helmet

The new combat helmet now being tested may become an integral part of the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, replacing the traditional jet fighter head-up display with computerized "symbology" projected directly onto the pilot's visor.

In addition to keeping pilots on top of navigation, weapons and other aircraft, the Helmet Mounted Display System will superimpose a binocular-wide field-of-view, infrared image of the world below, allowing the pilot to "look through" the cockpit floor at night. This will let a pilot turn in any direction and still be able to see a virtual heads-up display, replacing … Read more

Something tells us that Ilya and Borish Kaganovich have more than a few scars on their knees. The two brothers are the inventors of the "iShoes," which are kind of a mashup of the Segway and motorized skateboards for your feet--and they look just as dorksome, if not worse.

Each pair has 4-inch wheels and weighs a total of 16 pounds but can still hit 15 miles per hour, according to Coolest-Gadgets. The shoes--which come in men's and women's sizes, if they get beyond the prototype phase--can reportedly go 5 to 7 miles without recharging the … Read more

If you're planning to be a motorcycle cop for Halloween, this is the perfect accessory to complete the ensemble.

Parrot's SK 4000 Bluetooth headset will make you look like you just pulled out of a presidential motorcade, with a purported 10 hours of standy battery time and an FM stereo when the parties get boring, according to Engadget. Once back in the saddle, you can use the handlebar-mounted remote to call discreetly for reinforcements at the nearest bar.

There's certainly no shortage of "smart" helmets on the market, especially where Bluetooth is concerned. But we always feel obligated to write up as much traffic safety equipment as we can, particularly when there are people out there using computers and GPS units while on the road.

The latest example of fortified headgear is the "BlueBike" Votronic, which Engadget describes as a "modular communication system" that can be built into any helmet to listen to MP3s or talk on the phone, either by Bluetooth or wired connection.

The only thing we find slightly … Read more

We're relieved that Motorola has apparently decided to consult some people in the fashion industry before introducing their newest line of headgear. That, anyway, is the only explanation we can assume for the contrast between its utterly nerdsome MP3 knit cap of last winter and the Bluetooth bike helmet it's co-branded with Red.

The helmet has been touted for bike riding, but Gearfuse points out that it can be used just as well for skateboarding, snowboarding or other life-threatening activities we're far too old to contemplate. Using Motorola's Audex system, it can also work with special … Read more

This is one of those products with a name that really does say it all: the "Head Spa Massager." And that's probably about the best thing about it.

Just look at this thing. Would you be caught dead wearing one of these? It almost makes the solar fan hat look downright fetching. On the other hand, people might think you're either a cyborg or the victim of a horrible accident, in which case you might get preferential treatment out of fear or sympathy.

Gizmodo quotes the product description thusly: "This patented Italian design incorporates Japanese … Read more

Justin.tv-- the live helmet-video blogging site we wrote about last month--went live this morning. The site combines a live video feed, public chat room, and head blogger Justin Kan's daily schedule--which loosely resembles a content programming guide. Entertaining bits of content are archived for later viewing, complete with a blog post with context for what's going on. The entire production is run through Kan's backpack, which holds a laptop hooked up to an EV-DO card.

Chatters can discuss what's happening on the show with other viewers (using Lingr, the live updating chat service … Read more

We don't care how much our kids love Transformers: There's no way we'll ever let them have one of these. They'd sneak around the house with it and scare us into the coronary ward.

Hasbro's "Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet," according to Pocket-lint, "converts the most gentle of voices into the powerful, fearless tones of Optimus himself." The $30 toy, which is scheduled to come out in June, also can be set for "battle phrases" and "conversion sounds" as it transforms from truck to robot and vice-versa. … Read more

We can hardly blame the people at Plantronics if they've gotten tired of making and remaking headsets. But the last thing we would have guessed they'd get into is clothing. Not just T-shirts, mind you, but apparel with built-in technologies that can be used with media players and mobile phones.

Its new line is being marketed through a partnership with Quiksilver and Roxy--and, judging by the names of the first three products, Plantronics has deferred to the judgment of the apparel industry's marketing reps as well: the "Pulse Helmet" and "Double Daffy Snow Jacket&… Read more