The WISE will be in orbit for the next nine months, snapping a photo every 11 seconds to map the entire universe in infrared. Eventually it'll cover the entire sky 1.5 times over.

It'll be looking for any objects that have a potential of hitting Earth as well as distant objects such as brown dwarfs and far-away galaxies shrouded in dust. Also, alien spacecraft. I mean, duh. [CNN, image via]

Supposedly if the tattoo has changed, either by laser removal, adding more ink or even surgery, the infrared cameras can pick up on the change, and actually illustrate what the original design once looked like. It'd prove invaluable for detectives seeking criminals who may've tried disguising themselves, though reports of cameras detecting wigs and fake mustaches are still sadly unfounded. [TechRadar]

It's unclear how the IR heating works. Does it heat everything around the unit? Just bodies? Just water-filled bodies? How about a glass of water? Can you keep a drink warm by placing it on top? How about newspapers? T-Shirts? Underwear? At the very least, you'll always have a speaker handy when it becomes available in January 2010. [Iradium via Trendir via Unpluggd]

The sidewalk in front of the store has been fitted with small infrared lights, and the installation with infrared cameras; this is how Sniff, an art project designed by Karolina Sobecka and Jim George, knows where its audience is, and can anticipate which direction they're moving.

Some might see a playful interactive exhibit here, but I see something more insidious. Walking by confused, platter-eyed puppies every once in a while is a part of city life—each time you do it, you make an easy—but still present—decision not to buy that dog that evidently loves you more than anything, for some reason. With Sniff, you don't have a choice: he seems to like you, but you physically can't take him home; likewise, there no risk that your walkby buddy is going to get incinerated at a shelter, because he isn't real. Technology, you've stolen the richness from our relationships to dogs that aren't ours. Thanks. [Sniff via Urlesque via Neatorama]

The Price

Available later this month for $30.

What's Good

I've never hunted actual ducks, but I would imagine that the real experience offers up a similar (albeit more intense) mixture of fleeting thrills, unpredictability and satisfying violence as the game—except this way you don't actually have to kill anything. Plus the action sounds the gun makes when pumping the forearm and pulling the trigger are a nice touch.

What's Bad

As I mentioned earlier, this game is fun in short increments. The typical flight lasted anywhere between 5 and 15 seconds depending on how I set the directional control pad near the tail. As you can see in the videos above, setting the tab for a straighter flight tends to keep the duck up in the air longer while setting it more to the left or right results in shorter, more compact flights. Either way, the flights were inconsistent and it was difficult to get hits before the duck glided naturally to the ground. They say you can play this game indoors, and that's probably true if "indoors" happens to be a gymnasium.

You will break Duck Hunter. Seriously, even if you didn't get tired of the game after a few hours of flying, you will probably break it well before that. The infrared gun feels cheap and the bird is nothing more than a piece of styrofoam with a few bits of plastic and wings that have about the same tensile strength as masking tape. Every time I pushed the duck down on the charging post located on the barrel of the gun I thought I would snap something. And that happens a lot because you need to charge it for 10 seconds after each flight.

The Verdict

The $30 price tag isn't a fortune, but that's probably more than you want to spend on something that will end up forgotten or broken in a few weeks. Early on, there was talk of a premium, $40 version that could be remotely controlled by a second person—I'm not sure what happened with that, but it might have been a worthwhile upgrade.

Definitely feels like a live action version of the Duck Hunt NES game.

Gun sounds and the mid-air "stumbles" when the duck is hit are a nice touch.

Flights are inconsistent. Patterns are hard to contain, so it is best used in a large open space.

The equipment feels cheap and fragile.

Sharp, at the request of Japan's National Institute of Informatics, has developed a method to ruin the camcorder footage shot by pirates in movie theaters. By placing mega IR lights behind the screen (which are invisible to the human eye, of course), the light can tunnel through tiny holes that are already in screens for the passage of sound.

The result is a wash of light protruding from the screen, ruining camcorder footage. The other result is that, while you'll still never buy a ticket to Wolverine, you'll never get to know how bad the movie really was until, hungover on the couch one afternoon, you catch it on TBS or something. [Fareastgizmos]

Note: Unfortunately, the IR blast won't look nearly as awesome as it does in this photo. I imagine a lame grid of lights, not a reworking by JJ Abrams.

Designed by Korean firm D'strict, the tech is a combination of infrared motion sensing and 3D imagery, pretty much like Microsoft's Project Natal. It's not quite as seamless as Natal, but given that it's main purpose is just to add a little flash to a cellphone announcement, we're awfully impressed—and distracted. Check out the video below for a clip of one of the announcements, and you'll see what we mean. [Fast Company]

Samsungmobile Jet making film from d'strict on Vimeo.

The Energizer Hard Case Tactical Flashlight 2AA features a 70-lumen white LED, along with four additional LEDs including red, blue, green and infrared—a selection of fine lighting choices for incognito map reading or simply an impromptu infiltration disco.

Droppable from 15 feet and including a swiveling head with a range of motion of nearly 180 degrees, it's pretty neat for a flashlight, but it'll set you back $125. And you can call me cheap, but I just don't assassinate world leaders in the dead of night often enough to justify the purchase. [Popular Mechanics via Newlaunches]

The Samsung SCH-W760 is a pretty typical slider for Korea (the only place it will most likely be released), but it features a 3MP camera that can shoot video calls in the dark. The system uses an old technology, infrared, to capture your black and white video transmission in the absence of visible light.

Just don't do anything we wouldn't do, you young adults of Korea. In other words, always pretend that your end of the video transmission is broken and that you've "never done this before." [Telecomes Korea via unwired view]

Probably not, you're right.

Anyway, the program, as you may know, is called Google Book Search, and it's pretty simple: Google is right now busily scanning as many books as it can get its hands on and adding the images to a search database. It's just another way the company is slowly taking over the world, but who cares—you can click links in the books when they mention locations and Google Maps will take you there!

But on their way to putting public libraries out of business, Google ran into a decidedly low-tech problem when scanning the physical books for uploading into their new digital medium. Basically, the character recognition software requires a relatively flat 2D image of the text to work 100% properly. The books' bindings aren't cooperating, however, as they cause the pages to arch upward on either side. This has made the process take far longer than our future overlords would have liked.

Luckily, Google knows a thing or two about frickin' laser beams (but thankfully not how to attach them to the heads of sharks—yet). By casting an infrared beam over each book, the Google team can use infrared cameras to map the 3D shape and filter out the distortion with some nifty error correction software. And now the books are just flying off the shelves and into the digital ether. [New Scientist]

In order for the system to work, a receiver must be placed on top of the screen to capture pen movements, but the result is a decent-sized screen for your doodles. That sounds like a pretty handy device for around $104. [Hanwha via Akihabara News]

Designed by Dr Gordon Dougal, apparently just a GP, the helmet bombards the patient with intense waves of infrared light for a few minutes a day to stimulate growth of brain cells. The device will undergo clinical trial 'soon', but the doctor sees promise:

Sir Terry used the helmet for about three months. Over that period there was a small improvement. Not significant, which was a bit disappointing, but it didn’t get any worse.

One mildly positive report is basically meaningless when it comes to treatments like this, but for the sake of the good Knight (and the aesthetic future of medicine—look at this thing!) I hope it works. [Dailymail via BoingBoing Gadgets]

The LightSpeed system exploits free-space optics—the ability to pass data between two points via an optical beam. The method usually involves lasers, but this system uses eye-safe infrared LEDs, similar to those used in TV remotes, says Leo Volfson, president of Torrey Pines Logic, which created LightSpeed. “The binocular has an attachment that fits over the ocular side,” Volfson says. “It produces a beam that comes out of the right eye of the binocular. On the left side is a receiver. If you look at me and I look at you, we’ll be able to talk or send information.” Range is determined by the strength of the optics. Unlike radio-wave transmissions, data transfer through the LED beam is undetectable.

There is no word on how much these things might cost, but the Volfson believes that his product has potential outside of the defense industry. That's right—bird watcher's worlds are about to get rocked by technology. [Popular Mechanics]

Whereas your typical night vision system operates in the visible light and near infrared ranges (0.4 to 1.0 micrometres), a forward looking infrared (FLIR) is an imaging device capable of capturing infrared radiation in real time, assembling a video image that pilots can use under any weather and light conditions.

A forward looking infrared (FLIR) is an imaging device that can capture infrared radiation in real time.

The whole package includes and interface distribution (I don't know what those ports are, but they don't look like your mom's USB ports), a precision pointing system with infrared imager unit, a hand control unit, and the box and manuals. [eBay]

As you can see in the schematics, the fire-control system uses thermal optic, day-sight, laser range finder, compass and IR light to exactly measure the distance to the target, programming each of the rounds' fuses so it explodes next to the target using a wireless connection. According to the US Army, this gives maximum destruction power and minimum collateral damage, while allowing to save barriers that previously didn't allow to reach the target.

The capability to program the rounds is what allows this weapon to go "around objects." If, for example, there's a sniper hidden behind a trench, the soldier can program each round so it explodes just above the target. The bullets will explode at that exact range, taking down the target thanks to their air bursting power.

The XM25 is capable of firing an air-bursting round out to 600 meters with a 360-degree explosive radius, all with extreme precision according to testers. However, each round doesn't have to be lethal: There will be two kind of non-lethal rounds (blunt and airburst) to neutralize enemies without killing them.

The new system is also user friendly. Apparently, each type of bullet—high explosive air bursting, armor piercing, door breaching, anti-personnel, non-lethal—is color-coded:

All this technology comes at a price, however. The US Army will have to pay $25,000 for each weapon, plus $25 for each programmable 25mm round. The rounds, however, will be absolutely free of charge for terrorists or anyone at the other side of the battlefield, bad guy or passerby. [Defense Tech]

The Noveon cooks onychomycosis (toenail fungus) using two near-infrared wavelengths, but leaves healthy tissue untouched, as seen in this diagram. [Medgadget]

Kiss her on the cheek when you slide into bed and she'll bury her face in the pillow. Hmmm, that sounds wrong. She moves into a spoon position if you're on your side, and snuggles up beside you when you're on your back. Cute.

There are, however, two drawbacks to Drew's invention, which he was showing off at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program Spring Show at Tisch School of the Arts: first, she's only 2D, and second, she's fully clothed. Some guys may want to wait for version 2.0. [New York Magazine]

A medical team from Sunderland and Durham Universities in the UK believe this could help combat the disease, having already tested the idea on mice. In that test, the mice gained better learning ability afterwards. A human test will go ahead in the summer.

Current therapy for Alzheimer's sufferers doesn't correct for cell-loss, which is why this technology may be promising. Infrared treatment, thought to stimulate cell re-growth, was developed first for cold sores (better known by snickering bloggers as "mouth herpes") and according to doctors at the research company Virulite, shining IR lasers at Alzheimer's sufferers led to improvements in eight out of nine cases.

The helmet design uses the same principle, and its trials on real people will use levels of IR equivalent to sunshine in the hope of reversing some of the crippling damage caused by this disease. No word yet when we'll be able to use TV remotes to try and stave off Alzheimer's at home. [BBC News and Daily Mail]

The lesson? From here on out, Blakeley takes a cab. And he stays the fuck away from our train set. [theregister via boingboing] [image]

New software will come bundled with the mouse, removing the need for an authentication server, like with previous Fujitsu biometric systems. Fujitsu are calling the system Palm Secure, and it is launching at a cost of ¥30,000 (about $260). [Japan Corp]

A cat, for instance, would be followed by LEDs as it walked across the table. Once sitting, only its moving parts would be responded to, such as its tail. It's good that the table only uses 35 Watts of power when fully active, or else mesmerized guests would run your coffers absolutely dry. Each 62" long, 31" wide, and 18" high table is made to order and starts at around $2,500. Check out the gallery if you're comfortable with the idea of a table entertaining guests better than you can. [Because We Can via coolest-gadgets]

FUJIFILM LAUNCHES LATEST IN LINE OF INFRARED DIGITAL CAMERAS

Fujifilm IS Pro Makes it Easier for Law Enforcement Agencies to Enter Into UV and IR Investigative Photography

Valhalla, NY, July 13, 2007 - Following up on the success of the FinePix S3 Pro UVIR and IS-1 infrared digital cameras, Fujifilm today announced the IS Pro, the latest in a line that has proved popular with technical, law enforcement, medical research and scientific communities.

The IS Pro utilizes Fujifilm's Super CCD Pro and Real Photo Processor Pro technology to see light from the ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) portion of the spectrum (approx. 380nm - 1000nm). It also benefits from compatibility with Nikon F mount lenses and Nikon iTTL flash systems, making it a cost effective solution for law enforcement agencies that already have Nikon components.

In addition, and to accommodate the growing needs of its specialized customers, Fujifilm has produced several system packages for the IS Pro digital SLR. These system packages range from the basic camera kit to advanced full system kits, along with a new set of UV and IR filters.

Dark opaque filters that cover the lens often render the viewfinder useless, so the IS Pro carries specialized features useful for investigative photography, such as a special quick activate one touch Live Image Preview (black and white) mode that can be activated by pressing the "Display/Back" button for three seconds. This makes fast access to Live Preview mode much easier when used on forensic copy stand tables in dark room environments. Its Mirror Lock-Up and Shutter Delay features also aid in reducing image blur during long exposures. It also has a specially formulated protective CCD glass filter that was designed to help protect the Super CCD Pro from dust and general maintenance damage while maximizing its UV and IR gathering potential.

"We're very excited to be offering this highly-anticipated camera to customers here in the U.S.," said Darin Pepple, consumer and professional marketing manager with Fujifilm's Electronic Imaging Division. "With our different kits, at different price levels, we are making it easier for law enforcement agencies to achieve a quick, cost-effective solution for entering into UV and IR investigative photography."

Live Image CCD Preview
Fujifilm pioneered Live Image CCD Preview for DSLRs. The IS Pro provides a 30-second Live Image CCD preview to the camera's LCD monitor directly from the imaging sensor in color or black and white. To further improve the process, the Live Image Preview can be digitally magnified and brightness adjusted to improve focusing accuracy or to compensate for light intensity. The video image can also be viewed on an NTSC/PAL monitor, or on the PC over the camera's USB 2.0 connection directly from Fujifilm's optional HyperUtility HS-V3 software.

Fujifilm's Post Capture Face Detection
The camera can be used for conventional daylight photography by adding a UVIR cut filter to the lens. And with Fujifilm's Post Capture Face Detection, after capture faces are automatically zoomed in during playback to confirm focus and exposure of up to 10 faces per image. Skin color quality is dependent on the brand of UVIR cut filter used.

Fujifilm IS Pro Digital SLR Kits
The four kits available in the U.S. come with a free online introduction to Fujifilm Forensic Infrared Photography from BioMed Studios, with additional courses available for a fee.

1. $2599.95 Body Only - Camera Body; Battery; Charger

2. $2699.95 Basic System Kit - Camera Body; Battery; Charger; AC Adapter; HyperUtility HS-V3 Software; CCD Dust Blower

3. $3799 Forensic Filter System Kit - Camera Body; AC Adapter; Battery Charger; AC Adapter; HyperUtility HS-V3 Software; CCD Dust Blower; Peca Products 67mm Filter Kit with 7 IR, 1 UVIR (18a), 1 UVIR Blocking, three step rings: 55-58, 58-67, 62-67; 15' Combo USB/Firewire Cable (S3/S5 Compatible); Rubber Camera Body Armor by Made Products

4. $4999 Forensic System Kit with Zeiss Lens - Camera Body; AC Adapter; Battery Charger; Zeiss 50mm Macro 1:2 F2.0 Lens with IR focusing offset marking (Not suitable for UV photography. UV requires a quartz UV lens for optimal UV performance); HyperUtility Software HS-V3 Software; CCD Dust Blower; Peca Products 67mm Filter Kit with 7 IR, 1 UVIR (18a), 1 UVIR Blocking, three step rings; 55-58, 58-67, 62-67; 15' Combo USB/ Firewire Cable (S3/S5 Compatible); Rubber Camera Body Armor by Made Products

UV and IR Filters
Two of the kits listed above contain a collection of forensic UV and IR filters from Peca Products, Inc. They are the most common, yet hard to find set of filters that most forensic specialists use during investigations.

"Dealers are often asked to suggest filters for use with our cameras" said Darin Pepple. "Now that guesswork is gone, and purchasing a forensic camera system has been simplified."

For more information on Peca Products filters, please visit http://www.ir-uv.com/IR-UV%20Filters.htm

Improving Workflow
An optional IS Pro firmware upgrade due out later this Autumn will support in camera TIFF file formats in three resolutions. In addition, Fujifilm USA will offer an optional Bar Code Scanner option that allows for alpha-numeric data read by the bar code reader directly into the IS Pro's image file as part of the EXIF header in JPEG, TIFF and RAW file formats. This data can later be recalled so that images are synched to databases using special software programs.

Bar codes of driver's licenses, employee IDs, automotive VIN tags, credit cards, evidence tags, or any object with a bar code can be recorded directly to the camera. The same can also be accomplished with a magnetic card reader. Fujifilm provides an optional kit ($479.95) that includes a fully programmed and ready to use Symbol/Motorola LS2208 bar code reader with RS232 Kit and AC Adapter, Nikon MC-35 GPS/Serial Camera Adapter, Kingston 2GB Compact Flash Card, Scan to Reprogram Setup Card, and Tenba carrying case.

Fujifilm's optional Hyper Utility Software HS-V3 version 1.1 enables tethered shooting direct to a MAC or PC, with control from the camera or computer via a USB 2.0 connection. This option significantly speeds image capture and quality verification. Its Split Screen Mode allows photographers to fine tune the focus through a series of quick succession shots. This feature is highly useful during very low light UV photography where Live Image Preview becomes difficult. In addition, Live Image Preview from the computer is possible via its USB connection. Using the PC Capture mode can reduce or limit the photographer's exposure to harmful UV light by placing distance between the photographer and the object being photographed. Advanced RAW file conversion to JPEG, TIFF 8 bit and TIFF 16 bit is also provided by the HyperUtility HS-V3 software.

The robomutt comes with 2GB of built-in flash memory, probably for scripts and pictures. With Windows XP and its b/g wireless capabilities, we're hoping it can just toss its snaps to Windows-based PCs around the house. What you might end up with is a cool gallery of your life as seen by your RobuDOG. That also means it will be able to use Windows programs geared toward robots, like Microsoft's Robotics Studio.

The RobuDOG uses a 500MHz AMD Geode LX800 processor, 512 MB of internal RAM, both an Ethernet and a USB port, and a speaker allowing it to bark. Developed in France, the RobuDOG is going to cost around 3,200 Euros, so expect to pay upwards of $4,400 to get it in the States. [WindowsForDevices via GearLog]

Product Page [Via Coolest-Gadgets]

They come in three sizes—keychain, pocket, and radar detector—and all are able to measure anywhere between -76 degrees F to 938 degrees F. Word of advice: If you're pointing this at something and it's reading 938 degrees F, back away. – Jason Chen

Largest Size [X-Treme Geek]

Pocket Size [X-treme Geek]

Keychain Size [X-treme Geek]

How'd that one about George Michael's latest release go again? – Jason Chen

Product Page [Grandinroad via Red Ferret]

The fact that this trash can opens its greedy little mouth at your impending garbage deposit is undoubtedly cool, but don't be fooled by the photo—it does not allow you to shoot red laser beams out of the palm of your hands. And for the $430 price tag, it really ought to. –Dana Bushman

i.Master Wesco Wastecan [via Popgadget]

After getting your wine at just the right warmness or coldness, you're free to chug it down and realize you spent fifty bones on this thing. Seek help, wino. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Nuvovino via Uncrate via Crave]

It has a 10.7x opitcal zoom, ISO of up to 1600 and ships in February for $899. Don't be surprised if you see this pop up on your favorite iteration of CSI. – Jason Chen

Fujifilm Finepix IS-1 [LivingRoom]

First, stick a USB connector on there. Then, take out the infrared filter so you can record infrared in the dark. The last step? Buy some Radioshack infrared LEDs as a light source, glue them on the front, and you're in business.

The finished setup looks RIDICULOUS, but gets the job done. Christmas is coming early this year for this young man. Result after the jump.

– Jason Chen

CVS Camcorder based night vision [Brandfe - Thanks Elliot!]

Fujifilm is also targeting science, medical and fine art disciplines with the camera, but doesn't mention that infrared photography gives you the ability to see through people's clothes. Available next month, it'll cost you $1800 to become a private eye, or perhaps find your way into the poky for taking high-tech up-skirt shots. It's the first digital SLR camera that may require new legislation to be introduced along with its rollout. – Charlie White

Product Page [Fujifilm]