11/05/09 — Innovation First’s new robotic toy features interactive online experience dedicated to science & discovery. Innovation First International, a developer of educational and competitive robotics products and consumer robotics toys, unveiled the HEXBUG Nano – a tiny, 1.75 inch energetic micro robotic bug that uses the physics of vibration and robotic intelligence to skitter along and explore its environment on smooth surfaces. Planned as a series for collectors, the first release is the Nano Newton Collection of five unique bugs for kids 3 years old and up, and is now available for $7.99 each at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at…

10/12/09 — University of Washington research included in the proceedings from the 11th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing sheds light on an unaddressed problem with certain classes of consumer robotics products. People are increasingly using household robots for chores, communication, entertainment and companionship. But safety and privacy risks of information-gathering objects that move around our homes are not yet adequately addressed, according to a new University of Washington study. It’s not a question of evil robots, but of robots that can be misused. “A lot of attention has been paid to robots becoming more intelligent and turning evil,” said co-author Tadayoshi Kohno,…