If you struggle to find room to properly operate your PC mouse, or are not comfortable with the touch pad mouse on your laptop, look for this new pen-sized mouse.

It is obvious that a mouse is necessary for operating a computer. Sometimes, though, it is just difficult to find room to use one on a crowded desk. The touch pads on laptops are also awkward at times when precise drawings or responses are needed.

In the works now is a gadget that will attempt to answer those situations with a solution. The device is built like a typical pen, is usable as a pen with ink cartridges inside, yet there is a detachable receiver that will plug into a USB port. This will transform the pen into a wireless mouse.

While the three buttons will still be found on this mouse, the scrolling wheel has not been included. This will limit the diversity of the gadget. It will be geared more towards general computer use as it stands, rather than more graphic design type uses.

The pen-sized mouse is a definite future “must have” gadget for the traveler that does not like using a touch pad on their laptop. It will allow an accessory mouse to be carried in a pocket or briefcase along with other pens, and be immediately useful when it is plugged in to the computer. Plus it just looks so 007 cool.

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Exmocare has just released the BT2 - a wireless wearable sensor device. Its dimensions are: 45mm x 40mm x 17mm. The BT2 primarily monitors heart rate and heart variability. Internal tests give the BT2 95% accuracy against clinical ECGs. Exmocare’s BT2 also monitors skin conductance, skin temperature, and relative movement. It can transmit this information via Bluetooth for more than 18 hours without needing to be recharged. If the BT2 is connected to a computer via a USB port, it can continuously transmit its readings. Exmocare’s BT2 takes one hour to be fully charged. The BT2 wearer can view his readings on his PC using the BT2 Control Panel. The Control Panel checks his physiological and emotional readings for dangerous situations and automatically alerts the website.

Exmocare provides powerful Evaluation Kit Software so users can see the BT2 in action. Doctors or researchers are able to view the BT2 gathered data in real time. The Emotional Interpretation Engine evaluates the data gathered from the BT2 sensors. It is then able to determine the BT2 wearer’s emotional state. Doctors are able to view this information from Exmocare’s Evaluation Kit website. You can monitor emotional and physiological data for patients from anywhere in the world. You are also able to send alerts and status updates directly to the website for transmittal to the BT2 wearer.

Exmocare’s BT2 is an excellent data gathering and monitoring device. The BT2 Control Panel allows you to save, graph and export the data you gain from a BT2. These detailed readings will improve your ability to care for patients.

Exmocare designed the BT2 to show off their patent-pending sensor technology. There are two evaluation packages. The Corporate Evaluation Package costs $15,000 and contains 5 BT2s, Bluetooth Adapters, USB Cables and documentation and the BT2 Evaluation Kit Software. The Standard Evaluation Package costs $5,000 and includes only 2 BT2s. All of other equipment is included in this package. Although the BT2 surpasses the earlier wireless BT1, the Exmocare Empath will be a full featured device that will be a boon for the medical profession. It is scheduled to be released early this year.

Tags: gizmos, cool gadgets, new technology, fun gadgets, new tech

Plantronic’s Explorer 370 Rugged has been designed for the adventure in all of us. That is a bold claim for a Bluetooth headset. Solid construction makes the Explorer 370 water, dust and shock resistant. It is possibly the only headset that meets U.S. Army’s MIL-STD 810 standard for field survival. Military equipment is designed to survive most natural hazards and operator errors while being easy to use. This places the Explorer 370 Rugged in good company indeed.

The Explorer 370 Rugged is available in two colors: charcoal and dark blue. The headset is surrounded by a tough - thick rubber material. The thick rubber encloses the two volume nubs located at the top of the Explorer 370. The charger jack housing is shielded with a rubber cover. A sturdy hinge attached to a plastic loop is on the back of the Explorer headset. Even with the heavy shielding, the Explorer 370 is still lightweight and only slightly larger than other Plantronic Bluetooth headsets.

Not only is the Explorer 370 Rugged similar in size to other Plantronic headsets, it is also similar in programming. A multifunction call button is located on the front panel. A Multicolor LED light is on the right of the call button. Setting up the headset to use is identical to other late model Plantronic headsets. This prevents you from having to learn a new way to set up your headset which saves you time and greatly reduces the product’s learning curve.

The Explorer 370 Rugged lives up to its name. One unit was subjected to drizzling rain and frigid temperatures all night. It was then ran over by a 4300-pound Toyota SUV. Afterwards the Explorer 370 Rugged was drenched in water getting both the earpieces and microphone wet. Although looking severely ragged, the Explorer 370 Rugged continued to function. By surviving all of this, the Explorer is more than ready for standard outdoor use.

Although the Explorer 370 Rugged is incredibly tough, its durability comes at a price. This Bluetooth headset does not come with noise-cancelling circuitry or AudioIQ technology. Both features are found on Plantronic’s Discovery 665. You may have to speak louder on calls with the Explorer 370 over other Plantronic headsets but for toughness, the Explorer 370 cannot be beat.

Logitech describes their new keyboard - the Cordless Desktop Wave - as the new shape of comfort in desktops. Other revolutionary keyboards which promised users greater comfort had one major stumbling block, the keyboarder had to adjust his typing style. Since typing is an intuitive automatic process, this greatly frustrated keyboarders - the revolutionary keyboards required them to think where they were placing their fingers.

Logitech manages to make a comfortable keyboard that does not require the keyboarder to change their typing style. Logitech adds 3 elements to the Cordless Desktop Wave to accomplish this. The first element is a wave keyframe design, and a U-shaped constant curve and contoured, cushioned palm rest. The Cordless Desktop Wave guides the keyboarder’s hands and cradles their fingers. This creates a comfortable typing experience encouraging relaxed finger positioning for long typing sessions. Logitech designed their Cordless Desktop Wave to address the problem of different hand shapes. A gradual wave shaped contour cradles fingers with a shape that supports their actual individual length. The keys on the Cordless Desktop Wave are highest at the A and Enter keys since they are normally hit by the little fingers. Moving inward, the keys decrease in height until reaching the D and K keys. These keys are normally reached by the middle fingers. The keys move up to accommodate the pointer fingers in reaching the G and H keys. 4 mm separates the keyboard’s peaks and troughs. The wave design helps eliminate poor hand and arm positioning. The Cordless Desktop Wave keyboard has a 5-degree curve that allows keyboarders’ hands to open up naturally instead of having to bend the wrist. Logitech strives to reduce the incidents of Carpels Tunnels Disease with this feature. Even the space bar has its height adjusted so that it meets the fingers. This makes it easier to hit like the rest of the keys on the Cordless Desktop Wave. A comfortably designed mouse complements Logitech’s Wave keyboard. The mouse features pixel precise laser tracking and a rubber grip. Logitech designed the Cordless Desktop Wave keyboard and mouse with extended battery life. The battery can last up to 15 months for the keyboard and 6 months for the mouse. LED indicators inform you when the batteries are running low. Logitech’s new Cordless Desktop Wave keyboard will be a delight to computer users everywhere. Although not as cool as a flexible keyboard, Logitech’s new keyboard will soothe fingers on those long typing days.

Threshold, a Petaluma, California privately held company, is developing a set of gadgets that include front-door Web cams, motion sensors and light controls that can talk wirelessly with a control device and a PC. Threshold’s system would allow people to automate tasks like timing interior lights, monitoring the front door while on vacation, or keeping track of their energy footprint. Threshold was founded three and a half years ago by a former Nokia GM.

Threshold built its reputation in the home automation field by developing OneNet. OneNet is an open-source protocol for wireless networking in residences or small businesses. Threshold designed the protocol in early 2007 as an alternative to proprietary wireless standards like Z-Wave or Inseteon.

OneNet was a stepping stone for the forward thinking folks at Threshold. They developed the protocol so that it can ultimately make small, low-cost devices that could run on OneNet’s specs. “The chip set for OneNet,” according to James Martin, Threshold CEO, “can be made for between $1 and $2 and includes a wireless range of 300 feet indoors. In contrast, Zensys chipset costs an estimated $2 and has a wireless range of 80 feet in the home. The chip set for the industrial standard ZigBee cost as much as $7.”

Threshold’s next step was to develop an automatic device-configuration system called ConfigSpot. This system will tie into Threshold’s product line that currently under development. ConfigSpot allows buyers of Threshold gadgets, to add a new device to their home network without having to read a manual. ConfigSpot appears as a blue dot on the top of the devices. Users arrange the dots so that they are touching each other. The device will then be automatically installed and configured with security settings.

Threshold is not trying to have a huge technological breakthrough in the home security market. Their goals are take existing concepts and make them affordable to a much larger segment of the population. Threshold’s goal is to offer wireless home security gadgets in Walmart and Sears. The core component for their upcoming system will be a home controller. This device should sell for approximately $300. The home controller is a wireless base station that will control all of the Threshold devices within the user’s home. Other devices will be reasonably priced so that users can add them at their convenience. Threshold even plans to combine the controller and several other devices into a $500 starter kit to get home owners started.

There is a market for Threshold new security devices. It remains to be seen how secure and easy to install the devices will be. Threshold’s connect the dot wireless setup would be something to behold.

You can purchase Parrot’s latest offering - the Seven Inch DF7220 Wireless Photo Frame - for only $144.95. This wireless photo frame comes with SD card reader, Bluetooth and USB interfaces. The DF7220 continues the push to bring tech gadgets into PC-less homes. Although you can drag and drop via a USB connection with a PC, the DF7220 easily accepts memory cards directly from digital cameras. Bluetooth devices are the easiest. Your pictures are wirelessly transferred into the DF7220 Photo Frame. Unlike its similarly priced competitors, the DF7220 provides users with multiple input methods. This great for people who only have a cell phone or digital camera - you can download your photos into the DF7220.

Parrot’s DF7220 Wireless Photo Frame can hold as many as 300 digital photos. The DF7220 can display even more photos when a memory card is attached. It can display up to 32,768 colors on a Color LCD screen with 410 x 234 pixels. Unlike its competitors, Parrot’s DF7220 handles both JPG and GIF photo formats. You have full control over a photo’s brightness.

Ease of use is the Parrot’s DF7220 greatest strength. Simply plug the frame into an available wall outlet and you are ready to add photos. Your downloaded photos are automatically adjusted to fit the 7-inch frame. The DF7220’s back panel allows you to arrange your photos, create a slide show, and even delete unwanted photos. You can rotate the frame to adjust for vertical or horizontal pictures.

Sometimes the “small features” define a great gadget. Parrot shows their concern for energy conservation with the DF7220. You can program the photo frame to show photos at a predetermined time or allow the DF7220’s sensors to shut it off when it gets dark. Auto-shut off does that for the DF7220. The cost of needless running photo frames and other gadgets at night adds up over time. The DF7220 saves you both money and energy with this feature. Competition is fierce among Digital Photo Frame companies. Parrot separates itself from the pack with a quality product - the DF7220 Wireless Photo Frame - that provides more features for your money.