The iPhone and similar smartphones like the Android have been spreading like wildfire.  Many who do not have an iPhone do have an iPod Touch or an iPad.  They can be used for work, but for play as well obviously.  One of the cool features for gaming is the accelerometer.  Naturally, there are now smartphone apps and transmitter dongles that allow you to control an rc helicopter or other rc toy through these smart touch devices.  You can get an infrared transmitter dongle with a USB charge cable and then download an app that creates the controls on the iPhone that let you fly the helicopter.  If you don’t want to use the touch “stick” controls, you can push a button and instead fly the helicopter by tilting and moving the iPhone itself in your hand.  The accelerometer in the devices is what allows this.  So far, these apps have been designed for 3 channel indoor helicopters.  We’ll have to see what the future holds and what more sophisticated apps and controls will bring!