http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/ Engadget Comments for Don't tickle him too hard: this Elmo talks back http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/I'd love to try to hack this if it were decently inexpensive...


"Program the $40 toy"

Dig in kid..
]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/
A test tickle!

Har har!]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/
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?]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/
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!
]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/01/dont-tickle-him-too-hard-this-elmo-talks-back/Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM