Products unveiled at the recent annual Canadian Toy Association trade fare reveal that tech in toys is alive and well – and that not all toys are just for kids. Indeed, some are just plain cool.
Some of the highlights include WowWee's Rovio, a WiFi-enabled webcam-robot that you can control remotely, a kid-sized electric car that adults can ride, and a brainwave-reading toy that lets you control how high a ball floats on a stream of air.
ROVIO by WowWee
Is it a toy or an early step in the evolution of home-monitoring devices? Rovio (WowWee, $299.99) is a roving WiFi enabled robotic device that can be controlled remotely, off-site. With its three wheels (which are quite stable and allow it to move in any direction), it resembles a slick, stylized interplanetary rover – except its only about 10 inches tall. The device has a built-in GPS system so it can navigate in your home, adjustable neck (where the camera is mounted), a two way radio, and a docking station Rovio can find its way back to for recharging.
You can use it as a webcam when talking to your online friends. If you're away from home, you can operate Rovio from your Internet-enabled cell phone, laptop, or BlackBerry (using the screens on these devices) to see if you remembered to lock the back door. You can also stream video and take pictures, getting proof that the dog really does sleep on the couch when you're away. Available now.
Joebot by WowWee
Another offering from WowWee is Joebot ($129.99). This is sort of a follow-up to last year's Tribot, but with more functions and a different personality. In fact it's a different inventor from Tribot– who, by the way, uses his own helium-altered voice for Joebot's. This bot has a beatbox function – tap out some rhythms and he'll echo them back with a flare. He can dance, too.
Joebot responds to 17 voice commands, and has a vocabulary of over 200 words. Infrared sensors let him detect and avoid obstacles. He has a number of games, including a repetition memory game where he shows you a series of actions, and you have to repeat them. You can even do battle with him, using your TV remote controller. You might want to invest in rechargeable batteries, as Joebot takes 6 AAs. Available August, 2009.
Jedi Force trainer by Uncle Milton
Is the Force in Star Wars real? You almost get a sense that it is with the Jedi Force Trainer (Uncle Milton, $129.99 in the US, price in Canada not yet set). Here, the user dons a wireless headset that detects electroencephalography (EEG) signals from your brain. The EEG headgear sends signals to a device that controls a fan which keeps a light-weight ball floating on the air inside of a clear plastic tube. By concentrating and focusing on the ball, you can get it to rise higher; concentrate less and the ball sinks down.
There is a huge amount of hype over this toy, even though at this point only a prototype is out. It was already nominated for a Toy of the Year in Australia, and promises to be big in North America. This item rivals Mattel's new Mindflex ($99.00) which uses similar technology – also to keep a ball up in the air. Mindflex offers a maze that you're supposed to try to navigate the ball through. Both EEG-based toys are expected to be available in stores August, 2009.
Mini-Racer by Imports Dragon
At long last, a kid-sized electric car that adults can ride in! In fact, Mini-Racer (Imports Dragon, $299.00) is rated for up to 150 pounds, though heavier people have been known to try it. This solid plastic car travels up to 16 kilometres an hour, and takes an hour-and-a-half worth of charging from a regular electrical wall socket for 45 minutes of use.
To ride this, you sit on the car's roof and put your feet on the foldable foot rests. You'll look like a crab with your knees sticking up, but that's part of the fun. There is a motorcycle-style twist handle accelerator on the right side handlebar, and a grip brake on the left.
It's a fairly sturdy car and comfortable for short distances. But because of the speed and power, you probably don't really want younger kids on this – they could go a long way in 45 minutes or get into trouble with traffic.
