Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

The iPhone and vanity go hand in hand so Proporta’s new Echo screen protector seems like the perfect solution for those who want to look as good as their phone, and vice-versa. When the iPhone is turned on the Echo works like your standard screen protector, keeping the display free of nicks and scratches. But when the display is switched off, the Echo acts like a mirror allowing you to check yourself out or signal passing planes if you happen to be stranded on a deserted island. The protector is easy to apply and can be removed, washed and replaced as often as needed.

It’s available from Proporta for just $9.95 and includes an application card for keeping bubbles to a minimum and a screen polishing cloth. It’s also available in versions for the iPod Touch and the 3G Nano.

[ Echo iPhone Mirrored Screen Protector ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If the 70 lumens produced by the K2 Porcupine’s Xenon bulb don’t blind an opponent or attacker, you can always fall back on its sharpened spikes to get the job done. Unlike those multiple D-cell Mag-Lite flashlights that require you to bludgeon someone into submission, the Porcupine takes a cue from the actual animal when it comes to self-defense. Thankfully those spikes are protected by a retractable shield so that you can carry the flashlight in your pocket or bag without having to worry about losing a finger when you reach for it.

The K2 Porcupine is available from PentagonLight for $129, but keep in mind it uses CR-123A batteries which aren’t particularly common and they’ll only power it for about 60 minutes.

[ K2 Porcupine Light ] VIA [ Wired Gadget Lab ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While this might look like a concept design for the next version of the Nintendo Wiimote, it’s actually a ’smart’ wand designed to replace the traditional long stick used by the visually impaired. Created by Jin Woo Han it uses a sensor on the front to detect nearby objects and provides feedback about how far away they are with varying levels of vibration.

And even though it’s not illustrated too well in the photos, the wand includes a tactile strip where you place your thumb that will actually indicate the position of objects around you. Both of these methods of feedback are considered much better than using audio cues which can be easily missed if the user happens to be walking where there’s too much background noise. Unfortunately the Tactile Wand is just a concept right now, and given the time needed to perfect the design and the thorough testing that will be required, we probably won’t see it hitting the market anytime soon.

[ Tactile Wand ] VIA [ Tuvie ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The Kiddo Kidkeeper from Smart Target is like a 21st century version of those ‘kid leashes’ you see some parents using with their toddler. Except it doesn’t look as stupid. The system consists of a transmitter which you attach to the kid and a receiver which is carried by an adult. The transmitter continually emits a signal which is picked up by the receiver and is used to determine how far away the kid has wandered. When they go farther than a preset distance a warning sound and visual alarm on the receiver will go off allowing the adult to retrieve the child.

In terms of range settings the Kiddo receiver actually only has 2 options. The short range setting will alert the adult if the child has gone more than 4 meters (about 13 feet) away while the long range setting will sound the alert when a distance of 8 meters (or 26 feet) has been reached. The transmitter is also waterproof which means it’s pool and beach-friendly and can even be used at airports and on airplanes without disturbing the avionics.

[ Kiddo Kidkeeper ] VIA [ Gizmag ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Normally the terms hand-crank & radio really aren’t that interesting, and this time is no exception. However, I do like the fact that this particular hand-crank radio from Eton can be used to talk to other persons with the same radio, or other 2-way radios tuned to the same band of the 22 available channels. The website claims you can store enough power for an hour’s worth of use with just a “few smooth turns” of the fold out crank, but from my own experiences it usually requires a bit more effort.

Besides AM and FM stations, the radio can also be tuned to the NOAA weather broadcasts if you’re worried about an upcoming storm, or are currently in the middle of one that’s knocked out power. And for those times when even a “few smooth turns” seems like too much effort, the radio can run off of 4 AA batteries and also includes an AC adapter. But even with all those features I’m not sure if it’s worth $149.95.

[ 2-Way AM/FM/NOAA Crank Radio ] VIA [ GeekAlerts ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you’ve got yourself a tripped out PC that’s overclocked six ways from Sunday, then you’re probably just as concerned with keeping the system cool, as you are with its benchmark scores. So installing something like this Zalman Multi Fan Controller in one of your drive bays is probably not a bad idea.

The easy to read LCD display allows you to monitor the system’s power load, either numerically or with a segmented bar graph and will also alert you when the load surpasses 800W. More importantly the ZM-MFC2 can be used to monitor the temperature readings from up to 4 different sensors, with a range of -9 to 99 degrees Celsius. It also shows the current status of up to 4 different cooling fans, providing info on their current RPM and an audible alarm should any of them fail. You’ll also notice a large jog wheel that can be used for adjusting the RPM of each fan, from 1000 to 5940RPM in increments of 60RPM.

You can find it at Newegg.com for $54.99.

[ Zalman ZM-MFC2 Multi Fan Controller ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Your standard rear-view mirror only gives you about a 52 degree field of view, which is fine for seeing what’s behind your vehicle, but not what’s next to it. On the other hand this extra wide rear-view mirror, which is apparently used by police officers and racecar drivers expands your field of view to 180 degrees. That means you can see all the traffic that’s behind and adjacent to your vehicle across a 5 lane highway.

In fact any vehicles that are alongside and attempting to pass your car will be visible in the mirror until they enter your peripheral vision, effectively eliminating your blind spot. The mirror also reduces headlight glare by 50% and can easily be retrofitted to your existing rear-view mirror using a set of included clamps.

It’s available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $59.95.

[ No Blind Spot Rear View Mirror ]

By Luke Anderson

I’ve never been a military guy, though several of my family members have served their time in the line of fire. Apparently one of the biggest causes for death on the battlefield comes from blood loss occurring from an injury. Tourniquets are a huge help in this department, but they aren’t always readily available, and if the soldier is alone, it can be difficult to administer depending on the injury. However, these new Tourniquet Pants could save countless lives with their unique way of storing them.

These pants, along with the matching top each feature four separate tourniquets which are strategically located to maximize their potential. The tourniquets can be constricted immediately with only the use of a single hand. The pants aren’t cheap, coming in at around $200, but in the line of duty, money really doesn’t much matter.

[ Blackhawk ] VIA [ Crave ]

By Andrew Liszewski

For part of the world, Christmas vacation means a few days spent skiing, sledding, skating and enjoying other snow-related activities. But as fun as they might be, they also seem to come with a greater risk of injury and sickness thanks to the freezing temperatures. So the Ribcap allows you to kill two birds with one stone when it comes to keeping yourself safe.

Not only will this woollen beanie keep your heard warm, but it also comes with sewn-in protectors to reduce the risk of head-related injuries. The padding it uses is made of a unique foam material called ‘StructUre’ that’s not only 100% breathable, but is also capable of instantly becoming rigid in the event of a collision. Here’s a brief description of how it works:

The impact of energy rich electrons includes a rearrangement and creation of additional molecular cross-links within the Structure™ foam, this results in a transition of the foam from a flexible into a semi-rigid or even rigid state.

So if you wipe out while on the slopes you’re still going to get hurt, but by wearing one of these you’ll be reducing the risk of a life-threatening head injury. If you’re interested, the Ribcaps come in a variety of styles and colors and range in price from about $85 for a kid sized version, to about $120 for an adult sized one.

[ Ribcaps ] VIA [ Coolest Gadgets ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I once thought it was impossible to look cool while wearing a helmet. In fact I couldn’t even take people in a motorcycle gang seriously for that reason alone, and that’s why I’m now forced to move around the country for my own safety.

But if you came across someone wearing this wicket Skull Helmet, the last thing you’d do is laugh in their face. It doesn’t matter if they’re riding a Harley, a Huffy, a Segway or even wearing roller blades, this helmet tells people that there’s a chance you killed someone just to use their skull to protect your own. And that demands respect.

Alternately you can just buy one from Santiago Choppers for $149.99.

[ Santiago Choppers Skull Helmet ] VIA [ NOTCOT ]