Eric B. —
December 8, 2008 @ 12:51 pm 
While we were all sleeping and unaware, the once fledgling field of Girl Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. Mattel has released a state-of-the-art “Girl Tech Password Journal.”
The journal promises girls a secure voice recognition password system that should allow only the authorized user access to its treasure trove of secrets. The thing is a kind of plastic folder that physically locks itself and opens only when a user speaks the correct password. It also uses some rudimentary voice recognition software to ensure that no one who has surreptitiously learned the password—like say a meddlesome younger brother or a nosy parent—can get in.
Further still, the journal recognizes a few other voice commands like light, date, and time, which provide access to more sundry features found inside. And if that wasn’t enough, Mattel has also provided “double the privacy” with additional analog security features like its Magic Pen and Glow Light. When used in conjunction, the Pen and Light “will reveal [your most private thoughts] only to you. The page will look blank to prying eyes!”
The Girl Tech Password Journal is only one of a steadily growing number of toys that have been coming out with voice recognition technology embedded into them. As voice technology has improved and become cheaper, it has trickled down into all sorts of unexpected places with increased sophistication in its applications.
Girls, before you run out and get one though, a word of caution: the Password Journal has some notable security flaws. As with all voice technology in the toy price range, the functionality is compromised greatly in order to cut costs. This is no advanced biometric solution. We know of at least one parent who was able to get into gain access to his daughter’s most private thoughts by speaking her password over and over in a high falsetto.
Caveat emptor, dear reader.
Yes!! Bring it! Nice.
Comment by Adam B. — December 8, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
How will this pink girl technology vocal lock hold up against man technology like the sledgehammer or the crowbar? My thought is: Not Very Well.
Comment by Lowell Jeffers — December 8, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
As a former owner of the Girl Tech Password Journal, (I feel as though it was called My Secret Diary back in the day…) I will have you know the speech recognition capabilities were (are?) quite phenomenal. So much so, that it kept out my nosy older brother from my all of my deep, dark, 10-year-old thoughts and secrets. Seriously, it would never let his voice pass for mine. I’d say the main flaw of the device rests with its user adoption and maintenance. You see, after a good nine days of telling this little notebook about my playground adventures, I grew bored of it and put it in a drawer among my Barbies with missing heads. Then when I went back a few months later to rekindle my friendship with Girl Tech, it would not recognize my audible password. Had my voice changed? I think not. Was I upset? I think so. My only hope is that the technology is that much more sophisticated now to save other girls the misfortune I experienced with My Secret Diary.
Comment by Lauren McKay — December 10, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Lauren,
Unfortunately, the technology has not much improved. The Girl Tech Password Journal, in addition to occasionally providing false positives, has a high incidence of false negatives. More often than not, users of the GTPJ are left repeating their passwords, locked out from their most private thoughts, even when they use it every day. In retrospect, “on the march” may have been a overstatement.
-Eric
Comment by Eric B. — December 10, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
I use mine all the time with no problems. But I whisper my password in a voice rich with smoke and honey.
Comment by Adam B. — December 10, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
I have been using mine for a while, but it never has recognized my voice. Its a piece of junk and you shouldn’t buy it.
Comment by Freakshow — December 19, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
MY 6 YEAR OLD SIXTER HAVE ONE BUT IT RUBISH
Comment by kane — December 25, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
[...] been an outpouring of response to my post about the GirlTech Password Journal (GTPJ). So far, the post has seen more comments than any in [...]
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