Robots are taking over the planet, but as the guide helpfully advises, don’t panic! This isn’t one of those pesky evil robots, intent on enslaving humanity , but the new Spykee Vox, the latest robot kit from Meccano that responds to the sound of your voice! Reacting to a huge range of voice commands, it can even be programmed to perform a series of movements and sounds using a very simple programme editor included with the robot. All it takes is a bit of practice and you’ll soon have your Spykee Vox zipping round the carpet shooting its lasergun. You can even edit his facial animations to react to different commands you give him. It?s all very exciting. The robot arrives disassembled, but there’s no need to brush up on your robotics – it’s just like any other Meccano kit and the instructions will hold your hand through every step of the process (we let our office luddite loose on the kit and he managed to finish making the robot within 3 hours – though he did try and destroy it afterwards). Once you’ve got the hang of your Spykee you can use it to control your mp3 player or iPod, and if you’re feeling particularly lazy the robot will even take over as the remote control for your telly, giving you complete voice control over the idiot box. So, if you fancy yourself as a bit of a robotics amateur, get hold of the Spykee Vox and let a little bit of the future into your living room.

Price : £ 99.99

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So you’ve taken the greatest photo of your life, your very own equivalent of that one with all the builders eating lunch on a New York skyscraper. What does one do with it, after you’ve received the Ansel Adams Award, of course? Well, you could do an awful lot worse than using the You Frame Canvas Kit, which will take your super snap and attractively display it on a beautiful canvas. No bulky frames, just clean lines and a lovely finish. What’s more, there’s no chance of it warping either. It’s surprisingly easy to do (no queuing up at the camera shop while the Saturday boy accidentally erases your USB), and in no time you’ll have that snap hanging on your wall. All you need to do is take your picture, pop it on your PC, print it out on the provided canvas (you’re given two sheets of high-quality A4 material) and construct your frame. It’s a mini-Meccano of little poles, double-sided tape and the like, but extremely easy to build. This system literally takes care of everything, and the handy online tutorial will clear up any problems you might encounter. With your photo printed onto canvas and framed, you can easily add a touch of class to your empty wall. Instant chic wherever you decide to hang it. Family snaps take on a new arty gravitas and scenery shots almost look like paintings. It’s a lovely way to show off how good you are with a camera. Snap, print, frame – it’s as simple as that.

Price : £ 9.99

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