Highlights and Milestones in PDI's History
1986 PDI develops and patents "Stim-u-Vision", an interactive television system allowing control of external devices via encoded signals on videotape. A line of electronic lawn sprinkler timers is developed for Melnor Industries.
1987 PDI develops a “load management system” for use by major utilities to remotely-control large appliances to reduce peak electricity demand. Developed “Talking Pictures”, the world’s first message-recording picture frame, a product category which has since become an enduring staple of the “gadget” industry.
1988 PDI develops "Rhythm Rods", which becomes a sensation in the music category, for Playtime Products.
1989 PDI develops Playtime Products' "Solid Gold Rock Star Digital Guitar", featuring twice the number of "riffs" and three times the number of sounds as Tyco's competing item, at a lower manufacturing cost. PDI develops the "Force One" jet fighter plane with sound effects and the "Force One Joystick" infrared target system for ERTL.
1990 PDI develops “Magic Bottle Baby” for Tyco Toys, the first promotional doll to incorporate a low-cost Taiwanese “voice chip”.
1991 PDI develops “My Pal 2”, an interactive robot toy, for Toy Biz. The toy is heavily featured in the major motion picture “Toys” starring Robin Williams. PDI moves to larger quarters in City Island, NY. We develop an interactive audience-polling system for television game shows for M. H. Segan & Co.
1992 PDI develops over 60 items in calendar ’92 with a staff of five. Buddy-L Corp.’s Rumblers™ vehicle line with patented sound-generating circuit become’s PDI’s first major licensing success.
1993 PDI develops over 85 items, including VoiceBot™ voice-controlled robot for Toy Biz Inc., which wins award for “Best Boy’s Toy” of 1993 in Australia.
1994 PDI co-invents the MicroJammers™ line of miniature electronic musical instruments, featured in the film “Jerry Maguire” and still in production today having sold over 2 million units. Line of licensed Elvis plush animals featuring actual Elvis recordings generates $5 million in sales.
1995 PDI develops “Real Talkin’ Bubba”, Tyco’s interactive plush bear which has since become the industry’s best-selling and longest-running stand-alone feature plush line, selling millions of units. PDI develops the "Starchip" line of collectible figurines for the Danbury Mint, including licensed performances from artists such as Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley.
1996 MicroGames’ One Man Jam electronic guitar, co-invented by PDI, wins “Dr. Toy” Best Toy of the Year award and is acclaimed at the time as featuring the best music incorporated in a toy musical instrument. PDI’s line of interactive dolls and plush toys at 100-year-old Uneeda Doll Co. becomes 30 percent of their business in its first year, selling nearly one million units.
1997 PDI invents “Singing Bouncy Baby”, its first TV-promoted licensed item. Bouncy Baby wins a Family Fun Magazine award as one of the year’s best dolls, and is still in production today having sold over two million units. Happy Hugs, another TV-promoted doll invented by PDI and licensed to Playmates Toys is also produced in 1997. PDI's "Silly Songs Jukebox", licensed by Hasbro/Playskool, wins a Hasbro Inventor Award at the New York Toy Fair. PDI invents “Everett Green, the Singing Christmas Tree” which becomes a sensation for Christmas 1997 and revitalizes Telco Creation’s business. PDI moves to its architect-designed office in Port Chester, New York. PDI develops all sound modules for Touchtones™ line of interactive tee-shirts using Engelhardt Colortronics’ patented conductive inks.
1998 “Frank E. Post the singing Christmas Lamppost” becomes Telco Creations’ lead item for Christmas 1998. Singing Bathtime Bouncy follows Singing Bouncy Baby as Microgames’ lead TV doll in 1998 and is still in production today having sold close to one million units. "Madcaps", a line of sound-producing soda can toppers, is licensed to Funomenon. PDI's patented electronic sound-producing spring toy is licensed to James Industries and marketed under the Slinky™ name.
1999 Giddyup Girl is Microgames’ lead TV doll, selling over 600,000 units. Mel Box and Yule Burner lead Telco’s line of animated Christmas decorations. PDI’s “Smart Reader” educational reading tutoring system is introduced by ToyMax. Three designers are hired in early 1999 to develop Digi-Frame, one of the first digital picture frames to reach the consumer electronics market.
2000 Over 200,000 units of “Radar Radio” are pre-sold for Telco’s 2000 Christmas line. PDI’s latest feature doll, Hopscotch Heather, is Microgames’ lead TV doll once again, joining Bouncy Baby, Bathtime Bouncy Baby, and Giddyap Lil Dolly in their current lineup. “Howlin Hounds” sound-responsive plush dog item is DSI’s lead plush item for 2000. Our line of “Sentry” licensed room guard products is expanded at Planet Toys, and Ritvik Inc. introduces PDI’s patented “decoders” technology in its line of “Track Talkers” licensed NASCAR products.
2000-2004 PDI changes its name to Digi-Frame Inc. and focuses on manufacturing digital picture frames. Digi-Frame's products are well-received in the marketplace and acclaimed in reviews, but the company is ultimately underfunded, and after crippling LCD shortages, abandons the manufacturing venture and in 2005 returns to full-time toy development.
2001 Hoppity Bouncy Baby becomes the latest addition to MGA's Bouncy Baby line, now in its fourth year.
2002 PDI's innovative "SoundWaves" musical gloves are licensed by GoodStuff and sold through Sharper Image stores nationwide.
2004 Lullaby Baby, co-developed by PDI, is MGA's lead promotional doll.
2005 The MicroJammers line of miniature musical instruments is reintroduced by KidzToyz.
2006 Wild Planet Toys introduces Mazu Kan, PDI's revolutionary and exciting two-player action game.