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[quote user="leighant"] Sound-actuated control of model trains.  Talk into a mnicrophone, give instructions and the train goes, stops, backs up. This might be practical, err possible, with today's computers, but when I had it on my Lionel set in the late 1950s, it was a trick gimmick.  The microphone into which one spoke had a thin lightweight which would be blown by the voice to break electrical contact.  It did not really interpret speech-- one had to give commands to suit what was the next phase in the Lionel E-unit cycle. Using a sibilant (almost a whistling) "f", you would say "Fffffffor-ward." Then when you needed to stop the train, say "stoh-PUH" with a pop on the final "p." Then  for reverse, say "Back Uh-PUH!" <div style="clear:both;"></div> [/quote] I remember something similar with remote control cars in the mid 90s. Alas it didn't catch on in the R/C world either. I also remember the various scent oils but somehow I don't think too many spouses and parents will be too happy with us making the basement or den smell like smoke and diesel exhaust.
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