Animal crackers bringing computer screens to life

After Tamagotchis took over in school playgrounds nationwide, a new cyberpet is set to dominate home computer screens before the year is out. Fin Fin, a creature that resembles a cross between a dolphin and a chicken, has already been a hit in Japan and America, and will be released on this side of the Atlantic next month. Makers Fujitsu claim Fin Fin is the first "artificial life" product to hit the High Street shelves.

The character - and the computer program behind it - is much more "intelligent" than a toy Tamagotchi, they say. According to Fujitsu, "He has feelings, brains, and an individual character and behaves just like a real friend.