VTech Zip Zap User Manual

Dear Parent,

At VTech® we know how important the rst day of school is

for your child. To help prepare preschoolers for this important

event, VTech® has developed the Preschool Learning™ series of

interactive toys.

Preschool Learning™ features fun characters and inviting

school themes that use technology to capture a child’s attention

and teach important preschool skills like spelling, counting and

the alphabet. These vital skills are taught in a way that’s both fun

and highly engaging to maintain a child’s interest. Children will

also be introduced to fun school subjects such as art class, music

class and even recess! With Preschool Learning™, learning is

fun from day one!

At VTech® we know that a child has the ability to do great things.

That’s why all of our electronic learning products are uniquely

designed to develop a child’s mind and allow them to learn to the

best of their ability. We thank you for trusting VTech® with the

important job of helping your child learn and grow!

Sincerely,

Your Friends at VTech

®

To learn more about Preschool Learning™ and other VTech® toys, visit

www.vtechkids.com

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the VTech® Zip Zap™ learning toy!

Zip Zap™ uses wireless communication technology to provide cool

games that can be played with up to 4 people at the same time. You
can pick your own icon and screen name, make and send e-cards and
messages, and play cool games in single player or multi-player modes.
Connect with your friends and enjoy hours of fun wherever you are.

Introduction

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Erase button

writing stylus

LCD screen

Write button

On/Off button

Light up
standby button

Drawing pad

area

Games button

Message/Invitation

button

Up/Down

cursor button

Left/Right cursor
+ Go button

Exit button

INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE

• A pair of VTech® Zip Zap™ learning toys with writing styluses

• One instruction manual

WARNING: All packing materials such as tape, plastic sheets, wire
ties and tags are not part of this toy, and should be discarded for
your child’s safety.

GETTING STARTED

BATTERY INSTALLATION

1. Make sure the unit is OFF.

2. Locate the battery cover on the bottom
of the unit.

3. Open the battery cover.

4. Install 3 new “AAA” (UM-3/LR6)
batteries into the compartment as
illustrated. (The use of new, alkaline
batteries is recommended for maximum
performance.)

5. Replace the battery cover.

BATTERY NOTICE

• Install batteries correctly observing the polarity (+,-) signs to avoid

leakage.

• Do not mix old and new batteries.

• Do not use batteries of different types.

Included in this pacping & Getting started

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• Remove exhausted or new batteries from the unit when the unit

will not be used for an extended period of time.

• Do not dispose of batteries in fire.

• Do not attempt to recharge ordinary batteries.

• The supply terminals are not to be short-circuited.

• Only batteries of the same and equivalent type as recommended

are to be used.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.

REMOVE DEMO TAG

The demo tag is connected between the 2 products. This should be
removed immediately when the products are taken out of the packaging.
If the demo tag is still in position when you begin play, please remove
it to activate normal play mode.

Special Note for playing Zip-Zap with 2
or more players

• VTech® Zip Zap™ is a typical Radio Frequency device, and

care has been taken to minimize interference from other Radio
Frequency devices. However, in some cases interference may still
occur, so we suggest not to play the VTech® Zip Zap™ next to a
cordless phone or other type of communication equipment.

• If the products are not functioning properly, please turn them Off

and then On again.

Special note

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PRODUCT FEATURES

1. ON/OFF BUTTON

To turn the unit on, press the

ON/OFF

BUTTON. Press the ON/OFF BUTTON

again to turn the unit off.

2. WRITING PAD & STYLUS

The stylus is the input device for

making any drawing or input on the
writing pad. In some activities, you
need to press or move the stylus on
the writing pad to confirm your answer.
The writing pad area corresponds to
the same area on the LCD screen,
so for example, touching the lower
left corner on the pad will show up as
touching the lower left corner on the
LCD.

3. STANDBY BUTTON

Pressing this button allows the unit

to enter Standby Mode, where it can
still receive e-cards and messages.
The Standby light will flash to indicate
this mode is active. You will hear
a “receiving” sound with a flashing
light when someone has sent you a
message or e-card.

Reminder: Standby Mode does use battery power, so please turn the

unit completely Off if not using.

Product Features

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4. MENU BUTTON

Press this button to enter the Main

Menu and begin choosing from 14
different activities to play.

5. IN BOX BUTTON

Press this button to access messages/

e-cards sent to you, or to accept an
invitation sent to you.

6. OK BUTTON

This button is used within some

activities to confirm a choice.

7. UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT BUTTON

Press this button to select your choices

in some activities, or scroll through
activities when in the Main Menu
screen.

Product Features

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8. ERASE BUTTON

Hold this button and move the stylus on

the writing pad to erase your drawing
from the LCD screen when in Real Time

Drawing or E-card Express.

9. WRITE BUTTON

Hold this button and move the stylus

on the writing pad to draw when in

Drawing Fun or E-card Express.

10. EXIT BUTTON

Use the writing stylus to draw on the

writing pad. In some activities, move
your stylus on the writing pad to confirm
your answer.

11. AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF

To preserve battery life, the

VTech® Zip Zap™ will automatically

turn off after several minutes without input. The unit can be turned
on again by pressing the ON/OFF BUTTON.

Also, when the “low battery” appears on the LCD screen, the unit

will automatically turn off. Please replace the batteries .

Reminder: Turn the unit off when it is not in use; otherwise it will drain

the batteries and affect the Radio Frequency function.

Product Features

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START TO PLAY

1) Press the ON/OFF BUTTON to start.

2) If this is your first time logging in, you

can pick your icon and change the
default name to your own name. Press
the Erase button to erase the default
name one letter at a time. Press the
Write button to input a selected letter
until you’ve spelled the name you
want. When you’re done, press OK to confirm, and you will see a
summary screen of your selected icon and your inputted name.

3) You will then enter the Main Menu. Press the

left/right arrows to
choose and activity, then press the OK or Write button to confirm
your choice.

MULTIPLAYER MODE FOR THE GAMES

• After selecting an activity, the screen will
first present the choice of Single Player
mode. Press the OK button to play in
single player mode.

• If you wish to play in Multi-player mode,
use the Left/Right arrows to select
Multiplayer. Then press the OK button
to confirm.

Start to play & Multiplayer mode

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• When in Multi-player mode, the product will search for any online
friends. Once detected, their names will be displayed, and you can
invite up to 3 friends to play. Use the writing stylus to select the
friends from the list, then press the OK button to send an invitation
to the invitees. The unit will exit multi-player mode if no other online
friend is found or no one replies to your invitation.

Note: You can only send invitation to friends who are in Single Player

mode on their units.

• Invitees who are in single-player mode
or main menu will see an invitation icon
flash at the top-right corner of the screen
for several seconds. Press the Inbox
button to accept the invitation before the
icon disappears.

• Once invitations are accepted, the connected units can then play the
game together. If one unit quits the game, or checks messages/e­cards by pressing the Inbox button, all the other units will auto quit
the game and return back to the main menu.

• If the Radio Frequency signal is weak, it will auto quit the game
and return back to main menu.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1 – Drawing Fun

In single player mode, draw anything you
like on the pad and it will appear on the
LCD screen.

In Multi-player mode, you can draw or invite
other players to create drawings together.
Only one player can draw at a time.

Activities

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When one player is holding down the Write button and drawing on
the pad, it will appear on the other players’ LCD screens. During this
time, the on screen cursor of the other players will disappear indicating
they are not able to draw. Once the player who is drawing releases the
Write button, then the other players will have a chance to draw, and
the cursor will re-appear on their screens.

Hold the Erase button and the cursor will change to an eraser icon,
then move the stylus on the writing pad to erase the drawing. If you’d
like to erase the drawing all at once, hold the Erase button and press
the OK button. Other players will also see the drawing being erased
from their screen at the same time. Other players will not be able to
erase until the first player releases the Erase button and the cursor
re-appears on their screens.

Activity 2 – Write &Send

You can create, send or receive messages
in this activity. When entering this activity,
you have a choice on the screen: Write or
Read. To read old or new messages, press
the Read icon.

To write a new message, press the Write
icon. You will see a blank screen with letters
at the bottom. Press the Up/Down/Left/Right arrows to display more
letters and icons. Then press the Write button to select a letter/icon,
or the Erase button to remove a letter/icon.

You can also choose from a list of built-in messages by pressing the icon
that appears on the right side of the screen. A list of built-in message
will be displayed; use the Up/Down arrows to select and press the
OK button to confirm.

Press the OK button when you have completed your message. You can
then select the receiver’s name, and press the OK button to send.

The receivers will see an envelope icon appear on the top right of their
screens. Pressing the Inbox button can quickly access this new message.

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Activities

Note: The Zip Zap can save up to 5 saved messages. Any message

received after the 5th message will automatically replace one of
the existing messages in the save memory.

Activity 3 – E-card Express

You can make and send e-cards to others, or
read received e-cards in this activity. When
entering this activity, you will be given 2
choices: Make or Read. To read old or new
e-cards, press the Read icon.

To make a new e-card, press the Make
icon and you can select one of the 12 fun
themed cards. Then add a drawing that will appear in the e-card by
holding the Write button and writing/drawing on the pad. When you’ve
finished making the e-card, press the OK button to send the card to
your selected friends.

The receivers will see an envelope icon appear on the top right of
their screens. Pressing the Inbox button can quickly access this new
e-card.

Note: The Zip Zap can save up to 3 e-cards. Any e-card received after
the 3rd e-card will automatically replace one of the existing e-cards in
the save memory.

Activity 4 – Fast Hit

A word with a missing letter is shown,
then some letters will appear in the middle
one by one and disappear quickly. When
the correct letter that completes the word
appears, use the stylus and press on the
writing pad or press the OK button to confirm
your answer.

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Activities

Activity 5 – Letter Hunt

An object and its word will be displayed on
the screen and then disappear. The letters
from this word are then hidden in the dark
and it’s up to you to find them and spell the
word in the correct order. Move the stylus
on the pad to search for the letters with the
flashlight, then press OK when you’ve found
a letter, but make sure you place them in
the correct order.

Activity 6 – Counting Fun

Coins are falling! Some will make it into the
piggy bank, and others will miss. Watch
carefully and count how many coins fall
inside the piggy bank and then pick the
correct answer. Use the stylus of arrows to
select the answer, then press the OK button
to confirm.

Another version of this game will use a
basketball net in place of a piggy bank.
Count the basketballs that go through the
net and answer the question the same as
above.

Activity 7 – Math Mania

It’s up to you to solve addition and subtraction
equations. You need to judge whether a
given equation is correct or incorrect. If the
equation is correct, draw a vertical line to nod
the dog’s head “yes,” or draw a horizontal
line to snake the dog’s head “no” for an
incorrect equation.

Activities

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Activity 8 – Logic Time

It’s logic time. In this activity, you will take
turns answering. Each time a player has
to pick 1 to 3 grapes from the bunch. Move
the hand to one of the grapes and press the
Write button to take it off. The player who
picks the last one will lose the game. You
can press the OK button if you want to pass
your turn to the next player (in Multi-player
mode) or computer (in Single Player mode)
after you’ve picked 1 or 2 grapes.

Another version of this game will ask you
to pump up a balloon. Move the stylus on
the writing pad up and down to pump the
balloon one time. Each player can choose
to pump the balloon up one, two, or three
times each turn. Just don’t be the person
lest with the last pump.

Activity 9 – Pair Up

Match up pairs of cards within the time limit.
The cards will be shown first for several
seconds, then they be covered up. To select
a card, press the card via its corresponding
position on the writing pad.

Activity 10 – Pair Up

Look closely! There are 4 patterns shown
on the screen. Pick the one that’s different
within the limited time. Press the pattern
via its corresponding position on the writing
pad.

Activities

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Activity 11 – Quick Bounce

In Single Player mode, there are 3 holes at
the top of the screen and a ball is moving.
Move the stylus on the writing pad from left
to right to control the line at the bottom of
the screen, and bounce the ball back into the
holes. If you miss and the ball gets past, you
will lose a chance.

In Multi-player mode, if one player hits the
ball into a hole, it will go to another player’s
screen. The receiving player then has the
task of trying to hit more than one ball at
the same time.

Activity 12 – Crazy Sounds

Remember the sequence and repeat it back,
then add one more sound into the sequence.
In single player mode, the computer will start
by randomly playing a sound. Repeat the
sequence and add one more by pressing
the objects on the screen.

In Multi-player mode, the first player will
start with an object. Then the next player
will repeat the sequence of the previous
player and then add one more object, and
so on. The one who fails to follow the correct
sequence will be out. The one who remains
to the end will be the winner.

Activities

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Activity 13 – Maze

You’re given a maze with Start and Exit
points. Move the cursor to the Start point
and it will become a flashing ball. Trace the
path from Start to Exit within the time limit,
and avoid touching the edges. If you touch
one of the edges before your reach the Exit,
you’ll have to start from the beginning.

In Multi-player mode, the one who finishes
the path first wins the game.

Activity 14 – My Setting

In this activity, kids can change their icon
and edit their name. They can also adjust
the volume to mute/low/high, or turn the
background music on or off.

CARE & MAINTENANCE

1. Keep the unit clean by wiping it with a slightly damp cloth.

2. Drawing directly on the board is not recommended. If it gets crayon
on it, wipe it with a tissue or damp cloth. Do not scrub the surface
as it could cause damage.

3. Do not use sharp-ended objects to write on the surface of the
board.

4. Avoid using excess pressure on the board.

5. Keep the unit out of direct sunlight and away from any direct heat
sources.

6. Remove the batteries when the unit is not in use for an extended
period of time.

Care & Maintenance

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7. Do not drop the unit on a hard surface and do not expose the unit
to excess moisture.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If for some reason the program/activity stops working, then please

follow these steps:

1. Turn the unit OFF.

2. Interrupt the power supply by removing the batteries.

3. Let the unit stand for a few minutes, then replace the batteries.

4. Turn the unit back ON. The unit will now be ready to play again.

5. If the unit still does not work, replace with an entire set of new
batteries.

If the problem persists, please call our Consumer Services Department
at 1-800-521-2010 in the U.S. or 1-877-352-8697 in Canada, and a
service representative will be happy to help you.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Creating and developing Preschool Learning™ products is
accompanied by a responsibility that we at VTech® take very
seriously. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the
information which forms the value of our products. However,
errors sometimes can occur. It is important for you to know
that we stand behind our products and encourage you to call
our Consumer Services Department at 1-800-521-2010 in the
U.S. or 1-877-352-8697 in Canada with any problems and/or
suggestions that you might have. A service representative will
be happy to help you.

Troubleshooting

16

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with
the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception,which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from

that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for

help.

Caution: changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.

Troubleshooting

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