Video Batch Post

[andrewducker]

So, you're miles away from home, but you still want to stroke your cat. Luckily you have a Kinect, a treadmill and a robot...

I want one of these, and I want to fly it around children's parties, while playing the Jaws music:

via anton_p_nym.

I can't work out if this is awesomess or stupidity, but _I_ wouldn't want to be a reporter in a crossfire.

Comments

[henriksdal.livejournal.com]

"Seriously, human? Seriously? Opposable thumbs, and *this* is what you do with them?"

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

The problem with using a robot under your control to play with a cat, is that you don't get to play with the cat yourself.

Also, what if cats and robots join forces?

[chess]

We have a couple of those fishes at my workplace :) They are excellent when flown around the massive glass-surrounded atrium area which goes up all three floors, and they appear to even be navigable around the more crowded open-plan office area by a skilled operator, although occasionally they get stuck on things and need a boost up. The shark version doesn't work quite as well, it seems to just not have as much lift as the clownfish ones. Watching the kids at the Christmas party play around them was hilarious :).

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

My brother gave me one of those flying sharks for Christmas. Annoyingly it doesn't come with any helium so I have yet to give it a go. The cheapest helium cylinders I can find are £30 on Ebay so it may be some time before I bother to do so.

[andrewducker]

That's very frustrating. I wonder why.

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

Probably to keep the sales price down. They seem to sell the sharks for about £30. If even disposable helium canisters are about the same price, including the helium would put the price up to £50 or £60 which is out of most people's "gift" price range.

The suggestion on the instructions is to take it to a florist or party shop - not terribly practical to get it home considering the inflated shark will be about 4 feet long.

[andrewducker]

Clearly you either need a car big enough to put a 4-foot shark in, or a supersize shark you can ride home.

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

FYI, Jay Lake posted a link to a spotting of an Airswimmer in the wild... so to speak.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/airline-pilot-startled-by-flying-shark-20120104-1pk9o.html

-- Steve will remind folks that these are indoor toys as they don't handle updrafts terribly well.