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Oct 16, 2007 3:40 pm US/Central
Tech Toys For The Entire Family
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The Roboquad offers a full range of motion and can be programmed as a watchdog.
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The Novint Falcon's force-feedback adds a whole new dimension to gameplay.
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Erector's Spykee is a build-it-yourself robot filled with high-tech features including Wi-Fi controls, a webcam and VOIP phone service.
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The highly interactive Robopanda responds to touch and sound.
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There were Beauties, and the Geeks. From hardcore gamers and highbrow tech enthusiasts, thousands descended on the Javits Center in September for the annual DigitalLife Expo in New York. It was a virtual slice of the hottest in high-tech and digital entertainment. CBS station WCBS-TV brings you a look at some of the amazing new products featured at the expo.
It wouldn't be a tech expo without robots and at this year's show there were plenty to choose from, and one that stands out; WowWee's Roboquad.
It walks like a crab-spider hybrid can move around independently and even becomes a watchdog in the dark. It retails for $99.00.
Erector's "Spykee" is another stand-out. This robot features a voice-over-I-P phone, digital music player and surveillance webcam.
"Spykee is a wi-fi spy robot that you build yourself. It's got a wi-fi card in there so you can control it from your computer locally or through the internet globally." Jim Van den Dyssel, V.P. of Sales for Erector America tells WCBS-TV. "So whatever he sees and he hears, you can see on your computer. So you can be halfway around the world you've got this at home checking on the kids."
Spykee hits the stores in November and will retail for $300.
The most popular droid for over thirty years, R2-D2, is getting more hi-tech, thanks to Nikko America."
"R2-D2 is the digital video entertainment system for the whole family." Norm Goldberg of Nikko America tells WCBS-TV. "He's designed to let any room in the house.... become a digital entertainment center."
R2-D2 plays all form of digital media --and get this-- you don't need a movie screen to view it, the resolution is so high you can watch your favorite flick on a white wall!
If you can't afford the projector, Star Wars fans can still pick up the r2d2 webcam, which retails for around $300.
Gamers will love the Novint Falcon, a controller that gives users virtual 3-D touch of texture, vibrations and force feedback. The cost? Nearly 250 dollars.
One of my favorite products at this year's DigitalLife Expo, is actually, low-tech. Gelaskins are removable protection for all your portable devices. You can get everything skinned from your laptop to i-pod, for $15 to $30.
One of the best products for teens, tweens and their parents is the Zipit Wireless. The Zipit Wireless is a portable messaging device that allows kids to chat with their friends without hogging the family p.c.
"We offer support for AOL instant messaging, Microsoft IM, Yahoo IM. We also support an SD card so you can store music and basically it acts like an MP-3 player. You also can store photos on here." Frank Gree of Zipit Wireless tells WCBS-TV.
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