safety

Going backward for car safety

Car makers are increasingly looking backward in their visual safety features--as in Webcam screens built into their rear-view mirrors in an effort to eliminate blind spots once and for all. While we're all in favor of the idea, for some reason we have a feeling that the cost of such add-ons will involve bodily appendages such as arms and legs.

But SkyMall, of all places, is offering a "Wireless Backup Camera" that plugs into the license plate light socket and feeds video to a 2.5-inch color display that can be fastened to a visor or the … Read more

Piczo goes multilingual

Piczo, which is a San Francisco-based social networking site for teens that touts extensive, parent-friendly safety features, has started to reach beyond the U.S. and U.K. The company announced an initiative to expand into other countries by introducing international versions of the site, and today, Piczo announced the first phase of this expansion: into Germany, France, and Spain. There are already sizeable chunks of Piczo's 25-million-member base from those three countries, according to an official release (including 1.2 million in Germany), but now they'll be able to opt into using the service in their home … Read more

Cuff tries to keep Wiimote under control

As the Wii travels the world and gets increasingly challenging, we cringe at the thought of how the next fool will inflict injury (on self or others). Some accessory makers are coming out with safe-gaming products that take the form of pint-sized sports equipment such as tennis rackets, golf clubs and baseball bats, but a simpler solution is now available.

The "Retractable Wii Sports Cuff" is a plain old adjustable band that attaches to the Wiimote and wraps around your wrist to keep the controller from flying off the handle, so to speak, for just $6. Kotaku says … Read more

Volvo knows who's inside the car

Technologies like the "DriveMaster Pro" may provide a ton of information about what's going on with a car's engine and emissions, but how about what's going on inside? Volvo has extended its reputation for road safety to the realm of personal security, developing a new technology that can detect if someone is hiding in a car.

Using a heartbeat sensor, the Volvo S80's "Personal Car Communicator" will flash its lights if there's "a murderous criminal hiding in the back seat," Popgadget says. The device is aimed at less sinister … Read more

'Shark Shield' fends off Great Whites

Surfing in shark-infested waters isn't exactly our idea of fun, but we feel obligated to mention this item for all the California Cravers out there. Australia-based Shark Shield (gotta love that name) has released the board-mounted "Surf," which it describes as "the first electronic shark-deterrent system specifically designed for surfers."

Creating a "shark-safe zone" that's about 26 feet in diameter, the system supposedly generates an electrical field that the offending shark senses through receptors in its snout. (We're not making this up.) The fish then goes into "muscular spasms" … Read more

We'd rather have a crash helmet

The idea of a car-board black box doesn't bother us, despite the obvious issues of data privacy and commentary on modern society. We are, however, offended by another aspect: aesthetics.

Just take a look at the most recent version from Gadget Universe. Would you really want to mount one of these things on your dash or in the rear window of your car? It's almost as bad as a dog with a bobbing head.

Sure, it's possible that your recorded evidence could come in handy after an accident. But what if you were at fault because your … Read more

Nerf and Nintendo's Safety Dance

You might already be familiar with the Nerf PS2 controller, a foam-covered wireless game pad that can survive the angry throws of frustrated gamers. Now Nerf is getting into the Wii accessory game, and televisions everywhere might be a little bit safer for it.

Performance Designed Products, the gaming accessory company that developed the Nerf PS2 controller, recently showed off the Nerf Sports Pack for Nintendo Wii at Toy Fair New York 2007. The Nerf Sports Pack includes a Nerf foam sleeve for the Wii remote and three Nerf sports attachments--a foam golf club, baseball bat, and tennis racket. It'… Read more

Inilex one-ups LoJack for GPS car security [Video]

Announced today at Demo 07, security company Inilex is launching its own GPS car security system. Like competitor Lo Jack's early warning system, Inilex has a GPS hardware unit that's installed in your vehicle and alerts you if your car is moving when you're not in it. The unit also lets you know how fast your car is going. You can secure your vehicle via phone or a Web-based interface. What's really cool is that Inilex has created a way to make your own perimeters called "geo fences." Going outside of or (in some … Read more

MacBooks need love too

As we were just noting in our usual cranky way, iPod cases are becoming the Starbucks of consumer electronics--a new one comes out seemingly every day, whether we need it or not (usually the latter). But what about its older and bulkier sibling, the MacBook?

As with many senior family members, the Apple laptop arguably needs more help in the injury-prevention department while the spry iPod goes on its merry way jogging or clubbing. Poor MacBook.

Luckily, RhinoSkin has come to the elder's rescue with a hard case to protect the laptop through the harsh winter months. MobilitySite … Read more