It was roughly two minutes into my interview with Chris Barnardo, mastermind of the Kymera magic wand, that we got onto the topic of Arthur C. Clarke’s third law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Chris quoted it with such passion that I knew I was about to see some sorcery in action, and before I know it, I’m turning lights off with the flick of a wand and turning up the volume on my iPod dock with a majestic twizzle.

The Kymera magic wand is truly a puzzle piece of engineering. About halfway into the interview Chris laments that 300 years ago he’d have been burnt at the stake. If I’m being honest, I’m surprised he escapes that punishment today. I simply have no idea how the wand works (although he does explain it to me), but am infinitely impressed with it. The technology is clever. The wand is heavy-ish but not cumbersome, and fits comfortably in the palm. The styling is rustic, Victorian and sleek, but not overpowering. One gets the sense that this wasn’t made simply for aesthetics.

Chris elaborates on this point:

“I wanted the wand to capture the newness felt when you receive something extra special, and for users to feel proud of it, to want to show it off. Over and above this I wanted it to be functional.”

After I’ve got over the initial shock, I come to agree with Chris. The wand is certainly functional. He taps the side of the wand with three fingers, and announces it’s now in learning mode. He then jabs the wand forwards, picks up my Sky remote control and points it at the wand, pressing the ‘Menu’ button. This process is repeated for a clockwise twist, a jab backwards, and a huge swish, and then the fun begins.

He whips the wand through the air, like a snake. My television turns on. No, I’m not kidding. He jabs the wand forwards and the TV guide appears. A quick flick down, and we highlight the ‘Sports’ option. A jab backwards and we’re in the Sports menu, then a jab forward and the football comes on. I’m impressed. Chris whips the wand through the air again and my television turns off.

Now it’s my turn. I’m apprehensive, but I soon come to be amazed. This thing is very cool, and I’m definitely having fun. I turn the TV on, change some channels, turn up the volume, move back and forth between menus and – after it’s time to get back to business – I turn everything off with a resounding, satisfying swish. So the wand gets 10/10 for being functional and very awesome, but is it going to replace the good old remote control? No, but it definitely has a market.

The wand simplifies your remote control from the MTV-generation device you’ve got next to your 50” plasma to something that is really all you need when it comes to controlling your television, or anything else for that matter. Half the buttons on my remote control I don’t use, and the rest I don’t know how to use. So it’s nice to return to something ‘primal,’ as it were. Although interestingly because the Kymera magic wand can learn any infrared command you can program any functions that you like into it.

It’s a great gift, a great device and a great talking point. If you buy one, it’ll certainly be the first thing you show people when they come round to your house. I can already see it becoming massive at Harry Potter conventions; after all, with a bit of careful rigging, one rapid swish could turn the lights on, turn the sound system up, turn the plasma TVs on and much, much. It’s electronic automation, wizard style, and that’s enough to put a smile on any Potter fan’s face.

For more information about the Wand and to order, click here.