INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Some of you might be too young to remember when the Nintendo Entertainment System tried to sell the world the Power Glove. I guess they thought people would want to wear something on their arm and look like a cyborg, but it didn’t sell that well, even with the not-so-subliminal ad in the movie The Wizard.
I believe that the Power Glove was one of the first attempts at motion control for video games, but motion control has made some leaps and bounds quite recently. A company known as AthroTronix has recently made some interesting motion control advancements with the Acceleglove.
The Acceleglove isn’t designed for video game entertainment, but it is more for robotics. You can watch the YouTube video after the jump if you want to see a “hands-on” demonstration.
As you might have seen, that freaky looking robot arm moved as the user flexed his fingers. It didn’t take a lot of flexing to make it move in its preprogrammed direction either.
The Acceleglove works out-of-the-box, and comes with open source SDK so the user will be able to connect it to anything that he or she wants. Perhaps Nintendo needs to adopt the Acceleglove to make Power Glove 2.0. Maybe they should use it as a control for R.O.B., the Robot Operating Buddy from the NES Deluxe Set.

The Washable Keyboard is perfect if you like to keep your work station clean. Its amazing how many germs and pieces of food get onto your keyboard in a short space of time and with the Washable Keyboard it makes cleaning it so simple. With a normal keyboard its pretty much impossible to clean them properly as most are not waterproof. With this being 100% waterproof it means your keyboard won’t stop working if you happen to spill your drink on it either.

Forget about sunglasses that feature MP3 playback - those aren’t nearly as cool as the Spycam Video Sunglasses from ThinkGeek, filling up a hole in your voyeuristic instinct.
The Spycam Video Sunglasses are not intended to be part of any disguise - they are the disguise - concealing a tiny video camera in the center of the glasses. Capable of capturing excellent quality video and audio, these Spycam Video Sunglasses can be comfortably worn nearly anywhere to help you get the footage. Video is stored in AVI format on a Micro SD card. These glasses also feature easy-to-use controls which are located on the glasses frame. The built-in battery is rechargeable via USB connection and has a battery operating life of about 3-4 hours.

Although I fully admit to chuckling quite a bit after first seeing this cellphone with a built-in cigarette lighter, I can see some practicality with it. After all, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard of my smoking friends losing their lighter. I’ve been asked numerous times if I happen to have a lighter on me, despite that they’re fully aware I don’t smoke. Having a lighter built into your cellphone would come in incredibly handy. After all, your phone is almost always somewhere within reach.
I know, smoking is a nasty habit, but smokers catch enough grief as it is. It only seems fair that they get the occasional high tech item to make their lives easier. The phone comes in a few different colors, like red, brown, black and a silver/gold combination. The phone has a dual SIM card, a 1.3MP camera, an FM Radio, Bluetooth and can play MP3/MP4.

This next device may or may not be real, but it really should be. Some of you may have been at sporting events that had people shoot T-shirts into the crowd, but how would you like to be the one doing the shooting? I suppose this is the appeal of the “limited edition” T-shirt shooting gun that shoots nothing but “authentic Nike shirts”. It is even engraved with a signature by an authentic Nike Athlete. Do these Nike guys know how to party, or what? If you want to see it in action, feel free to view the video of the Nike 6.0 Shredders with Steven Jackson after the jump. Yes, it does look fun to have a T-shirt fight. Not to be a spoiler, but am I really supposed to believe that you can fire a shirt and make the victim wear the shirt? That’s cartoon physics happening here, really. By the way, did you see the smoke coming from these guns? What exactly is creating the firepower here? Assuming these T-shirt guns are real, I have heard that the price is about $1,500. I think I am going to pass on this one, unless they make a model that doesn’t shoot authentic Nike Shirts. Why should I pay top dollar to shoot high-priced clothes, when all I want to do is shoot ordinary laundry?

The Vonage V-Phone can be considered one of the smallest phones in the world, it just depends on your definition of telephone. This kind of phone comes in a USB form and works via the internet (much like the popular Skype), the full V-Phone package contains pre-installed software and a microphone to be plugged on the side of the USB. This pre-installed software made by Vonage has the basic phone features like capable of making/receiving calls (duh), but it also has not-so-basic-stuff caller ID and call forwarding - all this can be done/seen on the interface that will appear on the monitor after you plug it on the USB port

Are you one of the digital music trailblazers who owns a 1G iPod? It’s hard to believe, but Apple first unveiled the iPod back in October 2001. Today, the iPod amounts to almost 50% of Apple’s quarterly income - but back then few could have predicted that the iPod would become such a major game changer for Apple.

The Twilight Turtle is not like any ordinary cuddly toy turtle, it combines the cuddle factor with a planetarium. So when not being snuggled up-to the Twilight Turtle will shine constellations on to the walls and ceilings. The stary patterns help relax a child and hopefully get to sleep a bit quicker and it also has an educational aspect with the star patterns created containing some actual constellations to be identified.

The NailJet printer includes a 15” LCD display that you can use to choose from 1000’s of different designs and images using up to 16 million colours. You first paint your nails with a preparatory primer, then place you fingers on a pad inside the printer. The device has a camera that automatically senses the position of your nails, their size and their curvature. You select the pattern you want for each nail and the process starts with a click of the mouse.

Finally a USB flash drive that isn’t boasting to be the biggest in capacity or the smallest in physical dimensions. The flashbag is a flash drive with a difference as it inflates to show how full it is. It’s a cool idea, simly plug the drive into your PC, copying files over and watch the bag inflate. The flashbag would stay inflated after being unplugged, providing an instant indication of how full the drive is. At the moment the flashbag is just a concept product but it would be cool if a company actually released them :).

So you want to be a super hero, right? Forget super powers, the first step in the super hero direction is to get your own super suit and that could be becoming a reality thanks to d3o (dee-three-oh) . d30 is a material made-up from specially engineered molecules. The material is flexible under normal coniditions, allowing movement but when put under duress it hardens protecting the wearer. It’s going to be getting it’s first real test at this year Winter Olymipics with members of both the US and Canadian giant slalom teams wearing it for protection. It will be interesting to see how the substance performs and whether it will find it’s way into everyday items, could this be the end for biker leathers.

You probably have tried everything in your power to keep your parents out of your room or maybe your spouse out of your closet and nothing seems to be working. You have asked nicely, placed signs on your door, and maybe even yelled quite a bit about having your own privacy. However, when you are not around, they seem to still go in and search through your stuff. Well, not any more! With the Room Defender to protect your room or closet or even your office you will be able to keep a few more things private. The Room Defender is mounted on three gun-turrets like legs and will protect your stuff from spies. The way that it works is that the Room Defender has a motion sensor alarm, when someone enters an area that you do not want them in, it will first give a verbal warning and then fire a shot at them in the form of a foam disc.

If you would prefer to have more than one warning shot you can program the Room Defender in an “ambush mode” and will fire off half the magazine or the “assault mode” will empty the entire magazine at the intruder. It not only fires shots at your intruders but makes great robotic sounds that are sure to scare away even the snoopiest parents. You will be able to use the remote control and program and control it from anywhere in your room. The Room Defender comes complete with the motion sensor alarm, fully automatic fire, manual fire, four unique security settings, and the remote control. You will however have to purchase 4 “AA” and 2 “AAA” batteries before your Room Defender will start protecting your privacy. You can find the Room Defender online for £19.99 or $32.18USD and begin having some privacy.

… literally! In the same vein as the pogo stick we previously covered, these powerisers look like a more versatile method of leaping tall buildings in a single bound. They are attachments that clip on to normal shoes to give you that bio-augmented feel you’ve always wanted ever since you saw Steve Austin run in super-slow-motion Run at 20 MPH and leap 6 feet in the air - sounds like sci-fi and a few years ago it would have been but these things are available to buy now.

Okay you’re lying in bed listening to your favourite tunes on your pillow speaker when you realise there’s one last thing you need to do before getting your daily shut eye. Your bedroom floor is littered with toys and gadgets which combined with the fact you had a few beers earlier means navigating to the bathroom without injury or gadget breakage is going to be a challenge to say the least. Introducing Lighted Slippers to the rescue.
I don’t think it’s possible to buy a cool looking pair of slippers, even the monster slippers have lost there appeal now (and try walking in those after a night out). But at least with these lighted slippers it might prevent a broken leg and a trip to ER in the early hours of the morning or worse still you step on your PSP. On to the technical details of these truly amazing slippers :). Each slipper contains a light sensor so the LEDS will only come on when it’s dark (maximising the life of the replaceable lithium batteries). Each slipper also has a weight sensor which act as a switch, so just slot you feet into the slippers, stand up and you’ll see the light up to 25 feet away. They also have non-skid soles. I originally came across these on gadzet.net, but as I don’t know what language the site is written in, let alone what they are saying about them I thought I’d report it here. If you want further info and you can even watch a video of the slippers in use (bizarre) you can check out the inventor and manufacturers site, originally called Bright Feet Slippers.

Whilst browsing around I recently cam across this in gizmag. It’s a pillow available in Japan that is designed for people (well women) who like to nestle up to an armpit when going to sleep. Basically its a pillow shaped in a half body one arm kind of way, and lets the sleeper snuggle and cuddle when trying to get to sleep.

Do you believe in UFO’s? Well, all of your friends will after you control this awesome remote controlled flying saucer. Just hide behind the trees or bushes in your neighborhood and see how long it takes for the neighbors to call the police, the fire department and maybe even the president when they see a flying saucer hovering outside their windows. This cool remote controlled flying saucer is made with lightweight carbon fiver and EPP foam. It can fly up to around 330 feet and can even fly indoors if you have a large enough home.

We all have stress whether we are students sitting in front of our computers seeking out information for that term paper, working for a demanding boss, or just stressing out playing online games. Yes, playing bingo can be stressful when you get close to winning a thousand dollars. But, what can you do? You sure can’t jump up and run to get a massage or take a shower to relieve that stress. The best way to relieve stress while sitting at your computer is with the USB powered massage Ball. You will be able to relax and never even leave your desk, you will still be able to find all the information you need for your term paper, get that project completed for your boss and win that thousand dollars while relieving stress.

The two things that I really can’t live without are TV and eating. And now thanks to LG I am now able to combine both of these. The guys at LG have developed a refrigerator with a built-in 13-inch LCD TV, as well as a radio tuner. As you can see in the image the screen is placed on the door of the fridge making it not only look pretty cool, but space efficient as well. Over the past several years, LG have been developing revolutionary technologies and maintaining an aggressive marketing campaign. By developing a fridge with a built in LCD monitor, they are proving they have the foresight to lead the home appliance market. Here are some of the specs most models will have. 13.1″ LCD TV with remote control, cable ready
FM Stereo
Stereo sound
Energy Star rated refrigerator
Ice and water without opening the door
Premium performance and organization features inside Whether you’re looking for a midnight snack, or your favorite TV show, LG has managed to put it all together in one beautifully designed package.

Do you ever wonder if your husband is really working late, if the kids really finished their homework, or if your wife is really helping a sick friend? If so, then the Voice Stress Analyzer will give you the answered you are seeking. The voice stress analyzer can determine is the person talking is telling the truth, it analyzes the stress level changes in the voice and can work either in person or on a televised or recorded voice. This is great if you can only record their voice over the telephone or if their message is left on your answering machine.

If you are watching a political debate this great lie detector can even let you know if the candidates are in fact telling the truth. I wish I had one when I listened to the presidential candidates during the last elections. The most effective indicators that test if someone is telling the truth are the Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE) and the Voice Stress Analyzer (VSA). Both of these tests have been put into this Truth Detector with a unique designed device that will measure the frequency changes that occur in people’s voices when they are under stress. Then these results are displayed by an LED band so that it can be measured and analyzed through a bar graph comparator. The Voice Stress Analyzer has a built in “result indicator” that provides you will an instant display of truthfulness. The Truth Detector also runs an analysis using its own data to give you the complete results. Background noise and music can effect the readings that the Truth Detector because it does rely on changes in the voice. Since everyone’s voice is different and there are always possibilities that the Truth Detector could give false readings. You can find this unique Voice Stress Analyzer Truth Detector online for around $33 to $40.

Does your kid brother or sister like sneaking into your room when you’re asleep or not there. What are you going to do about it, well now you can alarm the room the geeky way using lazer trip wire just like you see in the movies. Unless you have a sister like
Miss Jolie you can sleep safely in the knowledge that nobody will enter your enclosure without a gut wrenching buzzer sounding.

Sure, we have seen USB memory devices on objects that probably shouldn’t have USB memory devices, and so why not put one on a pair of sunglasses? And if you are going to put it on sunglasses, then put it on Calvin Klein sunglasses.
As you can see, the sunglasses come with a detachable right arm that houses the memory device itself. What you don’t see is that it has a 4GB capacity.
So the next time you are on the beach with your netbook, feel free to make a backup of your files on your sunglasses. Of course, you will have to partially disassemble the sunglasses to do that, don’t you? You might be able to keep them on your head with one arm if you don’t shake your head too much.
I suppose that the Calvin Klein memory drive sunglasses prove that just because you can make something, doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Of course, if you’re some sort of spy like Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise’s character from the Mission Impossible films, in case you forgot) then I can think of a few good uses for them. Hopefully they are water resistant, because of that hokey scene where Cruise hangs inches off the floor, and almost undone by a single drop of his sweat.
So, if you want to store your memory in style, be prepared to pay about $199 for these guys. Yeah, that’s a little pricey considering most 4GB flash drives are considerably less than that, so I’m guessing the high price is for the shades, man.

You probably saw the alarm clock that was recently posted that requires you to finger dance to get it shut off. For the chipper musical loving crowd, that’ll work out great. However, getting to wake up in the morning and shoot something seems far more therapeutic. Clearly more healthy too. Well with this alarm clock an alien will pop out of his egg at the time the alarm is set to go off. At which point he lets out a shrieking laugh and his creepy red eyes begin to flash. In order to stop his ridiculous laughter you have to grab your gun and shoot him. Sounds like a great way to start the day if you ask me. You can purchase him for £19.99 or about $33.

Guys, if you ever wanted to buy your female significant other an electronic device as a gift, this is the one you’d be most likely to get away with. First I’d make sure that they aren’t anti-pink though. This keyboard not only has a very feminine look through the bubblegum pink color and the the pretty lettering, but it also is a Juicy Couture product. Giving them a chance to flaunt their female side and show off their love of brand name products.
Normally I’m really not all that fond of pink electronics or wearing anything Juicy Couture, but for some unknown reason I find this keyboard charming and even fun. The flexible rubber USB keyboard is built for easy transport. Just roll it up and pack it away, you won’t have to worry about this breaking. The only two things I really wish I could change is that it’d be nice to have the option to choose a different color and, of course, the price. No, $45 isn’t too bad, but it would be nice if it was just a little cheaper.

“Break me off a piece of that! This portable hard drive looks like a chocolate bar but thats where the similarities end. Each piece is made of a modular flash drive. The central hub is a touchscreen to help you view and organize your collective files.”

Once in a while comes a vehicle that will stop traffic, and most of the times these comprise of some hot-blooded supercar from a respected marquee. Well, how about this strange looking Bike-Car from Italy that looks as though it was conjured from the very same mind that thought up of the fictional Frankenstein? Clearly the designer was confused enough that he could not make up his mind as to design a motorbike or a car, ending up with this weird amalgamation. Hopefully there will be a detached version of this in the future, letting the bike disconnect from the car segment whenever one is faced with a traffic jam. Of course, you’d best put in enough coins for the “car” in the parking meter unless you want to be greeted by a parking ticket when you return.

“The Time Machine Clock is a kinetic display device that eschews the normal conventions of a timepiece - hands, to you and me - and instead replaces them with an altogether more elaborate means of saying ‘ten past two’. A central spindle counts the seconds, releasing a ball every minute. Once five minutes is reached, the five minute ball is released. These balls accumulate until 12 have been released, whereupon the one hour ball is set free and rolls into place. This continues on the hour, every hour. Along the way, a precision movement mechanism ensures complete accuracy.”

—No Explanation Needed—
—S’more Keyboard Anybody?—

Making an attempt to be a little more eco-friendly isn’t always the easiest. Especially if you’re not overly into it, you’re just willing to pop in those energy saving bulbs when you can and shut off appliances and lights when you’re not in the room. While it’s great that you shut off the TV when it’s not in use, that still leaves the gaming consoles and DVD player up and running. With those type things they usually have lights that stay on even when it’s on standby. Well this handy gadget would help you to make sure all of that shuts down too.
Just shut off the TV and it will sense that the TV is shut off and shut off the electronics plugged into the device. No extra effort is required on your part, which makes this an extremely nice gadget to have around. Especially if you have a 360 you tend to forget to shut off. This would shut it off and you’ll decrease the chances of getting the infamous RRoD. It will cost you $34.95, but would in the long run save you money on your electrical bill.

Each PC gamer has a different taste when it comes to their gadgets, ranging from the looks of their monitors, their processing systems, and to their gaming mouse. But while each individual has created varying criteria on how to pick their components, it is without a doubt that they are all drooling over the NEC CRV43.

Regarded as the gamer’s dream monitor, the NEC CRV43 is yet to hit the market and the shelves. But talks of it and how it bests other monitors are blazing like wildfire. Originally named Ostendo CRVD-42Dwx+, a lot of people has plenty of good reasons why they would like to take his curved monitor from NEC back to their homes.
First off, the CRV43 flaunts a 2880x900 high-quality resolution screen with 10,000:1 contrast ratio. That alone would make any techno fanatic go gaga over this monitor. If not, then the easy connectivity with other multimedia devices through the DVI and HDMI 1.3 and an added USB 2.0 functionality would really have them wanting.
As for the looks, the curves alone are to die for.
But quite frankly, there are no words that can fully describe the NEC CRV43 overall performance.
The NEC CRV43 is slated to be released to the market later this year, but with a price tag of $7,900, dreaming and drooling over this baby is what most people can only do.

Want to fly an airplane of a helicopter without the real dangers? Unless you have the necessary space to make simulation possible, you can never replicate the feel of the real thing. But if you do have the some breathing room, then maybe you can just fly and rain destruction from above (figuratively speaking, that is).
The Flight System G940 from Logitech enables you to do just that. Great for flying simulation games like Flight Simulator, Flight System G940 supplies you with the equipment designed to give you a real feel of what it is like inside a cockpit.

JVC has raised the bar when it comes to music players packed with a punch. And the good news is, JVC has three of them slated for release this year – the UX-GN6, UX-LP5, and UX-G200.
The JVC UX-GN6, the cream of the crop, has a lot to offer in terms of features – a motion sensor and JVC’s “laser touch operation” panel which is redefining how you control your music system. You can just wake the system up from standby mode and illuminate all of the controls and the LED display with a wave of your hand.
The laser touch control mechanism is much like a touch screen-cored control system. Just cruise your finger up and down over the touch-sensitive illuminated control strips to determine what you want to be played and how loud, and how soft, etc. The UX-GN6 also has a top-mounted iPod dock, as well as the standard features like FM/AM tuner CD playback, and a pair of two-way speakers. It’s power output is deemed at 120 watts.
On the other hand, the JVC UX-LP5 comes front flip dock for iPod, which is retractable and gives out 70-watt of power output. Other features include the two-way speakers, CD player and AM/FM Tuner.
For those who can’t get their hands on the two, then you can’t go wrong with the JVC UX-G200, which has 16-watt of output, USB host, CD player and AM/FM tuner.
The JVC UX-GN6, UX-LP5, and UX-G200 are priced at $199.95, $149.95, and $99.95 respectively.