Gallery: Pogo Sticks of Doom and Other Gems From a Massive Toy Fair
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED01necomimi-brainwave-cat-ears-edit
Short of actually being able to hear, this headwear purportedly mimics every other function of a cat’s ears by reading a steady stream of data from your brain and left earlobe.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED02tiggly2-edit
Tiggly offers a modern spin on the classic shape-block puzzles. The accompanying iPad apps let toddlers draw complex pictures that combine simple shapes as well as create animated stories with their own voice overs.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED03ozobot-racecourse-edit
[Ozobots](http://ozobot.com/) are tiny, ping-pong-ball-size robots that respond to both hand-drawn lines in the real world as well as those on digital screens. Sensors on their underside respond to different colored lines and alter how these tiny automatons speed, spin, stop, and blink. You can also buy a racetrack toy and pair it with the OzoRace app (see above).
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED04mountain-boy-sledworks-edit
A well-crafted sled is good for more than just occasional winter fun. It can also be a family heirloom, worthy of Charles Foster Kane’s dying words. These [Mountain Boy models](”http://www.mountainboysleds.com/”) are hand-crafted in Colorado and built to last.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED05modern-mobiles-edit
Your child could be the next Alexander Calder. Actually, forget about your child for a moment. These mobiles would look great hanging in your office. The [Modern Mobiles packages](”http://www.etsy.com/shop/jfjones”) are mix-and-match sets that can be readjusted and rearranged to your eye’s content.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED06modern-mobiles-alt-edit
These little [MOSS components](”http://www.modrobotics.com/”) are destined to be the Lego blocks of the future, as they combine motors, controllers, and Bluetooth modules in little snap-together bits.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED07minigols2-edit
Most Foosball players are faceless monochrome pegs, capable only of incessant backflipping. They don’t even feign injury like real soccer players. But [MiniGols](”http://minigols.com/promo/indexhome.php?idioma=eng”) are pretty ingenious because they’re both standalone soccer figurines and Foosball players that snap into the company’s specialized mini-table.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED08mezco-heisenberg-edit
Even at a Toy Fair, Heisenberg’s presence is felt. [Mezco Toyz’](”http://www.mezcotoyz.com/brands/breakingbad?p=1”) line of *Breaking Bad* action figures offer an impressive level of detail and costumery options.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED09gund-grumpycat2-edit
An Internet meme hasn’t truly arrived until there are competing stuffed-animals versions of it. At this year’s Toy Fair there were Gund (see above) and a Ganz versions of Grumpy Cat.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED10flybar-edit
The [Flybar 800](”http://www.flybar.com/pages/inside-the-800”) is a pogo stick’s pogo stick. You won’t find springs or pneumatic pistons inside of it, but you will find a series of “elastomeric thrusters” -- essentially, a group of heavy duty rubber bands.
Photos by Tim Moynihan/WIRED11candylab-toy-cars-edit
All the animatronic stuffed animals, autonomous robots, and interactive apps at Toy Fair can make anyone long for simpler times. [Candylab’s](”http://candylabtoys.com/index.html”) “Awesome Wood Cars” are perfectly named, paying tribute to the iconic aesthetic of late-1960s Mustangs and GTOs with minimalist wood carvings that somehow look ultra-modern.
