Although I wanted to have a Furby so much, I hadn't got it when I was child.
Furby was an electronic robot toy resembling a hamster or owl-like creature which went through a period of being a "must-have" toy following its launch at the end of 90's.
The main reason for their popularity was because of apparent "intelligence", reflected in their ability to develop language skills. Furbies could communicate with one another via an infrared port located between their eyes. Furbies start out speaking entirely Furbish, a language with short words, simple syllables, and various other sounds.
There was a common misconception that they repeated words that were said around them. This belief most likely stemmed from the fact that it is possible to have the Furby say certain pre-programmed words or phrases more often by petting it whenever it said these words. As a result of this myth, several intelligence agencies banned them from their offices.
The originals are still popular with many hackers as they can be dissected and made to do interesting things.