# Interactive Storytelling Beads 'Griflens' Story Beads Blend Real-Life and Online Storytelling By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-03-10 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/griflens References: [news.utoronto](http://www.news.utoronto.ca/spotlight-startups-hybrid-chew-toyrobot-wins-global-startup-battle-u-t-students) & [griflens](http://www.griflens.com/) Toronto start-up Griflens has created a toy that blurs the line between real-world and online play and is sure to capture kids’ imagination in a way that hasn’t been done before. Griflens are [3D-printed interactive story beads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/makerworld-cyberbrick) that tell a story that changes depending on which beads are combined, online or offline. Each physical bead – representing either a character or a storyline -- has a code that can be scanned to create an online counterpart on the Griflens website, Griflens.co. Kids can then choose different combinations of beads online to generate [endless storylines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neverending-stories). Kids can even dream up their [own physical and online beads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toypal). Griflens can create online as well as physical 3D-printed beads using pictures and drawings submitted to them. The makers say they see Griflens as representing not just a new toy, but a whole new platform that combines the best of the real and virtual worlds. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 11% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Interactive Storytelling Toys:** Opportunity to create more 3D-printed interactive storytelling toys for children that blend the real-world and online play. - **Physical-to-digital Interaction:** Disruptive innovation opportunities to create more toys that allow for a seamless physical-to-digital interaction. - **Community-driven Content:** Potential for a community-driven content platform for children to create and share their own physical and online beads and stories. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Manufacturing:** Toy manufacturers can innovate by integrating technology to create toys that provide a blend of real-world and online play experiences. - **3D Printing:** Opportunity to leverage 3D printing technology to create interactive toys that enable physical-to-digital interactions. - **Ed-tech:** Ed-tech startups can explore interactive storytelling as a new mode of learning through designing 3D-printed storytelling toys for classrooms. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Interactive Holographic Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/imagix.md) - [Creative Story Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/imagine-tales.md) - [Personalized Storytelling Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wundr-story.md) - [Screen-Free Play Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fabli.md) - [Personalized Bedtime Stories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/storygenius.md) - [Kids' Interactive Sensory Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interactive-and-multisensory-toys.md) - [Interactive Storytelling Headphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onanoff-storyphones.md) - [Interactive Educational Coding Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/imagicharm.md) - [Personalized Story Creators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tinkertell.md)