Do you remember the electronic robotic toys called Furby? Maybe you’ve forgotten about them as a self-protective measure because these little devils were annoying at best and terrifying at worst. They were released by Tiger Electronics in 1998 and resembled owl-like or hamster-like creatures and they make noises. Creepy but adorable noises. These babies went through a viral period of must-have mania folli8ng the launch during the holiday season. sales continued until the year 2000. During the first three years, the company sold more than 40 million Furbies and 1.8 million were sold in 1998 alone.
Remember, Furbies speak, but they had to speak more than just the English language. For this reason, their speaking capabilities were translated into more than 20 languages for worldwide customers. Interestingly, Furbies were notable as being the first successful attempt to create and sell a robot that was aimed at domestic consumers. The language they spoke was Furbish, which is the unique language of Furbies. However, over time, they can be programmed to start using English phrases and words over time to replace their Furbish language. The founders spent nine months creating their masterpiece and another nine months designing it. They failed at two attempts to market the Furby, so they invited another game inventor to join their efforts to sell the concept. Furby was ultimately sold to Tiger Electronics.
The young man who manages the popular “Look Mum No Computer” channel decided to do something completely creative with a bunch of Furbies. He went through eBay and charity shops extensively to find tons of Furbies and other supplies so that he could make The Furby Organ. The Furby Organ consists of 44 little “Furby darlings.” They’ve been extensively modified to sing, chat, and play.
They’re hooked up into the mainframe in the back of the machine. Also, you can stop them in their tracks by pressing one switch. One more really cool features: each of the Furbies are able to generate a formant vowel note, and you can change the vowel with a switch.
It’s ingenious, really, and the stuff that nightmares are made of. Watch the video below.
Picture me in a silent scream. Ha!
