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Photojojo)
I really like Photojojo, and its new collection of photography projects and DIY ideas for cameras is definitely worth checking out, but I don't know that I feel the same about the Happy Helmet Camera Mount.
For $20 ($36 for two), you, or someone you'd like to make fun of, can strap a tripod mount through the vents of a helmet. Press record on your camera and start riding, skating, taking punches.
The only downside I can think of (other than the pointing and staring) is that compact cameras generally do a poor job of handling wind noise and I don't see it improving once one's strapped to your head. Helmet cams can run a couple hundred dollars though, and the video results likely won't be any better, making this an inexpensive alternative to the higher-priced gear.
Flying your Bell Ranger in a ball cap is something of a fashion statement. But it lacks that iconic, ant-head panache that until recently only military pilots wearing restricted, government-use-only night vision-equipped helmets could pull off.
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Nivisys)
The NVAG-6 Night Vision Goggles change all that. They're the first night vision goggle certified by the FAA for civilian use, according to manufacturer Nivisys. Of course, looks are not what will sell this gear. It's the safety margin they can potentially add to low-light and nighttime flying (PDF).
"This is a historical moment for civil aviator night vision safety. Nivisys is now the first and only company certified for the production of night vision goggles under FAA TSO-C164," said Nivisys CEO Allen Harding.
The unit can be used with fixed and rotary winged aircraft, according to the company. You'll probably want one just to avoiding doing a "Bill Graham," but the company foresees wide use in many after-dark flight operations, such as offshore oil rigging, logging, power line and high-rise work, and search and rescue.
The NVAG-6 comprises a lightweight binocular made of anodized aluminum that can be mounted to a variety of helmets. The 25mm eye relief eyepieces are individually adjustable and even work for operators wearing prescription glasses or contacts. A flip-up base allows for fine tuning for fore/aft adjustments.
The goggles automatically turn off when the helmet mount is flipped up, which prevents tube damage in case of exposure to bright lights. They run on AAs, which are presumably not included.
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Voz Sports)
If NFL teams continue to use technology on the field--legally or otherwise--you've got to wonder how long it'll be before they start using something like this.
The "Multy LYNK" helmet from Voz Sports would seem just as suitable for the battlefield as the gridiron, serving as both a multimedia device and communications tool. In addition to playing MP3s on its built-in stereo speakers, according to Gizmodo, it has a "two-way Family Radio Service radio with voice control and 14 channels (plus 38 privacy codes) or via Bluetooth."
We'd be dubious about the effectiveness of its noise-cancellation technology at venues like Lambeau Field during the playoffs, but the Multy LYNK does have a weather receiver and a waterproof finish to help survive the freezing tundra. And if your team happens to win, the helmet can be submersed in a liter of Gatorade for a full 30 minutes.
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Vision Systems International)
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 the information that is currently seen only at the front of the cockpit.
If it works, the F-35 will be the first tactical fighter jet in 50 years to fly without an HUD. The British Royal Air Force's Centre for Aviation Medicine is evaluating the helmet, which is manufactured by Silicon Valley-based Vision Systems International and Helmet Integrated Systems.
They may want to add the following label. "Warning: In case of crash, remove helmet before approaching natives for assistance."
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iShoes)
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 batteries.
They might be great for younger, more coordinated types, but not us. Just viewing the iShoes in action (video below) makes us want to climb into an "Armchair Cruiser."
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Engadget)
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.
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Engadget)
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 disturbing is the way it's embedded in the back of helmet, as pictured here. It kind of reminds us of the head plugs in The Matrix.
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Gearfuse)
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 controller gloves that can switch tracks or answer your phone in surround-sound goodness.
That could also make the trip in the ambulance just a little more bearable.
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Gadget Universe)
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Warner Bros.)
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 engineering and utilizes acupressure to relax and soothe your problems away. It's like thousands of tiny fingers simultaneously massaging your scalp."
So it took geniuses from two continents to come up with this piece of work, which goes for $50. And where's it being marketed? On American infomercials, of course. They may be crazy, but they're not stupid.
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Pocket-lint)
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. As far as we're concerned, we'd just like to hear it go away.
