Kids are very comfortable with technology and these toys reflect that. When the microwave and car talk to you it's perfectly reasonable that toys do. But it comes down to whether it's fun. All the chips in the world won't make a bad toy good.

The advances that have been made in technology have really allowed the toys to do more for less money,

KB hasn't articulated a strategy about what they're doing yet, but need to stock a lot of the hot toys. It isn't really a destination store but the fact that they're mall-based helps because parents are in the mall anyway.

If it's a way of expanding toys into a year-long business, then electronics and furnishings make sense,

It's definitely a way to reclaim some market share, but how do you get a kid to want it? Kids are more proficient with technology than Mom and Dad. The traditional barrier to what made something a toy has really dissolved... why shouldn't they have the real thing?

Many people are caught up with the toys of contemporary society. Because of great advancements in our culture, some have cultivated an attitude of “comfortability.” They may be going to hell, but it is going to be a comfortable ride for them.