Assuming you haven't had your fill of toys already this past holiday season, we have a lineup of three gadgets that look particularly fun.
Here is a device that is, at the moment, still only a prototype — though fingers crossed it will one day make it to a toystore near you. Pinoky, as it's called, is a clever ring-shaped gadget that can be snapped on to the arm or leg of your favorite toy in order to "bring it to life." Arms can wave, legs can kick, and tails can even wag — with this new robotic appendage essentially converting your stuffed toy into a cyborg!
Pinoky can be controlled remotely with no wires to get in the way. The ring does look a little bit odd clamped on a toy's arm, but I don't think kids would mind once their toys have come to life! As for the technicalities, the device contains a micro-controller, a ZigBee microchip, and a servomotor. The latter is used to push a bar against the toy's limbs, which in turn makes them move.