PicoCrickets: Beyond Robotics

I have geeky interests, and so when I heard about the PicoCricket (via Boing Boing), the first thing I thought was “Man, I wish I had that when I was a kid.” If you have older children who have been giving you a hard time for not getting them a PlayStation or Nintendo Wii, I’m sure the PicoCricket will more than make up for it, (at least, it would for me).

It essentially is a kit that allows you to program things. Rather than try to explain it myself, here’s the product description:

You can plug lights, motors, sensors, and other devices into a PicoCricket, then program them to react, interact, and communicate.

For example, you can make a cat and program it to purr when someone pets it. Or you can make a birthday cake and program it to play a song when someone blows out the candles.

What can be created with the kit is limited only by your child’s imagination. The PicoCricket is great as an educational product as well. Price: $250.

You can purchase a kit and learn more about what you can do with it at PicoCricket.