RESCUE Project to help emergency personnel

The Responding to Crises and Unexpected Events (RESCUE) Project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and aims to improve response to disasters and emergencies while keeping injuries to a minimum, with the ultimate goal to prevent any loss of life. I must say the suit the person is wearing looks rather spiffy as though he stepped out from some sort of Star Trek convention, and chances are everything will need to be waterproof just in case rescue work needs to be carried out when it is raining. Gotta love the wearable keyboard on his right hand. Further details from the press release are available after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Boblee Solar protects and charges iPod

Just in case you were wondering what the optimal iPod case would look like, perhaps the Boblbee Solar fits the bill. You not only get protection against knocks and scratches (with it being shockproof), it is also waterproof, letting you listen to your favorite tunes even when its raining (although I’d advise against that since you never know when lightning might strike). Built-in solar panels also help convert solar energy into power that can be used to charge your iPod.
There is currently no word on pricing or availability.
Source: Gizmodo

Sun Jar

Have you ever dreamed to touch and hold the sun in your own hands? Even this weird dream can come true with the spectacular gadget designed by Tobias Wong the "Sun Jar".

It looks absolutely as a jam jar but the secret is inside. The sun effect can be obtained by sitting the jar on the windowsill during the day time. When it gets dark the sun from the jar automatically turns itself on and glows with the day’s sunshine.



Features
• Powered by the sun, glows orange.
• On/off switch - auto light-sensitive.
• Requires sunshine and a solar cell battery (included).
• Size: 16 x 10 x 10cm.
www.Gadgets-reviews.com

Talking beer glasses

One of the most helpful gadgets of this year must be considered the Talking Beer Glass. Why?
Remember yourself watching the Yankee's semifinal, when the tension is very strong? You lift your glass of beer for a sip, and you understand there is no beer left.

You must be thinking you wish you had a talking beer glass and VOILA... The talking beer glass is available now, and you will never ever again run out of beer. The glass is based on a volume sensor, and as your beer volume falls down you will hear the words “Your beer is running dangerously low”, “Refill immediately –danger of sobering out” and after all “Cheers”.

So don’t ever let your friend and yourself miss the last minutes of the game, while looking for another bottle beer in your fridge, buy the magical talking beer glass.

www.Gadgets-reviews.com

Barking Mad Dog Game

Can you steal his bones without waking the dog? Probably not the coolest of games out there but it beats the like of Buckaroo (then again most games do).

The thing is this particular pooch is of the aggressive, ‘almost bite your hand off if you so much as breathe near it’ variety. And almost bite your hand off he will, because if you make a dog’s dinner of retrieving the bones, the sleepy hound will wake in an instant, lurch forward and growl. Rrrargh!

Don’t Wake The Dog is available from Firefox for £14.95.

Axxen unveils Pleigo X3 MP4 player

Looking for a new MP4 player? Axxen has recently released one, namely the Pleigo X3 at KES 2007. This MP4 player does not come with any USB connector cap since it slides out using a mechanism, ensuring you won’t have to worry about losing that cap whenever you transfer files to and from it. Features include a 65k color OLED display, a 5-band equalizer, a lithium polymer battery that lasts up to 8 hours of playback, and compatibility with MPEG 1,2,3, ASF, JPEG, AVI, and WMA formats. the Pleigo X3 measures 77mm x 25mm x 9.8mm and weighs 25 grams. It will be available in capacities of 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB. Pricing details have yet to be determined.

Source: AVing

Sol Shaver Solar Razor

Ever gone off to the woods for a week and forgotten to bring a shaver with you? Chances are when you’re back home, your wife will probably think there’s a grizzly bear knocking on her front door, wearing her husband’s clothes instead. The Sol Shaver Solar Razor is the tool for you then, since it can be powered by the sun while offering a traditional electric razor cut. If you’re interested in picking one up, be prepared to fork out $61 for it.

www.coolest-gadgets.com

Will McDonalds force Starbucks to offer free wireless?

That’s Computer World’s prediction, anyway. The popular PC magazine states that the pay for wireless hotspot plan is stale and saving marketing departments competing for your money will offer wireless for free to get you in to buy their products. The longer you stay, the more you buy. McDonalds is known to offer such an inticement, and now it may look like Starbucks will … or should as well.

The prediction comes on the heals of Starbucks/Apple’s iTunes wireless store which allows users to download music they hear streaming in the any one of the 13,000 plus coffee houses. While users have to pay for the music download, the wireless access is free. So why not extend that with other revenue streams as well?

But the real issue is competition with McDonalds. The Golden Arches has recently added high quality coffee to it’s menu (that’s been rated better that Starbucks, mind you), and at least in Great Britain, the wireless connectivity is free. So why not come for the coffee and free wireless and stay for the Big Mac? Starbucks has answered the call by expanding their breakfast menu with egg sandwiches that look very McMuffin like.

In the end, it makes sense. During the depression, movie theaters had “dish night,” which they gave away free dishes with the purchase of a movie ticket. People build up entire place settings by going to the movies. When I was in college, it wasn’t uncommon to go into an all night diner for coffee and conversation, and leave after eating breakfast in the morning.

Whatever it takes to get em in the doors, that’s what Starbucks should be doing. And free bandwidth is a great way to entice them. Especially the caffeine addicted.

www.coolest-gadgets.com

Lilly House blooms right on time

The Lilly House is one interesting concept as it will be able to bloom in the same manner as a flower within 90 seconds. That’s pretty innovative, and I’d assume it will be able to close up within the same time frame as well. Best to equip this house with some sort of weather predicting device so that it can close before your expensive furniture gets wet.

With the push of a button, the house opens in 90 seconds like a flower and transforms from a compact container into a fully furnished and functional space with a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, bedroom, living room and library. All materials used in the Biennale house were recyclable or recycled.

If you’re interested in checking the Lilly House out, it will be located in Columbus Circle (NYC) from November 28 to December 29.

www.coolest-gadgets.com