Don't tickle him too hard: this Elmo talks back
posted November 1st 2005 3:25PM
We thought Teddy Ruxpin, Furby and, of course, Microsoft's
interactive Barney, were spooky, but they don't hold a candle crayon to the latest interactive plaything
for today's tech-savvy kids: "Know Your Name Elmo," a version of the furry red Sesame Street character that comes
complete with a CD full of software and his very own USB cable. Program the $40 toy (which also comes in a Winnie
the Pooh version) on your PC and it will sing, tell stories and remind your kid to eat his breakfast, all using
the tyke's own name (and just to make sure Madison and Jaxon are covered, there's a database of 15,000 names
available). We always thought that's what parents were for, but it looks like the marketers at Fisher-Price know
better, since they're hoping to sell out of these this holiday season. We can only hope that at least a few will
be bought by hackers, who will show us what Elmo and Pooh are really capable of.
Friends for ever! Like Chucky!
ruxpin
Elmo knows where you live!
ha i doubt it will be the tickle me elmo part two...
it's RUXPIN not RUKSPIN
I'd love to try to hack this if it were decently inexpensive...
6. Posted Nov 1, 2005, 3:52 PM ET by Nicholas Williams
I'd love to try to hack this if it were decently inexpensive...
"Program the $40 toy"
Dig in kid..
Come on hackers, I want Elmo to play my Bravery music! Hurry up. Or video on an external screen would be nice... lol =)
What does every Tickle Me Elmo doll get before leaving the factory?
A test tickle!
Har har!
This toy's been out for at least two years.
You can buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000DZCRT/qid=1130965462/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-5048019-3287946?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846
Odd that the reuters article didn't mention that.
Maybe Fisher-Price has updated it for 2005/2006?
I bought one for my daughter's birthday...of course...far in advance so I could play with it.
It only took me a few minutes to "hack" it, although it was embarrassingly easy. It shows up as a HID device, temp.inf contains a script file defining audio sequences and variables (such as child's name), and there is a directory full of audio files containing names and phrases. Each time you push the button, a random script entry is played.
Current, boring factory script:
PL_016:
PLAY ELMO_LOVES_YOU+[50MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME
RTS
If you practice your elmo voice a little bit, and create some phrase files, on could do the following:
PL_016:
PLAY ELMO_IS_WATCHING_YOU+[50MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME
RTS
or how about:
PL_016:
PLAY ELMO_KNOWS_WHAT+[50MSEC]+#PARENT2+[50MSEC]+DID_LAST_SUMMER
RTS
If you change this script, and add the appropriate audio files to link to, you can push this install onto the elmo using the standard installer and do whatever you want.
Another interesting point is that the device that speaks is a very small, removable module. You could actually voice activate nearly anything with a little creativity!
Okay, my vote is for hacking Elmo to create the Elmo-Sapien like this - http://www.robots-dreams.com/2005/11/elmosapien_the_.html . Anything, even in an Elmo voice would be better than the Robosapien V2 constantly repeating the same bad jokes over and over again.