A solar powered robot is a great educational toy that’s also lots of fun.  Kids and adults alike will enjoy this kit that can make a variety of different robot gadgets, including a windmill, dog, boat, car and 2 different airplanes.  The 21 pieces of this kit snap together easily and construction is no problem.  The education value of this kit is double – kids will learn about engineering as well as solar power.  When the sun isn’t available, a halogen light will also fuel this robot.  Solar powered robot kit is available at Sundance Solar for $19.95.

Construction begins this Friday, June 19, on Spaceport America. The project will be the first world’s first spaceport designed to service private space travel companies like Virgin Galactic. The public is invited to the groundbreaking ceremony at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

New Mexico State University has projected that by Spaceport America’s fifth year of operation, it will employ 2,300 people with a payroll of $300 million. In another study, the Futron Corporation has predicted that by 2020, Spaceport America will employ more than 5,000 people and have total revenues in excess of $1 billion.

A concept image is seen here. Read more at the Spaceport America website.

Nintendo’s Wii can now add another sales record to its already impressive list. According to figures from marketing research company NPD, the Wii is now the fastest-selling game console in history in the U.S. Shipment of more than 20 million units in 31 months on the market set the record. The worldwide sales are over 50 million consoles, according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, which possibly means that the Wii also has the worldwide record.

The Wii differentiated itself from other game consoles with its remote wireless controller which can detect motion in 3D space, allowing more interaction and new kinds of games. Nintendo has targeted new groups of users with the Wii, including senior citizens and parents. The strategy seems to have helped pave the way to success.

The Fatal1ty Gaming Headset from Creative is being introduced as “professional style” gaming equipment. The 40mm neodymium drivers have a 20 – 20,000 Hz range. When you use the headset with a Creative Sound Blaster sound card, active noise cancellation (known as Silencer technology) is activated. The VoiceFX feature in the Sound Blaster also allows voice morphing when the boom microphone is used. The headset will retail for about $100 on Amazon.com.

Technology museums aren’t nearly as common as art museums. Maybe because technology and inventions just keep marching forward, we rarely take time to think about where we’ve been. A new technology museum just opened which anyone can visit – the online Canon Camera Museum. This Flash-based website lets you wander at will through the virtual museum, viewing ‘exhibits’ on Design, Technology and History of Canon cameras.