A tapping beetle.
The toktokkie beetle taps against the ground to signal to another beetle. A tiny rhythm, carrying a simple invitation: I'm here. Are you there?
Our story
A little hello.
A whole lot
of childhood.
A knock at a friend's door. A call to Granny. A story that simply cannot wait until tomorrow.
We're building TokTokkie for those little moments.
A little independence
“Can I borrow
your phone?”
Every playdate starts somewhere. So does every very important conversation about absolutely nothing.
For many children, making that call means borrowing a parent's smartphone. We wanted to give them a way to call the people they love, on their own, during the years before a smartphone.
That's the idea behind TokBox: a screen-free home phone, a familiar place on the kitchen counter, and a voice at the other end.
The family behind TokTokkie
Two parents.
One very exacting
chief tester.
We're the parents of a seven-year-old who wants a little more independence. We want him to have it, while keeping the safety, boundaries and parental control that matter to us.
We miss the simplicity of old-school communication: picking up the phone, calling a friend, making a plan, or telling Granny something important. More conversation with friends and family, with less reason to reach for a screen.
Dad brings many years of experience as a software product manager. An electronic engineer by training, he began his career in telecommunications and communications.
Mom brings years of experience running her own media startup and working in large international companies across systems management, finance and marketing.
Now we're putting that experience into a project close to our hearts, alongside our special young man: chief tester and usability engineer, with very high standards.
TokTokkie is still in development. We're sharing the idea as it takes shape, and we'd love to hear the questions other families would want answered.
Say hello at toktokkie@sugisystems.comThe name behind the hello
Small signal.
Someone listening.
Our name has South African roots, with two echoes we love.
A knock at the door.
There's also the childhood knocking game. That mischievous little tok-tok takes us back to doors, neighbours, and the anticipation of someone answering.
Different beginnings. The same delight when someone answers.
The TokBox design conceptSomething to pick up
A phone they
can call their own.
A chunky handset. A dial to turn. A curly cord to twirl while deciding what to say next.
We're designing TokBox around the pleasure of making a call. It stays at home, ready for a catch-up with a cousin, a chat with a best friend, or the story Granny needs to hear.
The people matter most. The object makes saying hello feel special.
Room to grow
Their conversations.
Your circle.
Children get the joy of calling for themselves. Parents choose who can call, who can be called, and when it's time for quiet.
The intended TokTokkie network brings together approved TokBoxes and the TokTokkie app, over home Wi-Fi. Friends and family can be part of their world, with a parent involved in making the connection.
A little more independence, with boundaries that make sense at home.
Meet the idea behind TokBoxStarting close to home
Rooted here.
Made for a familiar feeling.
TokTokkie starts in South Africa, with the warmth of everyday homes and the sounds of childhood in mind. Its name belongs to that story.
But the feeling travels: wanting to make your own plans, hearing a familiar voice, and knowing someone is glad you called.
That's what we're building towards. One little hello at a time.
A little hello goes a long way