Oh, the wonders of technology! Televisions 5/16ths of an inch thick, iPods that play movies and microchips so small they fit into the mouth of an ant. But how about some practical uses for inventions, gadgets and gizmos—technological advances you don’t have to be a Star Wars fanatic to enjoy? Here are some toys sure to liven up your holiday shopping list.
MP3 Sunglasses:
Feeling Bondish? James Bondish, that is. Here's a new tech toy even Agent 007 would envy: sunglasses that play music. The arm of these polarized lenses is an MP3 player with a 256MB capacity that also features a rechargeable battery and voice recorder. These babies are a great way to ignore less preferential sounds while in class, at work or out to lunch with your mother.
Cell phone activated vibrator:
This friendly little gizmo brings the term "put it on vibrate" to a whole new level. Strategically positioned with adjustable hip and thigh straps, the Reach Out and Touch Me Vibe can be set to turn (you) on whenever a cell phone goes off within three feet. The purple, butterfly-shaped vibrator runs quietly and inconspicuously underneath your clothing. No one needs to know how excited you are to receive their phone calls—assuming you can keep as quiet as the toy.
TV-B-Gone
Sick of ESPN morning, noon and night? Tired of reality television that has nothing to do with reality? Use the TV-B-Gone to turn off virtually any television whose content is grating you. The doohickey hangs on a key chain and can work from 20-to-50 feet away. Perfect for use in airports, babysitting or to get the attention of your partner for more hands-on entertainment.
Mace "Phone"
Walking around with a bulky can of pepper spray in your purse can leave you feeling a bit uneasy. Not only does the contraption warrant an occasional airport scolding, it's also a flat out nuisance to lug around. Thankfully, the Korean company Phoneyworld has thought of a solution: hide pepper spray in a "cell phone." To activate, simply pull the antenna up and press a button. The downside? This $240 device costs more than the average Joe can afford.
USB Jewlery:
A year ago, wearing something like a memory stick around your neck would grant you instant nerd status. Today, the sticks are the hottest thing on the USB catwalk. The Chocolate, Mint, Soda, Lemon and Raspberry-colored, square-shaped memory key pendants are designed to look like trendy necklaces. They are also capable of storing up to 1 gigabyte of data. Not into necklaces? Try the memory pendant earrings. They're sure to make you the talk of the computer lab.
Solar energy iPod charger
Ever find yourself stranded on a deserted island listening to your favorite Janet Jackson jam on your iPod when the battery suddenly runs out of juice? Have no fear … Underdog is here! But in the event that he is saving someone else, there is the Soldius 1 Solar Charger. Just plug the thingamajig into your iPod and point it toward the sun for two to three hours. Finally, spending hours baking under the sun's ultraviolet rays is good for something. The best part? The energy is free!
Friendly Bunny:
Meet Nabaztag. A little over nine inches tall, this white rabbit can talk, sing songs, wiggle its ears and light up with hundreds of different colors to indicate a response. Nabaztag connects through Wi-Fi and can function as a clock, alarm, weather bunny, e-mail alerter and can also be told to give updates on stocks, air quality and traffic. Friends can send you songs and messages through your Nabaztag and you can synch it with another person’s bunny so that when you move your pet’s ears, their bunny moves as well. Hailed as a “smart toy” by the French company that makes it, Nabaztag provides one more way to communicate with your friends without actually seeing or speaking to them.
Web updated laundry:
Washing your clothes used to mean endless trips to Larry's Quick Wash. First you had to check if there were any machines available. Then put your clothes in the wash, lug the wet mass into a dryer across the room and finally collect the hot pile to take home. Today, many dorm students are knocking out the first step from their computer. All they need to do is log onto the washer's Web site to see how many minutes are left in the machine's cycles. And it gets better. If you don't feel like taking the time off AIM to log on to the Web site, you can instruct the machine to e-mail you or SMS your cell phones when your turn is up. Although the Fluidtime system has yet to make its way to the Bay, it can be seen at schools like University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Northeastern University in Boston. fluidtime.com
