Tech toys and fun stuff

SIT AIBO, SIT Things may be getting out of hand: Sony has built a robo-dog, called Aibo. And this is one smart pet, loaded with chips, processors, memory, a microphone, a camera, and a touch sensor. All that hardware and software means this metal canine can walk, chase balls (if they're hot pink), wag its tail, wave a paw, get on its feet from lying on its back, look at you angrily if you take its ball from its mouth, and sense if your pat is a gentle stroke (its eyes flash green) or a corrective tap (eyes go red). It can even learn what it shouldn't do - unlike some puppies we know. $2,500; www.world.sony.com/robot		FUN, EVEN IF YOU'RE SICK Packy and Marlon, two elephants, have diabetes. Bronkie the dinosaur has asthma. And Rex Ronan has a friend who smokes and is in danger of getting cancer. Click Health Inc. of Silicon Valley designed video games for Super Nintendo and PCs featuring these characters to teach all kids not only about the dangers of smoking, but for those with asthma and diabetes, how to manage their diseases. The games are so popular that some health providers have started distributing the games to their young patients. $69.95; www.clickhealth.com
CRANK UP THE MUSIC Tired of your radio batteries going dead while you're camping? Try a cool-looking translucent Freeplay AM/FM radio. It comes with a handle on the back; when turned, it winds a textured carbon steel spring from one spool to another. As the spring unwinds, it releases energy to a gearbox that drives a generator. The hand energy lasts about an hour; when there's enough sun, a solar panel runs the radio. Freeplay also makes a windup lantern. Camping just might be fun again. $79.95 (lantern $69.95); www.freeplay.net		FLY AWAY Tired of slouching in a corner to surf the Web on your laptop because your phone jack is in an inconvenient location? Apple's AirPort works with the new iBook to let you connect to the Internet via a wireless connection, making it possible to stay connected and mobile in every room. Once you're wired - or not, in this case - you're free to roam 150 feet away from AirPort's base. Multiple iBook users can share a single Internet connection and communicate with each other. And don't worry about speed: AirPort's wireless data rate runs up to 11 megabits per second. iBook: $1,599 AirPort Hardware Access Point: $299 AirPort Card: $99 www.apple.com/ibook/airport