Better Concerts and Music

For those of us growing up watching Tomorrow’s World, we thought by 2010 we’d have robot butlers and other such gadgets catering to our every whim. Unfortunately, technology hasn’t progressed quite as quickly as predicted and these days we’re impressed if we see a robot that can walk on its’ own without falling over.

So imagine being able to control a robots movements to such a degree that you could make it dance or fight whenever you like, imagine how impressed we’d be. Well not only is that possible, but it’s possible in your very own living room. Although you’ll have to pay the £450 for it, but hey, there’s always the birthday presents list!

The MechRC Robot is the most programmable, user-friendly robot you’re likely to come across. With over one hundred already installed sounds and motions you can take the robot out of the box and have him strutting his stuff across the carpet in less than an hour.

Programming the robot is extremely easy too. The bot comes with software that allows you to program its movements via a filmstrip; dragging the robot into the desired stance in each frame, creating any kind of movement you can think of. It’s extremely easy to then add sound effects and music to accompany the robots’ movements, which will be played through the speaker in the middle of the MechRC’s chest.

The robot comes already made, meaning you won’t have to fiddle around building your robotic companion. It also comes with an IR remote control should you want him to break into a spontaneous dance or fight routine.

For what are basically toys, these robots are quite pricey, but they’re great fun and will no doubt keep you engaged for hours on end! The movement of the robot is extremely natural and it’s capable of completing some impressive physical manouvers. You never know, if technology carries on in this direction, we might end up with those robot butlers after all.

So the misery caused by the Icelandic ash cloud continues, with flights from the UK to destinations including Spain, France, Portugal, Germany and Austria having to be cancelled for another weekend. Airports in London, Stansted, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle all saw cancellations and severe delays as the planes attempt to fly around the ash cloud.

Not one to have my fun taken away from me by the weather, i decided i was flying one way or another and broke out one of my newest toys; the Gyro Flyer RC Helicopter.

Yeah ok, so it’s a remote control helicopter and couldn’t take anyone anywhere; i’m still having more fun that anyone stuck in one of the many UK airports. Phrase it any way you like, but the bottom line is I’m flying and they’re not, and I’m doing it well too the Gyro Flyer comes with a ‘super easy to fly’ guarantee and it lives up to that guarantee extremely well. The control system is extremely accessable and easy to use and the helicopter is very easy to manipulate in mid air. The ‘copter itself looks great too, with an angular design and bright red colouring, it looks like a large, menacing insect flinging itself around the park, something that admittedly appealed to my more mischievous side.

It’s durable too the easy to use control system quickly lifts your confidence and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be attempting double loop the loops and smashing the helicopter into trees and the ground by accident, then laughing with delight when you realise it’s fine and you can do that again if you want, to the amusement of passing children.

So don’t let the lack of flights get you down, get yourself one of these cheeky little gadgets and get airborne without the hassle of Icelandic ash clouds keeping you grounded. What’s so bad about staying in the UK anyway, i’m quite appreciative to Iceland. I could be trying and failing to order dinner in France right now, but instead i’m on the south coast of England enjoying my own personal flying experience.