Gear Lover - by Craig Hill

The SkiGym simulator looks like it's going for realism rather than the silly fun offered by the Wii, but some people probably want an accurate depiction of brief exhilaration before the inevitable faceplant.

The SkiGym hooks up to a PC to use the included game Alpine Ski Racing, or it can be used as a standalone gym. The game includes 32 different courses from 18 real-world mountains, just to add to the realism. It's available for a bank account-crushing $2300, which if I'm not mistaken could purchase a pretty sweet ski trip, but if you're loaded and scared of crashing, give it a look.

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Posted By: KC Hill - Category: Computers, Fitness, Home, Visual

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The Vital Jacket - a wearable garment for monitoring health and fitness

May 8th 2008 23:15

The Vital Jacket is quite simply, state-of-the-art stuff and something that you would imagine supremely fit health and fitness fanatics to be wearing in the year 2020.

The jacket is fitted with a hi-tech vital signs monitoring system that joins textiles with microelectronics to continuously monitor electrocardiogram (ECG) wave and Heart Rate for different fitness, high performance sports, security and medical applications.

Originally conceived for different clinical purposes such as hospitals for acquiring, storing and analysing (online or offline) several physiological signals such as ECG and heart rate, respiration, oxygen saturation, body activity and posture and body temperature, the production version has been extended to include normal life scenarios. All the data collected from the Vital Jacket is stored in a SD memory card for posterior analysis on the HWM Desktop application delivered with the device. This allows long term monitoring and users to define heart rate limits while a vibration alarm embedded in the T-Shirt can be used to alert the user of any changes to the predefined limits.

Elite sportsmen/women and patients which require long term monitoring of their physiological signals will be best suited for this garment. [vitaljacket.com]

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Fitness

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USB Exercising Mouse

April 29th 2008 00:07

USB Typing enhancer

The USB Mouse with a difference

Most USB toys tend to entertain more than they exude a practical application, the USB exercising mouse from crazyaboutgadgets.com is an exception. Sure the little rodent peddles away on his bike to provide giggles but what powers him up is your typing speed. The more words you type in per minute, the faster the little varmint goes.

An LCD screen in the front keeps tabs on your output and even delivers a daily total for you to try and best. Less formal and rigid than any number of typing tutor software packages, this is a clever way of getting the children to accelerate their keyboard knowledge.

Actually forget the kid’s, I’m sure most of us adults would find a simple pleasure in coaxing the speedy Gonzalez cyclist to reach terminal velocity.

Technical Specifications; (From crazyaboutgadgets.com)

• Requires 2 x AA Batteries (Included)
• Compatible with Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP

Video of the USB Exercising Mouse

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Fitness, Gadgets, Toys, Video

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Speeding with ishoes

February 7th 2008 03:50

Speeding with ishoes

ishoes

Ever find walking to much of an effort and the idea of running somewhere is met with same fear that most associate with a killer shark. Since the dawn of motorised transport and before, technology has been looking for more efficient means of personal travel.

Now comes the advent of ishoes. Looking like a miniature go cart that straps to your feet this motorised footwear may redefine the way we travel short distances.

From the ishoes website:
“The inventor of the iShoes, Ilya Kaganovich is from Plymouth, Minnesota. On a trip to New York, he thought of a new way to get around town: motorized shoes. With the help of his brother, Boris Kaganovich, an aerospace engineering student, they developed prototypes to test the concept.”

Manufactured to be portable and lightweight, specifically engineered for easy user balance and minimal strain, they may appear cumbersome but the buzz is positive. Still looking for investors and distributors the product and accessories are available for purchase from ishoes.com

Vital statistics from ishoes.com:
- Top speed of 13.5mph

- A123 Lithium-ion battery pack

- Recharge in 2 hours

- Colson Sure Grip wheels

- 11.8lbs for the pair

- $599.99 USD

Here is an amateur video showing the ishoes in use – still looks a little dangerous for my liking.

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Fitness, Gadgets, Video

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Cinema Glasses.

February 5th 2008 00:06

Glasses through Celluloid Lens

The Zeiss Cinemizer Movie Glasses

Innovations in the way we experience and receive our digital media entertainment is moving faster than Big Blue on an international server. Now comes Cinemizer video eyewear from the Carl Zeiss school of logical optical electronics progression.

The plan is that you “will be able to watch any movie stored on your ipod, anytime and anywhere.” (Or is that any wear?)

Boasting an assortment of colours in one basic style, the sports cut makes them look more durable than they may really be. As a movie lover this idea sounds like it has potential and at a cost of around $AUS600 it may be worth the gamble investing in a pair once they have had some consumer road testing.

Here are some FAQ’s from the official zeiss.com website, including the release date.

Can all video-capable iPods be connected to the
cinemizer?
Yes. The cinemizer is compatible with iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod with Video, and iPod nano (3rd Generation).

Is the cinemizer also compatible with the iPhone?
With the current connector, we do not recommend using the cinemizer with the iPhone as there is no official certification as yet. Compatibility to the iPod and iPhone is established through an authentication chip in the connector of the cinemizer. Currently, the cinemizer is certified for video-capable iPods and comes with a corresponding connector. There will be a corresponding connector and clip for the cinemizer as soon as certification for the iPhone is received.

Is the cinemizer also compatible with other multimedia players, DVD players and game consoles?
Yes. You only need a 4-pin, 3.5 mm A/V phone jack (see technical note). Connect the cable to the jack on the battery box. An iPod should not be connected. You can also remove the iPod connector to get a flat battery box.

Can the cinemizer also play movies from a computer?
If you would like to use a video source other than the iPod, you need a standard 3.5 mm, p-pin AV plug (see technical note) and possibly a corresponding adapter cable, e.g. for the TV port of the graphic card on your computer. It is not possible to use a USB cable. An iPod should not be connected. You can also remove the iPod connector to get a flat battery box.

What is the resolution on the cinemizer?
Both displays on the cinemizer have resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.

Can eyeglass wearers use the cinemizer?
Yes. You can select a diopter setting between 3.5 and -3.5 on your cinemizer.

Can I see anything through the video eyewear while I am using the cinemizer?
No. It is not possible to see through the glasses because the housing accommodates the optics and technology. You will only be able to look out below the lower edge of the glasses e.g. to operate the iPod.

Can I already buy the cinemizer?
The cinemizer will be available in Germany at selected GRAVIS outlets beginning in February/March 2008.

Please visit zeiss.com for more information.

Here is a promo spot for the Zeiss Cinemizer

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Fitness, Gadgets, Toys, Video

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Panasonic Joba: Horseback Riding Fitness Machine

October 20th 2007 04:00

The Panasonic Joba horseback riding fitness machine is one clever piece of equipment.

Developed by Japanese tech gurus, the machine mimics the moments of a horse to act as a core trainer by maximising the strength of the core body's abdominal, oblique and lower back muscles.

This machine is a god send for those that normally hate strenuous physical exercise because it minimises joint stress, impact and aerobic demand since you just physically sit on it and let it work its magic.

By mimicking the movement(s) of horse riding, the user is required to work various muscle groups to maintain balance thus building core and thigh strength. Users can select 9 levels of difficulty which varies the angle and speed of which the machine moves.

Other health benefits even include burning calories and increasing basal metabolism!

The Panasonic Joba is a fantastic piece of fitness equipment that allows you to sit and exercise in the comfort of your own living room while watching your favourite TV shows.

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Fitness

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