Virtual Pet

No matter their situation, everybody can have a pet... in a virtual sense. Since similar key fob devices exploded onto the market in 1996, electronic pets have become a familiar part of adolescent life. The little screen depicts a character (chosen from 49 various creatures, including a cat, dog or even vampire bat) to care for by selecting food, play and cleaning options. The creature appears to have a mind of its own and will beep when it is hungry, ill or has left a steaming gift in the bottom right hand corner. Successfully nurturing the little character causes it to grow, behave itself and prosper; neglect (wilful or otherwise) can result in an untimely demise. No matter what the outcome, however, a small button on the reverse of key fob restarts the process for another try. A fascinating challenge for children, and a nostalgic interest for those who missed out first time around.