A toy for providing input to a computing device includes a main body sized and shaped to fit within a grasp of a user of the toy. The toy also includes input switches mounted to the main body. Each of the input switches can switch between a first position and a second position responsive to an action performed on the input switch. The toy also includes a removable outer covering that is configured to substantially encapsulate the main body. A top surface of the covering includes openings sized and shaped to receive a portion of each of the input switches. The toy includes a programmable processing circuit enclosed within the main body. The circuit includes input ports coupled to the input switches. The circuit includes an output port coupled to a communications port to transmit output signals and programmable processing circuitry configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes.