Patents Pending

NEUTRON'S WORLD

BEST CURRENT CHOICE

Jet Pack Backpack

All kids' backpacks are heavy, but Jimmy's has boosters: Stowaway
jets get him to school on time via the

stratosphere.

SoloTrek XFV

This DARPA-funded manned flight machine is a third

of the way through testing. It flies, but not without tether. www.solotrek.com

Super Bubble Gum Mobile

One blow on this bubble, and Jimmy's cruising to class inside a bouncing
sugar sphere. But

it pops easily.

Sparrow Electric Vehicle

Almost as cute, this one-man, three-wheeled electric car gets 50 miles

per charge, so the

juice costs about as much as a pack of gum. www.corbinmotors.com

Intergalactic Communicator


This toaster communicates very effectively with aliens. The aliens

then come calling.

This is bad.

NASA's Voyager Spacecraft


Both versions carry pictures and music on the so-called Golden Record. But
the machines haven't left the solar system yet. www.nasa.gov

Jimmy's

Hair Machine

It looks diabolical but cuts, combs, and dries without nicking ears or expecting
a tip.

The Flowbee

Attaches to your vacuum, then sucks your hair into its blades for an even
cut -- which, come to think of it, is rather diabolical. www.flowbee.com

Goddard the

Robotic Dog

An artificially intelligent pup with an internal cellphone,

it can mimic Jimmy's voice to fool his

parents.

Sony Aibo

Cutest of the robo-pets, it walks, rolls over, barks, chases a ball. Not
particularly loyal, and needs its batteries changed. www.sony.com