DirectLife's Activity Monitor is waterproof and uses 3D accelerometer technology.
(Credit: Philips)Philips' DirectLife fitness tracker, which monitors one's daily activity levels by tracking the duration and intensity of movements, has been doing so well since its release in October 2009, according to a company representative, that it is about to be released in Germany and the U.K. Moreover, Philips has just announced a companion gadget that might actually rival the iPod.
The "program" associated with DirectLife, which costs $99, plus a $12.50 monthly membership fee, is three-pronged: wear the small, waterproof monitor with 3D accelerometer technology (think Wii) to track your movements; go online to get the extra push you may need from personal coaches there to help; and check out your personal Web page to track stats, tips, activity ideas, and goals.
Activa tells users when they are falling behind set goals and selects music to fit the pace of one's workout.
(Credit: Philips)And now, behold Activa, an MP3 player unveiled at CES whose accelerometer ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
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Light Blue Optics)
Las Vegas--If you've ever watched the motion user interface scene from "Minority Report" and thought to yourself, "I WANT THAT," then check out Light Touch from Light Blue Optics, an interactive projector with a surprisingly accurate touch response.
At its core, the Light Touch is a simple handheld computer running Windows CE, but it uses holographic laser tracking to project a 10.1-inch virtual touch screen onto any flat surface. From there, you can control everything from scrolling through photos to selecting MP3s and dragging folders around the desktop. The laser also does double-duty by ensuring that the image stays in constant focus even across long distances.
We demoed the unit at the Light Blue Optics booth at CES 2010, and came away surprised at the accuracy of the laser. The projection only lights up to 15 lumens, which seemed dim compared to normal fluorescent viewing, and we're skeptical about its outdoor performance; however, we left with a skip in our step knowing that "Minority Report" might become a reality sooner than later.
Want your own demo? Check out the Light Blue Optics Web site for a video of the Light Touch in action.
More photos after the jump.
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
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Evolution Robotics )
Evolution Robotics is introducing an automatic floor cleaner for hard surfaces that can get those tricky spots like corners, edges, and places under furniture.
The Mint robot mop and duster being introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show uses disposable or reusable cleaning cloths to get the job done. You put a Swiffer or Pledge cloth on the bottom, push a button, and off it goes.
The dry cloths trap dirt and dust. When set to mop mode and given a wet cloth, Mint does a back-and-forth movement to scrub floors.
The sexy, compact machine uses Evolution Robotics' NorthStar navigation technology. A small, separate projector unit beams infrared light spots on the ceiling that the robot detects. Instead of pursuing a random pattern, Mint tracks where it has cleaned already.
Evolution Robotics CEO Paolo Pirjanian says Mint can clean a floor three to five times faster than a robot following a random pattern.
He adds that ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
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relogik.com)
The humble drinking glass has been redesigned countless times, but Belgrade-based Damjan Stanković has dreamed up one that knows what you're drinking.
The Cipher concept drinking glass indicates when you're quaffing orange juice, milk, or Coke. An apparently random mosaic of colorful squares on the wall of the glass turns into letters and words as it's filled with the appropriate liquid.
The visual trick is possible, thanks to the way the colored squares are arranged on the glass and the color of the liquid.
The designer says each "side" of the Cipher glass is reserved for a specific drink, meaning, presumably, that milk won't create the word "milk" on the part meant for Coke. It's a bit confusing, since the glass appears to be round, without sides.
Nevertheless, the Cipher apparently won a Red Dot design award last year.
The designer says the Cipher could be used as a novelty item or marketing tool for beverage companies. I'd like to know what it would display if you pour in a mix of milk, OJ, and Coke--"barf"?
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National Geographic Store)
National Geographic has compiled every issue of its spectacular magazine from 1888 to 2008 and loaded them onto a 160GB hard drive, available for purchase now.
Priced at $199.95, that includes 120 years of coverage on a 3x5-inch hard drive, which connects to a Mac or PC via USB.
Read more of "National Geographic mag library available on 160 HDD" at ZDNet's The ToyBox.
We're back! Jeff and Wilson are joined in the studio today with "Kenri," and Justin chimes in from San Francisco via phone. It's back to our usual shenanigans again, and we recount our holiday break. Plus, we have an apology to make to James Cameron.
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CNET)
Jeff tells us about his near-death experience on the ski slopes. Listen to how a patch of ice almost did away with our favorite CNET emcee. Wilson recounts his Christmas vacation to visit his dear ole Ma. Finally, Justin tells us about how he's currently sunbathing in California, while we all freeze to death here in NYC.
With the exception of "Kenri," we all caught James Cameron's "Avatar," and boy was it mind-blowing! The film is just incredible to watch, and we're pleasantly surprised to see it bring in more than $1 billion at the box office worldwide. Wilson is not sure though that the movie is any good in 2D. The clips and trailers still look silly, so we're still recommending people catch it in IMAX 3D or Real3D. (Editors' note: please catch "Up in the Air." Two words: Vera Farmiga.)
Tomorrow is the first day of CNET's annual International CES coverage. There won't be a show tomorrow because we'll be en route to Las Vegas. We'll be hosting a live show Wednesday at 5 p.m., Thursday at 4 p.m., and Friday at 4 p.m. PST. We have some surprises up our sleeves, but honestly, we're just trying not to kill ourselves while partying it up in Vegas. If you're there, come by the CNET booth in the North Hall at the Convention Center.
EPISODE 491
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Chariot Skates)
If you can imagine "wearing" a bicycle on your feet, it might look something like Chariot Skates, the name of a novel form of roller skate that lets you go off-road and downhill with greater ease than inline skates.
Australian Michael Jenkins created his Wheelskates to bring skiing and cycling together in one product. The user's feet are suspended below the axles of knee-high wheels in hinged leg and foot support struts; smaller rear wheels add stability. The mechanism helps create the impression of skiing and skating when moving forward.
Jenkins says the low center of gravity in his skates allows users greater speed and maneuverability than traditional inline skates, adding that he travels around 12 mph without traffic.
It's also possible to go down grassy slopes and traverse rough terrain on them. Stopping is achieved by gripping the wheels with special gloves, or doing a T-stop.
People have been tinkering with wheeled footwear for more than a century, but Chariot Skates brings modern materials know-how to the dream of effortless motion.
The prototype skates are made of expensive carbon composite material, and estimated production costs are comparable to those of "first-class carbon fiber bicycles," according to Chariot Skates, which is based in Hong Kong.
Jenkins has said they may cost several thousand Australian dollars when they hit the market, expected next year.
(Via Gear Junkie)
The system's base station directly connects one's home to a monitoring station.
(Credit: Medical Mobile Monitoring)It's said we exit this life the same way we enter--drooling and in need of diapers. It is, then, cruelly fitting that Medical Mobile Monitoring has recently developed a medical-alert tracking system that resembles a baby monitor.
The company's MobileHelp medical-alert system, launched in November, tracks users no matter how far they wander, as long as they are within range of an AT&T cellular network. It costs about $35 a month. The system also uses GPS satellite tracking, so you can literally watch the person you are monitoring online in real time:
When subscribers need help, they simply press their help button and are connected via two-way voice to a central monitoring station that is live 24/7/365. The technology from Medical Mobile Monitoring also allows family members to see an online map and location of their loved ones over the Internet and be notified via mobile phone and email when an emergency arises.
Aside from such a service being both inherently creepy and inherently useful, it is also a sign of the times. In October, we covered the release of a similar tracking system, called EmSeeQ, whose faceless black watch has the unfortunate effect of looking like something Batman or a secret agent would wear, thereby calling unnecessary attention to itself.
MobileHelp's waterproof pendant may be better, but still doesn't hit the mark. ... Read More
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Solid Alliance)
The latest version of the Crazy Earphones are a follow-up to offbeat buds released earlier this year that seem to be sprouting bananas, bolts and sushi.
The new batch goes on sale in January for about $22 apiece. Each comes with small or medium-sized silicon ear caps, as well as a cell phone jack.
Solid Alliance boasts they are "even sillier" than the first Crazy Earphones.
(Via Crunch Gear)
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Electrolux)
I am confused by the concept behind this new Electrolux vacuum cleaner.
The company has developed the technology for what it's calling the "quietest vacuum cleaner ever." But then it breaks the silence by incorporating an iPod dock and speakers into the thing. Yes, this quiet vacuum plays music.
It's just a concept at this point based on a study Electrolux did (PDF) on the effects of music on doing housework. But I could easily envision these quiet-but-loud machines hitting stores in the next year if the demand is strong enough. I see these as the world's first hipster vacuums.
I suppose I like the idea of making housework fun, but the elimination of noise to create more enjoyable noise is like gentrification of the soundwaves. I can't help but think about how it mirrors what's happening in cities around the globe as people are pushed out of their neighborhoods to make way for newer, hipper, higher-end housing.
Or maybe I've been reading too many social-theory books before bed.
