CORVALLIS, OR --Nov 19, 2001-- Emerald Forest Toys, a developer of "magical" embedded-technology toys, announced today the release of the Owl Magic Wand and the Owl Magic Orb. These toys are the first in a new line of interactive products that embed technology in ordinary-looking objects to give them seemingly magical behaviors.

The 13-inch Owl Magic Wand is shaped like a tree twig. It features an owl head at the top and an owl claw gripping a luminescent globe on the spell-casting end. The wand uses embedded infrared technology to control objects like the Magical Orb and other Emerald Forest toys to be released within the year.

The five-inch diameter Owl Magic Orb resembles a crystal ball and reacts to spells cast by the wand as well as to direct interactions like shakes, human voice and light cues. Its behaviors include combinations of lights and sounds.

"The real attraction of the Owl Magic Wand and the Owl Magic Orb is that they go far beyond the typical tech toys," said Gene Korienek, president and CEO of Emerald Forest Toys. "These are toys that look like everyday objects, but a child can 'magically' control them and their interactions with other ordinary-looking objects. That's where they escape the limits of explicit-technology toys and move into the unlimited realm of a child's imagination."

The Owl Magic Wand and the Owl Magic Orb are packaged with batteries installed so that the magic begins immediately. When a child picks up the Owl Magic Wand, the globe in the claw glows red, the owl's eyes flash and the wand greets the child with the classic Owl 'Hoot Hoot Hoot' sound. If the child holds the wand vertically for several seconds, the globe increases illumination to bright-red flashlight intensity strong enough for night-time activities.

The child casts spells by waving the wand forward with single or multiple wrist motions; different spells are cast with different combinations of waves. When a spell is cast, the wand makes a magical "whoosh" noise, the owl eyes flash and the globe glows red. The wand goes into sleep mode when the child sets it down.

Children can control the Owl Magic Orb with or without the wand. A single wand cast or single shake awakens the orb and produces colorful rotating lights and a musical "wake-up" sound. Multiple wand casts or shakes to the orb produce varied light and noise behaviors such as the "night light" feature. When the nightlight spell is cast, the orb glows with nightlight intensity for five minutes and then slowly fades to dark.

Children can make the orb emit a variety of musical and entertaining sounds, including burping, and display various combinations of light behaviors. The orb is also sensitive to human voice and room light. Speaking to the orb causes it to glow with a soft white light that modulates with the strength of the voice. When the light in the room is turned off, the orb senses the darkness and illuminates the room with soft white light.

The Emerald Forest Toys family of wizardry objects emphasizes creative, non-violent playing behaviors.

"In a post-September 11 world, toys that encourage children to imagine and play in a peaceful world of magic are more important than ever," said Korienek. "Toys like these are at the opposite end of the spectrum from those where players must 'kill' or 'die' in pursuit of a goal."

Emerald Forest has thousands of pre-orders for the Owl Magic Wand and Owl Magic Orb from toy departments and specialty toy stores for the Christmas 2001 season. The company will produce additional magical objects throughout 2002. Because each related object will interact with the Owl Magic Wand in a different way, children can collect each new toy and eventually have a room full of magical objects awaiting 'spells' from their wand. The wand and the related objects will also allow groups of children to play together, each with his or her own wand.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The Owl Magic Wand and the Owl Magic Orb are packaged separately. The Owl Magic Wand retails for $34.99 and the Owl Magic Orb, packaged with a display stand, retails for $29.99. Customers can order online at www.OwlMagic.com beginning Monday, November 19, and toys will be available in selected specialty stores and mall kiosks beginning the first week of December.

ABOUT EMERALD FOREST TOYS

Emerald Forest Toys designs, develops and distributes interactive "magical" toys for children. The toys use a ubiquitous computing model and embedded technology to behave in unexpected ways. The company was founded in 2001 and is a spin-off of 3 Sigma Robotics, a developer of intelligent robotic systems for the aerospace, medical and manufacturing industries. Emerald Forest Toys is headquartered in Corvallis, Ore. For more information about this exciting new company, see www.eftoys.com.