Gadget Blog

Showing posts with label GADGETS. Show all posts

Signing Up for Google’s Glasses Is Like Asking for Problems

Are you prepared to manage the distractions inherent in a portal to the internet that you can’t take your eyes off?

In the previous issue of this publication, Farhad Manjoo made a plausible case that Google’s new augmented-reality glasses, known as Project Glass, could make computing less distracting by replacing every other device in our pockets and laps. Rather than checking out of a conversation by looking down at our phones, we could get in and out of our computing environment without even turning our heads.

Someday, maps and other applications
could come up in your feld of view.

But here’s where human behavior comes in. We are really bad at ignoring distractions at hand. And the more accessible they are, the more addictive and distracting they can become. Let’s take all those distractions and put them on our face, directly in our line of sight? I don’t know about you, but when I want to avoid distractions, I often have to physically avoid them. “Out of sight, out of mind” isn’t just a cliché—it’s a commentary on the narrow spotlight of human attention and our inability to ignore something ever-present in our feld of view.

Already, computers grab so much of our attention that savvy users deploy apps like SelfControl and Freedom, which switch of social media, e-mail, and other distractions. Certainly, we could use such aids on Google’s Glass. But I’ll bet most of us won’t.

Do you fnd it unnerving when the person next to you at the grocery store is having a conversation with himself or herself, and at frst you don’t realize it’s because he or she is speaking into a phone headset? Google Glass is a camera, headphones, and a display all in one. So now imagine that the person in the grocery store seems to be having full-blown visual hallucinations.

Don’t get me wrong—I fnd the prospect of augmented reality tantalizing. I’m just not sure we yet know how to manage the ways it’s going to change our interpersonal relations.

Panasonic RP-BTGS10: bone-conduction headphones

The CES show floor is rarely the best environment to test audio equipment, but a relatively quiet moment this morning was our first chance to try on Panasonic's new bone conduction headphones. The Bluetooth-based wraparound set doesn't actually fit into your ears - instead, two "speakers" sit just outside them and vibrate the sound directly into your skull. The general idea behind this and other bone conduction products is to create a low-power device that lets listeners hear both music and ambient noise, something that's ideally suited to the fitness market Panasonic looks to be targeting. Unfortunately for us, the fact that the headphones were prototypes made it difficult to test these claims.

I'd never used bone conduction before, and the sensation was fascinating: if normal headphones are like putting your ear very close to the speaker in a room, these are like listening to the noise in two rooms at once. Without anything blocking your ears, listening to either music or the noise around you is more a matter of concentration than anything. That said, though the sound felt nicely balanced and mellow, the headphone volume was low enough that you had to really focus to catch details. We were told that this could change later, since the final set won't be released until the fall.

The design was similarly hard to judge. An inside band will eventually provide adjustability and a snugger fit, but my set was loose enough that it shifted when I moved - not ideal for exercise. We're also not sure what kind of battery life it'll get. Right now, it runs on a single AAA battery, but that could be changed in the future. As for price, there's still no official word, but a representative told us they'll be roughly in the Beats headphone range, and wouldn't cost more than $300.

BABY’S ON VIDEO - Samsung SEW-3037

Samsung’s latest hi-tech toddler-surveillance system trains an unblinking eye on your offspring…

The Samsung SEW-3037 with 3.5-inch, colour LCD is your baby’s new Big Brother. It keeps a watchful 2x-zooming eye on your babe, while pan and tilt will check twins or scan the playroom for hidden axe-wielding madmen. Just kidding, obvs. A two-way radio with talk-back lets you and your other half
argue remotely over whose turn it is to change Junior. 253,69 USD, samsung.com/uk

THE TECH
Samsung’s SEW-3037 in detail

1/ Babies should be seen...
Resolution on the “parent hub” monitor is only 320x240, but it’s clear enough even in low light. When lights go out the unit automatically switches to black-and-white, night-vision mode.

2/ …And also heard
Switch to Vox mode and the screen will switch off if all’s quiet. As soon as the wailing begins, the screen switches itself back on.

3/ Even a one-year-old could use it
The screen isn’t a touchscreen, but the menu system is easy to navigate and allows access to all camera options and sound settings.

4/ Surveillance state
You can connect up to four cameras at a time for full, round-the-clock coverage, with each cam promising to be interference-free up to 300 metres.

3D PRINTED GUNS

Last month the first shots were fired from a 3D printed gun. As expected it sparked debate regarding the future of 3D printed firearms.

For many, 3D printing is a revolution, using a special hardened plastic to print, layer by layer, actual physical objects. While there are many uses for this, for example the printing of spare parts for models or architects
constructing 3D replicas of their projects, American Cody Wilson had other ideas. Starting last year in August he created the non-profit organisation Defense Distributed, with the aim of providing freely available plans for 3D printable firearms.

Shoot ‘em up

In a relatively small amount of time, Wilson’s ideas came to fruition, since last month he managed to fire the first shot from a 3D printed gun. Called the Liberator, the gun is constructed out of 16 pieces, 15 of which were printed on an $8 000 3D printer. The final part is a simple nail that you can buy from a hardware store (the bullets are also shop bought).

Wilson’s success led him to release the plans on his website, even though at this stage the Liberator cannot fire more than one shot at a time. This, while its ability to withstand the pressure associated with shooting more than a few rounds, is in doubt. In the two days before the American State Department ordered him to take it down, the blueprints for the gun were downloaded 100 000 times. And just because it is not available on his site any longer doesn’t mean they are gone – the plans quickly made their way to torrenting networks such as The Pirate Bay.

To the point

The availability of 3D printed guns, and the US government’s attempt to regulate these, brings up numerous difficult questions. On the one side, the Liberator is crude, costs a lot to produce and seems to be as much
of a danger to the person behind the gun as in front – for now at least. For the US government the problems are numerous: Is it at all possible to stop the distribution of these blueprints? Is banning the plans not a violation of freedom of speech? How do you enforce a ban on printing 3D guns? Do you regulate the sale of 3D printers at all? These questions will most probably be answered by US courts.

COOL GADGETS: PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTING, WINDOW WASHING ROBOT, SURVIVAL STRAW, BIOFEEDBACK POSTURE TRAINER, SOLAR POWERED, LED IRON MAN SHIRT, HANDHELD DIGITAL MICROSCOPE, BODY HEAT MIMICKING MOSQUITO TRAP

1. PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTING NAP POD

Power Naps have been proven to boost productivity efficiently. Aitliough it is always a challenge to not fall back asleep after a 20-minute nap, you will be rewarded for your restraint. The Pod is cushioned for comfort and has a spherical dome for privacy. A timer can be set for a 20-minute nap and slowly brightening lights and vibration gently wake nappers. Music can be played through a built-in speaker or headphone jack. Of course, the question remains as to whether it is wise to spend USD16,000 for perfect power naps.

2. WINDOW WASHING ROBOT

Introducing the world's first robot that automatically cleans glass of any thickness. This robot is equipped with a powerful internal vacuum pump which seals onto the glass while anti- slip thread is driven by two motors so that the robot will not fall while it is cleaning. The Window Washing Robot chooses the most efficient route to clean the glass by calculating the glass size. If you have been planning to join the window cleaning profession, start thinking of another career.

3. NDUR SURVIVAL STRAW

Bear Grylls, the adventurer of the television series 'IVIan VS Wild', is well known for drinking his own urine in almost every episode to survive in the wild. If only he forked out USD30 for an NDuR Survival Straw, he could avoid resorting to drinking his own urine. This straw is not an ordinary one, of course. It is a very effective filtration tool that eliminates up to 99.99% of harmful bacteria, chemicals, viruses, you name it. This is definitely something I'd bring with me on every outdoor

4. BIOFEEDBACK POSTURE TRAINER

Slouching is not only seen as an unattractive habit, it is also the cause of various health problems such as back and breathing problems. Even if you have a very high level of discipline, it can be a real challenge correcting your posture. The Biofeedback

Posture Trainer should make this a lot easier. This device is worn like a backpack to help the user develop a good posture.

Every time the user slouches, the device will buzz and vibrate to alert the user. It might be annoying at first but the results are definitely worth the struggle and certainly more presentable than walking around balancing books on your head.

5. SOLAR POWERED CAT TANTALIZER

A cat tantalizer is a great toy for keeping your cat occupied and for it to practice its hunting skills. It is always better to keep your cat busy when there is no one at home to prevent it from tearing up your couch and what not. Instead of getting a regular cat tantalizer, why not get solar powered one? The Solar Powered Cat Tantalizer moves when it is struck by sunlight, causing a dangling plastic ball with colourful feathers to sway and bounce. It is about time for you to give your fat cat some exercise.

6. TONY STARK LIGHT-UP LED IRON MAN SHIRT

Since the screening of the first Iron Man movie, many people have been intrigued by Tony Stark's arc reactor which powers his Iron Man suit and prevents shrapnel from reaching his heart. After the success of all three movies, I'm sure that many people wouldn't mind owning this shirt at all. The fact that it is powered by three AAA batteries does make me question the comfort of the shirt though. But who cares? As long as you can look a little like the billionaire playboy philanthropist you could only dream of becoming, three batteries dangling somewhere on your shirt is a small price to pay.

7. 500X HANDHELD DIGITAL MICROSCOPE

Whether you are a germaphobe or a science enthusiast, you can find a good use for the 500X Handheld Digital Microscope.

This digital microscope magnifies small objects up to 500 times. The magnification can be displayed on its flip-out screen. There are eight built-in LEDs at the front to illuminate subject and images captured can be saved onto a microSD card. The 500X Handheld Digital Microscope operates up to four hours on a three-hour charge. It is so much easier than using a normal microscope.

8. BODY HEAT MIMICKING MOSQUITO TRAP

Did you know that mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth?

More deaths are associated with a mosquitoe than any other animal on earth. Most people would also rate it as the most annoying one as well. This is why the Body Heat Mimicking Mosquito Trap was invented, to get these pests away from you.

This USD600 trap (I kid you not) mimics human bodyheat and emits odourless carbon dioxide. The trap also comes with a blue light, giving mosquitoes every reason to be attracted by the trap.