Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

Even though the cartoons make high blood pressure look like fun with all the steam blasting out of your ears and the pitch-red face, it turns out it can actually be bad for those of us who aren’t animated. So checking your BP on a regular basis is kind of important. The Omron HEM-650 allows you to do that from the comfort of your own home without a doctor, and has a couple of handy features to help make sure you’re doing it right.

First, it uses the company’s patented ‘Intellisense’ technology to automatically inflate the wrist cuff to the ideal level. Even though inflating it to the point where you cut off circulation might seem like fun, it’s apparently not the best way to do it. And because the HEM-650 uses a wrist cuff, it’s better suited for people with larger, python-like arms like yours truly. (They’re a blessing and a curse.) Another important factor in getting an accurate blood pressure reading from a wrist monitor is to ensure the cuff is at the same level as your heart. So the HEM-650 has an ‘Advanced Positioning Sensor’ that automatically confirms when the monitor has been placed at the correct level. I’m actually kind of interested how it knows it’s at the right level, but I guess that’s probably a trade secret.

You can find the Omron HEM-650 at Amazon for $61.03.

[ Omron HEM-650 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If Ken Rosenblum has his way (I’m pretty sure that’s not him in the pic), getting a prescription filled could be as quick and easy as withdrawing money from an ATM is. He created the InstyMeds dispenser after learning there was a nationwide shortage of pharmacists which not only led to fewer pharmacies being open late at night, but longer lines as well.

Of course the InstyMeds still requires a prescription before you can make a withdrawl, but using custom software a doctor can make an InstyMeds-compatible prescription in about 10 clicks. You then take this prescription (which has a special barcode on it) to the dispenser, and the machine will automatically fill an appropriately sized bottle with the required medication, and will also print a custom label that includes instructions and warnings. Payments can be made right from the dispenser either with a credit card, or by billing your health insurance provider. While the current model of the InstyMeds only holds about 100 different drugs, apparently 45 of those drugs represent 80% of what is prescribed by doctors, so it should be able to accommodate a good majority of the people needing non-OTC medications.

[ InstyMeds ] VIA [ Gear Live ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The current method for testing one’s blood sugar isn’t exactly fun, and that’s coming from someone who’s technically a grown-up. So I can’t imagine the process is any more enjoyable for kids who have to do it on a daily basis.

So the Glucoboy is a blood glucose meter that can be used in conjunction with a Nintendo Game Boy Advance or an online community to reward a child’s diligence when it comes to testing. Regular use of the meter combined with good results will earn them points that can be used to unlock mini-games on the included GBA cartridge or on the website.

Of course if you think you’ve seen the Glucoboy before you’re probably right. It’s taken the inventor, Paul Wessel, about 3 years to get approval from Nintendo to actually make the device. It’s finally available in Australia for about $260, but there are plans to eventually make it available worldwide.

[ Glucoboy ] VIA [ Joystiq ]

By Andrew Liszewski

After years and years of staring at TVs and computer screens I’ve somehow managed to avoid the need for glasses. Of course I’m sure that day will eventually come, but it’s reassuring to know there are crazy Japanese gadgets I can use to prolong the inevitable.

The Eye Power claims it can fix near-sightedness and myopia using ultrasonic technology. All you have to do is stare into what looks like an old 8mm camera for 10 minutes every day, and eventually your vision problems will be cured. Now I want to be clear that I’m no Optometrist, nor have I ever played one on TV, so I can’t comment on whether or not you can actually use ultrasonic technology to fix these problems. But I have managed to scrape together a bit of common sense which will probably ensure I will never, ever look directly into this device like they suggest.

But don’t let that stop you. You can get an Eye Power for yourself from Rakuten for about $800.

[ Eye Power ] VIA [ Crave ]

By Andrew Liszewski

It’s no secret that swimming provides a great workout, and the extra resistance that comes from moving through the water is why a lot of athletes choose to exercise or train in a pool. And that’s basically the whole idea behind the Hydro Physio. It’s a treadmill built inside a clear glass tank filled with water that provides a more intense workout than just a treadmill alone.

The tank is filled and emptied each time which means you can enter through a door on the back, rather than having to climb in which would be problematic for people using the treadmill for rehabilitation purposes. This also means the water level can be adjusted on the fly to allow different muscle groups to be targeted during the exercise routine.

And even though the website only has photos of the 3D mockup, a Hydro Physio prototype does exist as is evident in this video. However I have no idea when they’ll be available to fitness clubs, or for home use.

[ Hydro Physio Lifestyle Treadmill ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]

By Andrew Liszewski

There are two places I know of where you can stick a thermometer, and to be honest, neither one is all that pleasant. The Thermofocus however is the first non-contact clinical thermometer that uses infrared technology to take a temperature reading, without having to enter any cavities.

While non-contact infrared thermometers aren’t new, this one is approved by the FDA and is apparently recommended by pediatricians for use on children. Just point the tip of the Thermofocus at the forehead, naval or armpit and the LED display will show the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius, with an accuracy of +/- 0.4°F.

It’s currently available directly from the Kidz-Med website for $99.95, however it can only be bought and shipped to locations in the US.

[ Kidz-Med Thermofocus ] VIA [ Strange New Products ]

By Evan Ackerman

It happens all the time: you’re rocking out under a pair of headphones, practicing your kickboxing routine or ballroom dancing moves at 3am, and just as you’re in the middle of a jab/uppercut combo or a pirouette, your headphones are rudely ripped from your skull thanks to the cord attached to your computer. Or worse, your iPod gets tossed into the next county. You’d think there would be a simple solution to this problem, and there is… A magnetic headphone connector. It’s much like the magnetic power plug you find on newer Macs: if the cord gets jerked, the magnets simply separate, sparing your electronics and head a lot of grief. The Replug is an adapter that sits right between your headphones and audio jack, and will fit just about any 3.5mm connectors.

It’s genius. So why interim? Well, I’m pessimistic about cables in general, or rather, I’m optimistic about the progression of wireless tech. Whether or not it breaks away without jerking you around, cables are still an annoyance, and they’re so close to being obsolete what with bluetooth, high bandwidth WiFi, and wireless power all on the verge of being universally practical. In the meantime, though, Replug can be yours before the end of the year for an undisclosed price (but probably cheap).

[ Replug ] VIA [ Engadget ]

By Andrew Liszewski

This may look like a concept car for commuting in a crowded city but it’s actually a top-of-the-line, all-weather electric scooter for people with mobility issues. The enclosed canopy means it can be used outdoors in all but the worst of weather conditions and even includes a wiper/washer system for maximum visibility.

The doors on either side are key locking but can also be removed for accommodating larger riders. (The Flagship can support a rider up to 350 lbs.) It’s even got front and rear suspension for those times when you’re cruising down a particularly bumpy sidewalk at the scooter’s 10 mph top speed.

The Flagship is available from Drugstore.com for $6,595.

[ Shoprider Flagship ] VIA [ ThisNext ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Besides what I’ve seen on CSI when it comes to DNA testing I’m no expert. As far as I know a DNA test takes about a day to complete but NEC claims to have reduced that time to only about 25 minutes. They’ve also managed to shrink everything you need for a complete DNA analysis system into a package that’s about the size of a briefcase. That includes all the tools needed for both the extraction of the DNA and the analysis itself.

The device will be shown at the International Symposium on Human Identification in Los Angeles in a few weeks time but is not expected to be released until sometime in 2008. And even then odds are it will only be made available to law enforcement officials. Once it becomes widespread though I’m sure you can pick one up for your own needs.

[ NEC Portable DNA Analysis System ] VIA [ Mobilewhack ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Properly assessing the severity of a wound and then keeping track of how well it’s healing (or not healing) is vital to the recovery process. So a New Zealand company called Aranz Medical has developed a specialized wound imaging system called Silhouette that can not only help determine how bad a wound is, but can also be used to keep track of how it’s healing.

A portable hand-held computer such as a PDA is fitted with a high resolution digital camera that is used to photograph the wound in question. The camera also has an embedded laser calibration system ensuring that the photos of the wound are all taken in the same position making them easier to compare later on. Special software running on the PDA can actually analyze the photos and provide a certain level of quantitative data about the wound but since the software is no replacement for a real doctor the data and photographs get stored in a central database that can be accessed from all over the world and further studied on a desktop system.

Basically the idea behind the Silhouette is that a picture is worth a thousand words and while a nurse or caregiver might be skilled at documenting the healing progress in medical terms nothing beats an actual photo.

[ SilhouetteMobile ] VIA [ Medgadget ]