The widely read and highly respected Popular Science magazine has given the Nintendo Wii the nod by awarding it the "Grand Award" in the Home Entertainment section of its annual technology innovation roundup.

　　The magazine chose the Wii because it took them back to a simpler era. "Remember when videogames were fun? When the controllers had only a couple buttons and you didn't have to spend an hour learning the seven-step finger dance for 'walk?' Nintendo does," Popular Science writes. "The company decided that gamers didn't need to pay extra for photo-realistic renderings of its iconic talking mushrooms. Instead it re-imagined the controller, introducing a three-axis accelerometer that transforms your hand motions into in-game action, so you really play the games."

　　One hundred different products and innovations were listed as having made "the world better" this year, across 10 different sections--including gadgets, engineering, personal health, and general innovation.

　　Other products which won awards included the HP Memory Spot, the e-book reader the Sony Reader PRS-500, and the Motorola Moto Q mobile phone. The Innovation of the Year award went to the Bostitch Hurriquake Nail, a nail that's pitched as making your home "twice as tough" and better able to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.