For behind the scenes pictures, stories and special contests, follow us on Facebook!
Subscribe:

Tag Archives: Health

Chemical Free no!no! Skin Pimple Treatment

no!no! Skin Pimple Treatment (Image courtesy Radiancy)
By Andrew Liszewski

Most chemical-based pimple treatments are designed with a ‘use overnight’ mentality when no one can see your face covered in dots of cream. But this no!no! Skin alternative just uses heat and light delivered via a handheld device that can be used anywhere and anytime you’ve got about 30 seconds to spare. You just place the pointed end against a pimple, push the button, and wait 10 seconds for it to do its thing. After you hear 2 beeps you remove it, wait 5 seconds, and then treat it again for another 10. The ‘how it works’ and what it’s actually doing unfortunately sounds a little snake oil-esque, but I’ll admit I’m not a dermatologist, and these treatment techniques could actually be quite effective.

As P.acnes (Propionibacterium) reproduce, colonies form and release the seeds of their own destruction, a chemical known as porphyrin. no!no! Skin pin points the pimple with flashes of a broad-spectrum light and gentle waves of heat that penetrate into the blocked pore. Optimal light wavelengths, especially green and red, penetrate deep into the follicle to target the P.acnes. Green light makes the porphyrin molecules release a lone oxygen molecule called a radical. The oxygen radicals attack the P.acnes and destroy the bacterium. Red light produces anti-inflammatory results and reduces the painful, unsightly swelling. Additional heat intensifies the process and gently opens the pores to release the clog and further soothe the inflammation.

At $180 though I’d like to know for sure if the no!no! Skin delivered on its claims before dropping that much money.

[ no!no! Skin Pimple Treatment ] VIA [ bookofjoe ]

And Here I Am Putting On Socks With My Bare Hands Like A Sucker…

Easy Pull Hosiery Aid (Image courtesy Taylor Gifts)
By Andrew Liszewski

Of everything the internet has done for me, like helping me get into, and then out of, that wacky cult, this discovery is by far the best thing it’s ever brought into my life. For years I’ve grimaced, gagged and shuddered every time I’ve accidentally touched my feet when putting on socks, but those sad, sad days are over. Once again a useful gadget designed to make life easier for the injured, disabled and elderly will help me overcome another bizarre fear and/or phobia.

Once you’ve slid your sock onto the wire rack support, you just stick your foot in as usual and then use the generous extension handles on either side to pull it all the way up your leg. I’ve just realized it will even reduce the amount of bending I have to do every day, which is a whole other phobia we won’t get into right now. What’s most amazing is that this miracle contraption is just $14.98. Little do they know I’d happily pay up to $18 for something as life changing as this, but don’t tell them that!

[ Easy Pull Hosiery Aid ] VIA [ Random Good Stuff ]

aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock Adds An Intelligent Snooze Function

aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock (Images courtesy Infactory Innovations & Trade GMBH)
By Andrew Liszewski

I’ve often thought about trying one of these sleep phase alarm clocks, like the aXbo, that promises to only wake you up when your body is ready by tracking your sleep phases. But I just don’t think I’ll ever be ready to immediately get out of bed when the alarm goes off, which is what you’re supposed to do with these. In fact until recently the aXbo didn’t even have a snooze button, but thanks to a recent firmware upgrade it now comes with what they call the iSnooze feature (sigh…) which will let you catch a few more Z’s waking you again at the next optimal point in your sleep cycle.

And if you’re not already familiar with the aXbo, it looks like one of the better solutions if you’re into the whole sleep phase tracking thing. Of course while that technique supposedly makes it easier to get up in the morning, the downside is that you have to wear a special wrist band all night which allows the alarm clock to track your movements and tossing and turning so it can accurately predict when the optimal time in the morning is to wake you. I’m also awarding extra points for the mouse-like scroll wheel it uses for navigating menus or adjusting the time and alarms. Much better than repeatedly hitting an up or down button and having it overshoot the mark when holding it down for too long. I just wish it wasn’t ~$275 (€199) which is pretty steep.

[ aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock ] VIA [ The Gadgeteer ]

CellBlaster UV Cellphone Sanitizer

CellBlaster UV Cellphone Sanitizer (Images courtesy Spectroline)
By Andrew Liszewski

The thought of even having to dial a public payphone sends shivers down my spine, let along picking up the receiver and holding it against my face. But it’s not always safe to assume your smartphone is clean just because you’re the only one using it. Most of you will diligently wash your hands before a meal, but don’t forget you probably spend all day swiping those same fingers across your phone’s screen. So what makes you think it’s any cleaner than a payphone? Because you clean it with your sleeve every once in a while?

I’m not implying everyone needs to be paranoid about germs or anything, but every once in a while giving your phone a good cleaning is probably not a bad idea, and these UV-based sanitizers seem like the easiest and least messy approach. The CellBlaster looks like a miniature tanning bed for your phone, but it blasts it with short-wave ultraviolet light which “kills or eliminates 99.9% of germs, viruses and bacteria…” And while the CellBlaster does its thing in just 30 seconds, it also features a small gap for multi-taskers who want to sanitize their phone while it’s being charged. ‘Coming Soon!’ for a yet to be disclosed price.

[ CellBlaster UV Cellphone Sanitizer ]

Tornex Table Removes Cigarette Smoke With A Mini Tornado

Tornex Table (Image courtesy DigInfo TV)
By Andrew Liszewski

Way back in 2007 we brought you news of the Mercedes-Benz Museum’s 34 meter tall man-made tornado that was designed to quickly and effectively remove smoke from the building in the event of a fire, so as to protect the exhibits from smoke damage. The Tornex system is basically the same idea, though on a much smaller scale.

It’s instead designed to deal with the smoke from deliberate man-made fires, cigarettes, using a series of perforated silver poles that all blow air in the same direction, creating a miniature vortex. The air is then drawn into a charcoal filter system which removes about 95% of the smoke and odor before it’s returned to the smoking area. The silver poles also serve to create an air curtain keeping the smoke inside a designated, though not necessarily enclosed, smoking area. The cost? A totally reasonable $30,000+ (¥2,500,000) given the system makes freakin’ tornados!

[ Tornex ] VIA [ DigInfo TV ]

Easidream Lulls Babies To Sleep With Womb-Like Motions And Sounds

Easidream (Image courtesy Easidream)
By Andrew Liszewski

I’ve yet to enjoy the ‘blessing’ of having a newborn infant in my household, but lack-of-rest assured, I will use every single electronic solution to my advantage when it comes to helping them sleep through the night. And I don’t care if this Easidream system is only available in the UK at the moment, I will re-wire my home to make it work.

The idea is pretty simple. The infant has just spent 9 months in the cozy confines of a womb, and suddenly they’re thrust into the real world. I’m pretty sure I’d spend all my time crying too. (Not just my usual 3 hours a day.) So the Easidream provides them with some of the comforts they’re accustomed to. First there’s a special mat connected to a control unit/air pump that sits under their mattress and recreates a gentle womb-like rocking motion with adjustable speeds and motions. It can even be controlled with timers so you can gradually ease off the thrill ride until your young’n is used to sleeping on a regular mattress.

The Easidream system also comes with Ewan, a plush sheep you hang on the crib which has a pink ambient glow and plays one of four womb-familiar sound effects like a mother’s beating heart. Both components are sold separately, and while Ewan is ~$50 (£30.63) the Easidream rocking mat is a touch more pricey at ~$412 (£255.31).

[ Easidream ] VIA [ Inventor Spot ]

Fraunhofer’s Electronic Fitness Trainer Makes Sure You’re Doing It Right

Fraunhofer's Electronic Fitness Trainer (Image courtesy Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft)
By Andrew Liszewski

Exercise is less effective when you’re not properly going through the motions, and there’s even the risk of causing bodily harm when dealing with things like weights if you don’t have the proper technique. But at the same time, not everyone can afford a personal trainer to monitor and provide feedback on their exercise routines. So as part of the ‘FitForAge’ initiative sponsored by the Bavarian Research Foundation, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed an Electronic Fitness Trainer that’s available to anyone with access to a smartphone, computer or even just a TV.

The system is a combination of a customizable app and a sensor equipped suit that’s able to track the wearer’s position and movements while they’re exercising. The routine they follow is initially setup by a trainer or a physical therapist who ensures that it’s tailored to their needs and capabilities, and that they’re performing the various exercises properly. After that the app takes over, showing a virtual 3D avatar of the person in the suit and providing feedback when their motions or position don’t quite match up with what the trainer had specified. The system allows for trainers to be of assistance to more clients, while not requiring them to always be around during their actual routines, and ensures that the exercises they’re doing are as beneficial and effective as they can be.

[ Fraunhofer - CeBIT 2011: Electronic Fitness Trainer ]

True Energy Vaccine Refrigerator Can Keep Meds Cool For 10 Days Without Power – Probably Works Just As Well With Pizza

True Energy Vaccine Refrigerator (Images courtesy True Energy)
By Andrew Liszewski

A steady supply of electricity is definitely something a lot of us take for granted, but in many parts of the world that’s a luxury. And while you might panic during a blackout that the mayonaise in your fridge could go bad, imagine the risk of losing thousands of dollars worth of life-saving medications and vaccines. That scenario is what prompted a company called True Energy to develop their special ‘Vaccine Refrigerator’ which is able to maintain a constant temperature of below 10˚C for up to 10 days without a drop of external power. Even if the temps outside hit 43˚C.

The refrigerator employs the company’s Sure Chill technology which is a combination of a built-in rechargeable battery powered either by the grid, a solar panel, or a combination of the two, as well as some heavy-duty insulation. And thanks to something they refer to as their “innovative phase change material” and some intelligent temperature monitoring, the fridge is able to make adjustments on the fly, keeping a constant stabilized temperature even when warmer items have been added. As an added bonus, so as not to be a load on an already taxed grid when power is available, the Vaccine Refrigerator runs on less than 5 hours of electricity when drawing it from the grid, which also serves to keep costs down.

At the moment True Energy’s Vaccine Refrigerator is already in use by the World Health Organization and Unicef, but the company is exploring more commercial uses given how energy efficient the technology is.

[ True Energy Vaccine Refrigerator ] VIA [ Gizmag ]

Scaloupe Scalp Camera

Scaloupe Scalp Camera (Images courtesy DigInfo TV)
By Andrew Liszewski

It seems the people of Japan are far more conscientious about their scalps and haircare than I am, because the thought of holding a webcam against my head to see what’s really going on up there has never occurred to me. Also the fact that my only webcam is embedded above the display on my laptop makes for a few logistical issues when it comes to analyzing my follicles. Not any more though, because a company called Spec Computer has created the Scaloupe, which is a USB webcam with a macro lens and a miniature white LED-illuminated ‘softbox’ that lets you get up close and personal with whatever scalp conditions you’re looking for.

It lets you examine the top of your head via a live feed displayed on your PC, and if you’re particularly proud or worried about a certain spot up there, you can snap a photo for further analysis. However, since the Scaloupe is not a medical instrument it’s advised against using it for official self-diagnosis. Available now for ~$96 (¥7,980) presumably only in Japan.

[ DigInfo TV - USB camera for close-up photos of the scalp - Scaloupe ]