Having spent the past few weeks off and on at a place I'd rather avoid — hospitals — it dawned on me more than ever of the healing power of toys. And while, I was in the adult areas of the hospitals, the power of toys remained the same, from family to friends to the nursing staff. (The nursing staff loves cookies, too, but that's for another blog.)

In this particular instance, the toys were stuffed animals and a battery-operated plush item featuring monkeys who sang about "going home." These weren't anything special, but they brought a smile to everyone who witnessed them, including the patient who wasn't exactly a enamored by toys.

And I think this is how it all begins — collecting toys, that is. As children, we look for something to comfort us and we gradually move on to other toys that are found near these creature comforts. And it is those memories that drive us to collect our childhood toys as adults. While I don't think this patient is going to run out and try to find her toys from the 1940s and '50s (though I'd love to help!), it did bring to the forefront about how great the toy collecting hobby is and what a pleasure it is to "work" in this field.

This particular blog isn't full of any particular news item or earth-shattering auction results — just something that's been on the brain for the past few weeks.

So, did you hear the latest news surrounding toys that supposedly will be able to read brain waves? It's a few years down the road, but it's on the horizon nonetheless.

According to news reports, NeuroSky Inc. is hot on the trail in developing toys and video games that can read brain waves. One of the prototyes making the rounds at NeuroSky is a Darth Vader getup complete with mask, cape and lightsaber. However, behind the mask is a sensor that touches the person's forehead and reads that person's brain signals. These signals are then sent to a wireless receiver on the lightsaber, which glows or stays dormant depending on the user's thoughts. So I guess if you're thinking about taking down Darth Maul, it stays lit. However, if an ice cream sundae is on the brain, good luck protecting yourself against Stormtroopers.

This brain-reading technology has been used on athletes for quite a while. Apparently, this helps people maintain mental focus, and the idea with incorporating it into toys and games is to help those afflicted with hyperactivity disorder, autism and mood disorders. One of the first toy-related products using this technology is expected to debut in the U.S. at the American International Fall Toy Show in October.

Well, I've always been hesitant against people knowing what I'm thinking, but this could be rather fun. Many people have questioned my attention span, but now I can see the results for myself. While I'd rather there be a better way to improve mental focus than by playing games, if this can indeed offer some relief to those suffering from disorders, I'm all for it.

I'll be real interested to see how these technological wonders will work. I could be a test person. If I can keep my lightsaber lit up all day while at work, does that reflect my superior mental focus or the fact that I'll do anything to avoid any actual work? I suppose this is just the tip of the technological iceberg in toys and games. I just wonder when the teleporter will be ready.

As someone who has been in and around the collecting hobby for a good chunk of my life, I've noticed a few traits of collectors. I've talked to many people who have so much stuff in their homes, there is barely enough space to actually walk around. Now I'm guessing these types of collectors aren't the ones who limit themselves to one category or type of toys. They buy anything and everything — to be used as parts, trade bait or simply because they can't seem to let anything pass them by.

Others are like me. I buy a little of something here and there. I'm not tied to one particular category. I have a smattering of action figures, a few tin tanks, some board games and even a lightsaber or two among my Milwaukee Brewers memorabilia in "my room" in the basement. I don't have so much stuff that I can't move, but I don't have a dedicated collecting field, either. To me, it makes it that much more fun when I hit antique shops with my mom. I never know what I might bring home.

And then there are those collectors who have a targeted niche in collecting. For instance, they might collect Hot Wheels. In that case, there might be display case after display case filled with models, prototypes and exclusives. These types of collectors have a specific item they are looking for, and they dive into it like a colege student working on his senior thesis.

Is any one method better than another? No way. And that's what makes this hobby great. You don't have to be rich to enjoy it, and there are plenty of other folks out there who enjoy the same thing.

Of course, that leads to one question — what type of collector are you? (And don't be afraid to show off your collection to the rest of us.)  

Welcome to Talkin’ Toys, the official blog for me, Toy Shop magazine editor Tom Bartsch. This will be one of three blogs for Toy Shop magazine. Toy Shop columnists Karen O’Brien and Mark Bellomo will host the other two blogs, which will launch shortly.

Let me first introduce myself. I have been the editor of Toy Shop for approximately four years. Toy Shop itself has been around since 1988, starting as a classified ad “shopper” magazine for toy collectors before transforming into the magazine you see today. The focus has always been on collectible toys, and we’ll use these blogs as an extension of the magazine.

Here’s what you will be seeing in this blog. I’ll share any breaking developments in the toy industry and offer my view on the situation. I’ll also comment on auction news and share what categories seem to be getting more attention from bidders. This blog will also be a good place to open up a dialog with readers on a regular basis. So share your thoughts on the hobby, your collection and your views on where the industry is heading into the future. This is the Toy Shop community, and your voice should be heard.      

This blog will be updated frequently. However, you can share your thoughts at any time, and I encourage you to do so. You can post photos of your collection, or if you have a problem identifying your collectible, we’ll post it and the knowledgeable readers of Toy Shop can help solve the mystery. Everyone loves a mystery, right?

We hope you enjoy the added features we’ve provided for you. In addition to checking this blog, be sure to sign up for the weekly Toy Shop electronic newsletter, Toy Shop Xpress. This newsletter will be e-mailed to your inbox every week. To sign up, click on the newsletter sign-up box on the Toy Shop Web site.

We’ll dive in with some toy topics in the next blog. For now, welcome to a new chapter in the history of Toy Shop magazine. I’m glad you joined the adventure.

Playtime starts now!