Don't tickle him too hard: this Elmo talks back
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.
