in my duties to provide support for the participants who may have had questions and such.
In reviewing the feedback forms which the participants filled out, we had an overwhelming number of feedback forms to have to go over; so many comments from so many people. artsee smartsee left a lasting impression with everyone there.
It was so amazing to see so many people all speaking of how they were so relaxed by the music, even on gent who was dumbfounded by it because he doesn't care for classical style music in the slightest! Combining those responses with the actual video presentation, artsee smartsee passed this segment of our evaluation without even trying.
 A Sampling Of Category Ratings
A small sampling of the individual category titles & rating
scores from the complete product review itself for
this product are featured here. The categories which have been selected to be
featured in this product evaluation summary for public view, specify some of
the primary points of how and why that specific rating score was reached.
- If a product is inducted, a product evaluation summary of the
complete review is published for public view.
- When a score has been assigned to a category rating, it has been through
a thorough validation process to ensure accuracy and no inflection of bias.
- If a product scores an overall category evaluation
rating average of [2] Two Stars or lower from the complete review results,
it fails the evaluation and is not inducted.
- Information for products which do not pass our evaluation is confidential
and is shared only with the company submitting the product.
The Featured Category Ratings for this Product Evaluation
Summary are listed below.
CRITICAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Rating Level - [5] 
The artsee smartsee DVD is an excellent learning tool for infants and toddlers that is like no other. It provides a substantial contribution to critical and cognitive skill development which literally boggles the mind. The artsee smartsee DVD has the necessary elements to stimulate critical skill development in a child in a such a subtle and steady manner. The more a child experiences the sound and visual display of the DVD, there is a consistent further advancement in the most important areas of developmental skills. The artsee smartsee DVD pulls a perfect score in this category.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE: Rating Level - [4] 
In all consumer hands-on evaluation as well as in-house and independent evaluation, the artsee smartsee DVD was seen as a source of creative stimulation which envelopes a child's experience with it on every level imaginable. The only question that came into play is that when it comes to an infant or toddler, what is an accurate rating as far as an infant or toddler's productive educational results?
The artsee smartsee DVD causes you to see the idea of educational value from an entirely new perspective. After discussion with our independent evaluators and in-house evaluators it was determined that the artsee smartsee DVD excels more in so many other area yet was not really designed for educational value. The focus is more towards developmental skills, not education.
There are multiple perspectives with which to look at what is the definition of this DVD's contribution to educational value but the final decision caused the artsee smartsee DVD to fall short of a perfect score by a single point in this category.
MARKETING VALUE: Rating Level - [5]
The marketing value with the artsee smartsee DVD was simple and so obvious to determine. As stated in another category evaluation, this DVD is so unique it is in a class all its own! To see such a dramatic response level generated from such a mass of people in such a short period of time just goes to validate the full measure of the marketing value which the artsee smartsee DVD possesses. The artsee smartsee DVD pulls the maximum score available in this category.
RESPONSE LEVEL: Rating Level - [5]
The response level with the artsee smartsee DVD is well beyond anyone's expectation or measure! The smoothly structured combination of content assures a steady flow of interest from a child. The response level in all hands-on evaluations by children and family members were well beyond the norm and constant. Infants were literally engrossed in the imagery and sound along with their parents or other family members. As the DVD progressed from one chapter to the next, the infants and toddlers were completely enthralled. The artsee smartsee DVD pulls a perfect score in this category.
VISUAL APPEAL: Rating Level - [5]
The visual appeal for the artsee smartsee DVD is literally beyond measure! The DVD packaging was well above average while the content of the DVD itself was over the top in quality and visual appeal which draws an infant or toddler in with a comfort and captivation almost as strong as the comfort of being in their mothers arms.
The diverse variety of objects and colors from each chapter featured in the DVD were instrumental in keeping a child's attention and created a very visually appealing environment. Combining the visual appeal of the packaging and content, the artsee smartsee DVD was clearly a cut above the rest of its competitors and pulls a perfect score in this category.
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| Seal of Approval:
Approved |
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| eco-Recognition™
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Not Eligible |
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| Award of Excellence:
Approved
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THE TOY MAN® PRODUCT GUIDE AWARDS
"The globally recognized awards that are received by a limited few...
and give a product the well earned recognition it deserves!" |
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The
products and online services which become recipients of "The Toy Man® Award of Excellence" acheived an evaluation category rating average of [5] Stars, the highest level of rating available on a 1-5 scale evaluation model. The average is based upon the overall average from all applicable evaluation categories, not just the 6 evaluation categories featured in this summary. |
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"The
Toy Man®  Award serves as an emblem of recognition for products & online services that contribute substantially to positive skill growth and/or productivity. |
| ( This includes books, CD's, DVD's, consumer electronics & accessories, recreational games and equipment, home furnishings, juvenile, software, toys and specialty. ) |
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. |
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