| Invented by | Fisher-Price |
|---|---|
| Company | Fisher-Price (Mattel) |
| Country | United States |
| Availability | 2003–2006 |
PowerTouch Learning System is an electronic toy released by Fisher-Price in 2003, designed for children aged 3 to 8 years. It combined physical reading with electronic multimedia, using storybooks and workbooks with an attachable cartridge. Two starter book cartridges were bundled with the product, which did not require a cartridge. It had some similarities to LeapFrog Enterprises' LeapPad.
The PowerTouch took the form of a workbook-shaped laptop-styled case with a yellow and purple casing and a grey carrying handle. When fully opened, the interior had the letters of the alphabet uppercase and lowercase spread across both sides with the vowels highlighted, a speak on the right side, and five buttons lined at the top edge, which activated modes for Alphabet, Words, Letters, Surprise, and Music. The device was powered by four AA batteries. The dedicated books would be fitted by the spine into the holder and the pages could be turned, just like a physical book, with a clip-on cartridge placed on the binding. Once hooked up, parts of the book pages could be touched with one finger like buttons to trigger a vocal sound for a word, spelling, counting, or a music tune. Unlike the LeapPad, the PowerTouch did not make use of a stylus or a continue button or progress.
Hoping to compete against Leapfrog's LittleTouch LeapPad and cater to babies, Fisher-Price president put forward the idea and development of the PowerTouch Baby. By 2005, over 2.8 million PowerTouch units were sold.
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By October 2003, LeapFrog Enterprises filed a civil lawsuit against Fisher-Price for a breach on the LeapPad patent over the design and technology, with the plaintiff claiming damages of $90 million, later reduced to $56 million. Mattel argued that its product in question did not breach the patent due to differing in technology and that LeapFrog's patent did not outline a new invention. Three years later, federal court dismissed the lawsuit, finding it lacked patent infringement.