If the outrageously contradictory title of this review hasn’t tempted you to read any further, I don’t know what will.
Designed for kids ages 8 and up, MiPosaur from WowWee is a prehistoric pal with some pretty impressive futuristic features. Out of the box, this reptilian robot has the ability to sense its surroundings and respond to motion commands with the help of Gesture Sense, Beacon Sense, and Bluetooth Smart-Ready technology. If it all sounds super smart, that’s because it is. And in a competition of big, scientific-y words, MiPosaur takes home the grand prize and then some. *Cue the golf claps* It may seem like a lot of mumbo-jumbo, but trust me when I say that those smart-sounding words translate into a cool product that kids (and even parents) will love.
Included in the box is one MiPosaur, one Trackball, a user manual, and a quick start guide. Batteries are not included, so you will need to pop four AAs into the dinosaur and an additional four AAAs into its Trackball. (Yes, I know. Batteries galore.) Once you’ve supplied MiPosaur with his electro-chemical fuel, it’s go time.
The first thing I noticed about this product when I got a hold of it was how physically sturdy it was. Fairly heavy, MiPosaur is painted black, gray, and a light, bright shade of blue. It’s a color scheme that just screams technology, and it kind of just makes me start thinking about solid state hard drives, integrated circuits, and USB cables. You know, tech stuff. Rubber wheels housed in plastic grip the floor really well, and a tail made up of alternating segments of plastic and rubber impressively wags like a real dinosaur tail would. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a dinosaur tail up close though, so I guess I really can’t say that with supreme confidence… but it wags nice.
What’s awesome about MiPosaur is that it can respond to various hand gestures. Simply put, different commands call for different actions. MiPosaur has three different personalities and moods, which will change depending on how kids play and interact with it. If you clap three times for example, MiPosaur will begin to roam around. If you swipe your hand left or right, it will turn left or right. By default, MiPosaur is in Curious Mood, which is indicated by the blue color on the LED Mood Indicator. Providing MiPosaur with happy commands will drive it toward Excited Mood, while unhappy, negative commands will lead toward Annoyed Mood. The LED light on MiPosaur’s back will light up either orange or red, respectively, in these cases. Kids will have a blast treating MiPosaur like a pet of their own as they learn its likes, dislikes, and tendencies.
But let’s not forget about MiPosaur’s favorite toy, the Trackball. Allow me to set the record straight: this is not just a ball. Instead, it’s a library of various games and activities for kids to play with MiPosaur. Using a rotating dial, kids can choose their game or activity and watch MiPosaur react to the balls’ movements. In ball mode (yes, ball mode), kids can enjoy watching MiPosaur chase and push the ball around the floor. In leash mode, the ball becomes a leash that kids can use to guide MiPosaur in the direction they want. In dance mode, kids can shake the Trackball and watch MiPosaur bust out some pretty sweet dance moves. And through MiP (Mobile Inverted Pendulum) balance, MiPosaur can lean forward and backward without falling over. If only they had this technology when I was learning to ride a bike. Definitely would have saved me a few scrapes and bruises.
MiPosaur even has app functionality, allowing kids to interact wirelessly through their smartphones or tablets and explore an even wider range of activities and games. Ultimately, MiPosaur is an exciting prehistoric robot with interactive features that get me excited for the future of technology. Kids will love exploring all MiPosaur has to offer, as they begin to adapt and engage with its ever-evolving personality.
I’m going to go learn about solid state hard drives now.
