Cool Product of the Day

The rise of the personal computer has not been accompanied by any profound change in the human animal.  As a result, humans frequently suffer pain from prolonged computer use.  Between computer eye strain and sore neck muscles from improper monitor/screen placement, the effects on your health may undo the convenience of a laptop computer.  While scientists for years have worked on ways to combat computer eye strain, there have been fewer efforts to reduce muscle fatigue specifically caused by computer use.  Osim changes that with the creation of the uPixie!

The uPixie by Osim is the world’s first laptop massager.  More than a simple massager, the uPixie connects to your laptop computer.  The uPixie interacts with your digital music player and offers you a safe, convenient way to relax your muscles even when you are still working on your laptop!  The scientists at Osim created a functional, fun and unique product with the uPixie.

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In the rapidly-changing world of consumer electronics, there is one undeniable fact: without power, your gadget is worthless.  It’s true.  No matter how fast your smartphone, tablet computer, e-reader, laptop computer or PC is, when it’s out of juice, it’s just an expensive decoration or fashion accessory!  While virtually every major company is in a race to create better batteries, one company is preoccupied with making a better charger.  That company is the Swedish company myFC.  The breakout product for myFC is the Powertrekk fuel cell charger.

The Powertrekk fuel cell charger represents a significant leap forward in recharging technology and myFC deserves a lot of credit for pioneering the technology.  Just as creating gold from another element is the alchemist’s dream, the holy grail for power supply generation is the ability to use water to generate electricity.  MyFC now offers a hydrogen cell charger that powers USB devices simply by adding water to the cell.  You may use the Powertrekk fuel cell charger to recharge electronic devices or power them.  The Powertrekk fuel cell charger can keep a smartphone like the iPhone powered for days, regardless of the weather.  That makes the Powertrekk fuel charger an asset to those who want to use renewable energy sources, but cannot depend upon the sun.

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When it comes to creative building, most people think of Legos.  But the virtual worlds created by computers actually have far fewer limits than the block toy that most people associate with construction play.  If Legos have an entire adult subculture, it is easy to postulate that someday, a subculture will exist built around Crazy Machines.

Crazy Machines is part puzzle game, part free play building platform.  Viva Media created Crazy Machines for computer enthusiasts ages eight and above.  The single CD-ROM easily installs onto any personal computer that is running Windows Vista or XP or any Macintosh computer running OS X.  Because of how graphics-intensive and color-rich Crazy Machines is, it is highly recommended that you have a good computer monitor hooked up to get the most out of the game.

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With the recent underwhelming performance of Siri, it is clear that no matter how many “smart” devices technology companies create, the keyboard is not in danger of becoming obsolete just yet.  The keyboard remains an essential tool for interfacing with your computer.  As a result, typing skills are still an invaluable skill to have.  Adults, especially, may be reluctant to take a typing class for fear of feeling embarrassed at not knowing such an important skill.  For teenagers and adults who want to learn to type on their own, there is Typing Instructor Platinum software!

Typing Instructor Platinum is a comprehensive typing program that helps users master typing by breaking the process up.  Users learn to type in an academic section for part of the program, but move on to games that involve typing as they become more proficient.  In this fashion, the software guarantees that you will retain the lessons that the software initially teaches.  Typing is a more complicated skill to learn than some people understand.  While typing may be taught in an absolute sense (key positions and hand placements), the act of typing requires a higher level of abstract thinking.  Typing words and sentences is very different than typing individual characters.

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There is a strange irony to the way technology develops independent of how humans will actually interface with technology.  Take, for example, recent high definition televisions and computer monitors.  They create incredible images that are vibrant, bright and interesting . . . and using them for prolonged periods of time can create an all new form of eye strain!  The irony comes in the fact that the manufacturers do not change their technology to prevent this sort of strain, but rather companies emerge to create even more gadgets to compensate for the problem.  So, for those of you suffering from computer eye strain, suffer no longer!  Now there are computer glasses.

Computer glasses are custom-made glasses that are designed to reduce eye strain and prevent headaches associated with using a computer monitor for long periods of time.  While traditional models for eye care treat vision as a function of nearsighted or farsighted, eye care professionals developed computer glasses based on a middle distance.  Because most computer operators have their monitors further away than they would traditionally have a book, yet perform many of the same mental and optical functions they do when reading, their eyes strain to read what is on the screen.  Computer glasses adjust the eye’s focus for this extended range!

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Given that there are so many specialized computer products for everything from weight loss to animal control, it might not surprise you to learn that there is a booming industry of computer devices for nautical use.  Watersports and boat travel have become increasingly sophisticated through the use of specialized computer hardware.  Working near water has unique risks that other occupations do not necessarily have and as a result, professions that work on waterfronts and waterways require specialized equipment.  One of the key pieces of equipment boating enthusiasts require is a specialized monitor.  For that, there are KEPM Marine Displays.

The KEPM Marine Displays come in six different screen sizes, from twelve to twenty-four inches (diagonal measurement).  No matter the screen size, the KEPM Marine Displays share some very important attributes that make them ideal for nautical use.  The first aspect is that all of the monitors come with aluminum frames that are powder coated to resist wear.  Because a computer screen on a moving boat will encounter more dust, debris and other environmental wear from both air and water, the frame of a nautical display must be sturdy and weather-resistant.  KEPM Marine Displays resist the elements as well as sudden shocks, like dropping limited distances.

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It is still early in the new year, so advertising on television still contains reminders to drink responsibly.  That type of advertising virtually disappears right after the Super Bowl until the winter holidays (I suppose the beer manufacturers know that many people consume alcoholic beverages when confronted with either football or family), despite alcohol-related drinking deaths being a year-round problem.  And while there are numerous forms of technology that may help you find where the trendy places to drink are or what the best new alcoholic beverages are, there are few products that can help prevent drinking and driving.  Outside outright prevention, the best weapon against drunk or buzzed driving is education.  For that, HDE has a portable breathalyzer!

HDE’s Digital Breathalyzer is a blood alcohol level tester that is available for consumer use.  The specialized electronic device is very simple to use and runs on 3 AAA batteries (which HDE does not provide).  The Digital Breathalyzer runs on the same principles that the breathalyzers used by law enforcement personnel operate on.  The small black device has a tube into which you breathe and the Digital Breathalyzer determines your blood alcohol content.  Registering from 0.00% BAC up to the almost-lethal .19% BAC, the Digital Breathalyzer is an exceptional tool for preventing the operation a motor vehicle while impaired or influenced by alcohol.

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With all of the emphasis on USB flash drives for portable storage, it is easy to forget that portable hard drives are even a viable option for consumers any more.  Portable hard drives, however, offer you more stable digital storage and, usually, greater capacity than can be found on the less-stable flash drives.  LaCia makes it impossible to deny the power and coolness of portable hard drives, though, with the Rugged Triple USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive!

The Rugged Triple Portable Hard Drive is a state-of-the-art portable hard drive from LaCia, one of the leading computer hardware manufacturers concerned with computer security.  LaCia is synonymous with data protection the world round and the Rugged Triple may well be their masterpiece product.

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One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions in the United States is to make a commitment to lose weight or improve your health through better management of your diet.  To that end, there are a lot of impressive ways that technology can help you in your fight to lose weight.  Sites like CalorieCount and devices like the DietMate Weight Loss Computer can be real assets if you are trying to lose weight.  But, if you do not want to buy a new computer device or if you eat out a lot, those products may not work well for you.  For you, there is the YumPower app!

YumPower is an application for smartphones from HealthPartners.  The premise of the application is ridiculously simple; when you tell the app your current location and the type of diet you are on, it finds proximate restaurants to you that will meet your dietary needs.  Even more impressive, YumPower not only indicates which restaurants you can eat at, but it informs you of the menu items that meet your dietary needs.  So, for example, YumPower asserts that for those who are on a low calorie diet, Denny’s has nine options for your dining pleasure!

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There have been some truly intriguing combinations of computer devices.  The Sony VAIO Mouse Talk, for example, very cleverly combined a computer mouse with a cell phone.  It takes a lot of imagination to combine a standard computer peripheral with something else to make a new device that is more useful than it is clever.  Inventors risk making something that is more of a gimmick than a worthwhile gadget.  Genius, a Taiwan-based company specializing in devices for the information technology field, managed to create an unlikely combination device that is surprisingly practical with its Ring Presenter.

The Ring Presenter combines a computer mouse with a laser pointer.  This unlikely combination proves to be remarkably useful due to the way that it was designed by Genius.  With a clever ring design, Genius gives you hands-free control of your presentations.  Equally important, the Ring Presenter allows you to control your presentations without having to be at your computer.

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