While we all enjoy technological breakthrough in our lives, nowhere are these advances more fun than in the toy industry. One of the hottest toys for the 2007 Christmas season is sure to be the Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye. This colorful handheld microscope is opens up a new world that is fun for both children and adults to explore.

The Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye is easy to set up and so simple to use that it can be easily handled by a 5 or 6 year old. Getting the EyeClops out of the package is, as is sometimes the case, the hardest part of the set up. When you unpack it, be sure to go through the packing material carefully. It is easy to miss the clear plastic observation tube that can be used to capture live bugs and other small mobile objects. This tube can also be used to hold liquids and acts as a base for hands-free use.

After unpacking, you simply insert 5 AA batteries and put the "eye" into the holder, and turn the unit on. Then you plug the yellow-ended video cable into the yellow composite port on your television, turn the TV on, and change the television input to show the EyeClops. There is no software to install and the EyeClops can be easily move from one TV to another.

The EyeClops glows with 3 LED lights that illuminate any object. Whatever the EyeClops illuminates will show up on the television screen magnified up to 200 times. The exact magnification depends on the television, but every TV that I tried magnified the objects enough to be very interesting.

 Many common objects are amazing under such intense magnification. Grain of salt look like blocks of white ice. Your skin looks all scaly and hair looks like twisted rope. Each piece of clothing or fabric displays it's own unique weave and design. My 7 year old grandson loved the EyeClops and immediately went on a search for objects to magnify. We found that even tiny bugs can look vicious and just about any common object is interesting.

For older children, this type of exploration can easily lead to more investigation on chemical structures, the components of textiles, and much, much more. My only advice is, don't let the kids magnify the carpet or you will be running for the vacuum cleaner!

The Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eyebrings the scientific microscope into the realm of television. It perfect for today's kids. Mom and dad and grandma and grandpa will also find it a fun toy that they can enjoy right along with the children.

Date of Review: 9-25-2007

Retail Price: $49.99