Smart technology for an active generation
Moby is a versatile, interactive play dome that helps develop the cognitive, motor, and social skills of kids between the ages of 0-12. Its accessible and intuitive design, high-quality finish, and use of spoken audio and colored light make Moby an easy-to-use tool for any play environment. To bring the vision of Novafunsports to life, the challenge was to equip this physical object with intelligence that challenges children and simultaneously removing complexity for operators. NiftyBits developed the complete technical architecture to achieve this: from the complex internal electronics and firmware to the underlying cloud structure that makes Moby a smart, connected platform.
More than a playground structure: The core technology
Moby is equipped with a custom-made circuit board with constant internet connection, which acts as the intelligent ‘brain’ of the dome. The system controls a complex grid of sensors for ball detection, interactive buttons, colorful LED lighting, and speakers. Thanks to this integrated approach, Moby can speak, give active tasks—such as arithmetic questions—and directly react to the players’ physical actions.
The real power of Moby lies in its connection with the central SaaS portal, which provides operators with a complete, real-time overview of all their play equipment. Through this platform, operators get detailed insights into the usage statistics, such as the exact duration and frequency of play, while the remote monitoring immediately reports when a technical defect occurs. This makes proactive maintenance possible without the need for on-site inspections. Furthermore, the system functions as a flexible ‘Content as a Service’ (CaaS) model; with a subscription, new games and educational modules can easily be deployed to the hardware remotely, ensuring that Moby always stays up to date with challenging content.
Optimized production and assembly
Alongside the software, NiftyBits has also played a crucial role in making the hardware ready for production. Through smart choices in electronics and by developing standardized wiring harnesses, the assembly process has been significantly simplified. With such a design, all the components seamlessly fit in the housing unit, ensuring shorter production time and increased reliability in the field. This results in a scalable solution that demonstrates how hardware and software together are shaping the future of outdoor play.
