According to figures from the NPD Group, at the end of 1999 the smart toy segment made up 2.5 percent of the $23 billion toy market [REF].
A 2005 market research study by Tangull America LLC of New York, NY indicated that toys with embedded information technologies-that is, nano, bio and cognitive technologies-are growing over 15% annually, and will grow to sales of US $146 billion by 2015.