Toys to weapons

Toys to weapons:

WowWee's Rovio Surveillance Robot.

The $300 Rovio has a Wi-Fi plugged mobile webcam and can be controlled from anywhere using either a PC, a smartphone or even a video game console.

The robot really works well, say reviewers, because of its effective navigation system. The system allows the user to store waypoints, and the device's built-in LED headlight will come in handy for dimly lit locations.

Rovio has three omnidirectional wheels that, when combined with the camera and the ability to set up your own paths or sequences, can make it easy to complete tasks at home from a remote location.

For instance, the robot can check on a pet's food bowl and mail back pictures, or it can tour a room or even help do remote product demos in a business environment.

The Rovio generated much excitement when WowWee showed off the robot at the Consumer Electronics Show at the beginning of the year.

Now that it is available for pre-order with a two- to four-week delivery schedule, it will be interesting to see how well consumers react to it.

Rovio could be used to check on pets, keep an eye on the office or home and "visit elderly relatives," says WowWee. But we remain skeptical about the product's ability to break through into the mainstream.

Despite the potentially interesting applications, Rovio is likely to remain a device for the hardcore gadget lovers because of its pricing and because most  consumers in the U.S. are still trying to adjust to the idea of using personal robots. Just ask iRobot which is trying hard to sell its robotic vacuum cleaners as a better alternative to the old fashioned upright vacuums.

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Ok lets set up some dropable wireless routers for it to link to and drop 1,000 into Taliban areas in Paki,

Set up a hook up link on predators and drive them around looking for terrorist.

Needs some work but doable.

Gerald