(Credit:
SCI FI Tech)
(Credit:
Spirit)
Remember how we all mocked the gadgets and appliances used by our parents when we were kids? You know, the "Veg-O-Matics," the "Pocket Fisherman" and pretty much anything else pitched by Ron Popeil on TV after 2 a.m.
Well, don't laugh--we're next. Imagine the reaction of our own children a decade from now when they find something like the "DataGlass HMD" in a corner of the basement. Accurately described by SCI FI Tech as a "cross between a pirate, a cyborg soldier and a member of the Borg hive," this multimedia headgear can always be used for Halloween if it doesn't work out as a virtual display device. Japan's Shimadzu says the HMD projects the equivalent of a 14-inch monitor before your eye(s) once connected to a computer or video player, though it's intended primarily for industrial use--something that's reflected in its $1,636 price.
That may seem like a lot, but just think of the fun it will bring your family for years to come.
(Credit:
Engadget)
It's no secret that Crave is fond of things to put on your head, but many of the items we've come across are fragile in nature. (Tin-foil hats can be so finicky sometimes.) So the survivalist in us appreciates any attempts to create headgear for extreme conditions.
The "Veecam" from U.K.-based Persides fits that bill, a battle-ready digital video camera designed for use in sports or even military applications. How ready, you say? It's waterproof up to 50 meters (164 feet) and can withstand temperatures from minus-4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while being particularly shock- and vibration-resistant because it has no moving parts. It also has a 2.4-inch LCD and a battery that can last for 16 hours, or 8 hours of recording time.
You'll have to pay a hefty price to play international person of intrigue, however--800 pounds, or about $1,600, Engadget says. But if Her Majesty's Secret Service is picking up the tab, you could also get a Bluetooth crash helmet for extreme sensory deprivation.
(Credit:
Amazon)
Star Wars merchandising has always been hot, of course, and everyone's favorite--the "Lightsaber"--is always at the top of the list. Witness the Lightsaber remote, phone and MP3 player, just to name a few. But we had no idea that there would be competition in a subcategory like Lightsaber umbrellas.
Uber-Review notes that the latest entry to this coveted market is no ordinary bumbershoot, belonging to none other than Lord Vader himself, in all his dark glory. Amazon describes it as "an incredibly limited edition item" from Japan that's "40 inches across and features an automatic telescoping action." (Only two were left as of this writing.)
All of which begs an obvious question, of course: Why would someone wears a helmet 24/7 need an umbrella, much less one from Amazon that costs $100? It makes us wonder what's on his wishlist.
(Credit:
Millets)
We know that stranger things have happened, but let's hope that headlamps don't become a fashion trend. We're a bit worried after having just seen a 24-LED version a few days ago, only to find another fetching piece of illuminated headgear pop up on in the gadget blogosphere. Shiny Shiny rightly notes that "you'll look an absolute twit" wearing one of these items from the U.K.'s Millets outdoor store but, if you do happen to get lost or fall into a ditch, its flashing mode would probably come in handy. Or you could just put it on and stay at home.
(Credit:
Audio-Technica)
(Credit:
Kahnortho)
Headgear has come a long way from the days when it was almost synonymous with adolescent torment. Today, headsets and headphones are often considered fashion items--and, as with clothing apparel, that can be a good or a bad thing.
We think that Audio-Technica's "ONTO" headphones fall into the former category, mostly for their simplicity. They remind us of the early lightweight Sennheiser phones from the '70s, which were a revolutionary break from the bulky Koss-type standard of the day.
Rather than shun the headband, Audio-Technica has made one that's much thinner and, as Gearfuse says, could even hide in your hair. If these phones sound as good as they look, who knows? Traditional headbands could even make a comeback.
Earlier today we learned of head-mounted iPods, so we should have assumed that this was next: A head mount for the video iPod. By year's end an Australian company called 22Moo is expected to be selling the HMD800, a device that "couples 2.1-track Dolby surround sound stereo earphones with a virtual 30-inch screen that 22Moo hopes will make you think you're in a theater," according to Gearlog. It also has a lithium battery that can run for 8 hours straight, which should go a long way toward helping you catch up on those "Lost" reruns you might have missed.
(Photo: 22Moo)
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