Integrations
Species recognition is built on the iNaturalist dataset and runs on Google's Coral board hardware. No third party app integrations are described on the site.
Ash
A real world Pokedex for young ecology guardians
Beginner
What is Ash?
Ash is a games tool. A handheld AI field guide for children aged six and up that turns photos of animals, plants and insects into collectible fact cards, with parent controls and no distracting feeds.
ASH is a handheld AI field guide built for children aged six and up, conceived by the studio FINH as a real counterpart to the Pokedex. It pairs a point and click camera with on device species recognition, so a walk in the garden or a school field trip becomes a collecting game. The stated motivation is bleak and simple: biodiversity is disappearing, and a generation cannot protect what it never learned to notice. The interaction model is deliberately narrow. A child aims the device at an animal, plant or insect and takes a photograph. The AI identifies the subject and returns an instant fact card, with a bespoke interface designed around that particular creature. Common subjects such as house pets sit alongside plants and rarer bugs, and the set of collectible badges rewards children who keep looking rather than children who rush. There are no feeds, no chat and no open browsing, which is the point: the device is pitched as active nature discovery without distraction. Parents get their own layer. FINH built a companion experience that gives guardians full control over the data their children collect and keeps them informed about what has been logged. Species recognition runs on the iNaturalist dataset, deployed on a Coral board from Google, and the physical prototype was produced with SLS 3D printing during a four week sprint from concept to launch. It is best understood as a hardware artefact and a design study rather than a mass market app. Families comparing it with phone based identification apps will find a narrower, more curated experience aimed squarely at kids, while educators and conservation communicators may see it as a template for engagement work. Anyone expecting a downloadable product with published plans should verify availability directly with the studio first.
How do you use Ash?
1Understand what ASH is before you buy
Read the homepage carefully. ASH is described as a purpose built AI device, not a downloadable app, so confirm with the studio that units are actually available in your region.2Head outside and frame a subject
Take the device on a walk and point the camera at a living thing nearby, whether a pet, a garden plant or an insect. The camera is the only input the experience expects.3Capture the photo and wait for identification
Press to take the picture. Species recognition runs on the iNaturalist dataset locally on the device, then returns an animal card with facts about what was found.4Build the collection
Keep photographing new creatures to fill out the card set. Badges unlock for players who put real effort into discovery rather than repeating the same subjects.5Set up the parent controls
Before handing the device to a child, use the parent experience to review what data is collected and stay informed about what has been logged.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Narrow, purposeful interaction: point, shoot, collect, with no feeds or chat to pull children awayAI
- Species recognition draws on the iNaturalist dataset, a well established source for biodiversity recordsAI
- Bespoke card design for each creature plus collectible badges give discovery a genuine reward loopAI
- Dedicated parent layer gives guardians control over collected data and visibility into activityAI
- Explicitly designed for ages six and up, so the interface and framing suit young children rather than adultsAI
Cons
- Presented as a physical prototype and design project, with no clear retail availability or shipping details on the siteAI
- Recognition depends on the curated dataset, so unusual or hard to photograph subjects may go unidentifiedAI
- No published pricing, subscription terms or regional availability, which makes budgeting impossibleAI
- Requires a dedicated device, adding cost and upkeep compared with free phone identification appsAI
- Evidence of accuracy in real field conditions is not documented on the pageAI
How much does Ash cost?
Features
A camera driven field guide that identifies animals, plants and insects from photos and returns bespoke fact cards. Collectible badges reward sustained discovery, species recognition runs on the iNaturalist dataset via a Coral board, and a separate parent experience gives guardians control over collected data. The interface is intentionally limited to discovery, with no distracting feeds.
Frequently asked questions about Ash
How do you use Ash?
The walkthrough on this page covers 5 steps: 1. Understand what ASH is before you buy 2. Head outside and frame a subject 3. Capture the photo and wait for identification 4. Build the collection 5. Set up the parent controls.What platforms does Ash support?
Ash is available on Web App.What does Ash integrate with?
Species recognition is built on the iNaturalist dataset and runs on Google's Coral board hardware. No third party app integrations are described on the site.What are the limitations of Ash?
Presented as a physical prototype and design project, with no clear retail availability or shipping details on the site. Recognition depends on the curated dataset, so unusual or hard to photograph subjects may go unidentified. No published pricing, subscription terms or regional availability, which makes budgeting impossible.
