Gizmodo: relaxation

The Headtime Scalp Massager Relaxes You While Making You Look Like a Moron

Adam Frucci — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

There's no real chance of retaining any dignity while wearing the Headtime scalp massager, a gadget that looks like an oversized bike helmet. And call me crazy, but the inside of this thing kind of scares me.

I mean, I'm sure it does wonders to your scalp while functioning properly, but aren't you worried about your hair getting caught up in any of the moving parts in there? That would be very, very bad. And if you're running around frantically looking for help as this gigantic helmet slowly eats your head, you'll look even crazier. I'll continue to let my scalp exist un-massaged, thanks very much. [Aving via Engadget]

Sauna Gondola Car is Perfect Mix of Snow, Skiing and Nudity

Kit Eaton — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:15:00 EDT

Screw jacuzzi-ing on top of Mont Blanc, or shrinking your unmentionables in a freezing ice sauna, this is the best kind of winter sport relaxation: a ski gondola has been converted into a sauna. Ohboy yes, you can dangle free and naked over a snowy mountain in the Lapland resort of Ylläs. Après-ski? Nah... with passengers like these two it'd be more like instead-of-ski. Much more fun. [TheTelegraph]

Scientists Create "The World's Most Relaxing Room"

Sean Fallon — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:45:00 EDT

The credit crunch and the hectic pace of modern life has inspired Professor Richard Wiseman to create what he believes is "the world's most relaxing room" at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, just north of London. His research led him to invite visitors to lie down on soft matting with lavender scented pillows in a darkened room lit only with "a calming glade-like green light." A simulated blue sky is projected onto the ceiling above while a soundtrack specifically composed for the project by resident Professor of Music, Tim Blinko plays softly in the background.

Visitors to the exhibit were examined before and after their 15-minute stay in the room with heart monitors. Not surprisingly, most experienced a significant reduction in their heart rate. Wiseman hopes that similar facilities will be set up by organizations to combat stress related problems. He noted: "We are interested in helping out the commercial sector but this isn't a commercial exercise. We're not selling a relaxation room, we're selling the idea of relaxation."

Don't get me wrong, something like this would definitely help to reduce stress in the workplace. However, incidents of sleep-related tardiness would skyrocket. [University of Hertfordshire via Psysorg and the Guardian]

10 Stress Busting Gadgets That Help You Unwind From a Long Week at Work

Sean Fallon — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Feeling a little stressed out? Good thing it's Friday—the weekend should offer ample opportunity to unwind. Unfortunately, some of you may be have so much going on that a couple of days off may not do the job. Not to worry, there are plenty of gadgets out there that can help you recover from the stress that a long week at work, a pile of unpaid bills, constant nagging about your "drinking problem" and a mysterious rash can cause.

Stress Toys: Did you know that there are squeezable stress toys for just about any difficult situation? Here are some examples:

I Have a Drinking Problem: The Guinness Stress Pint will help you kick that habit. Available for $4.95. [Guinness]

I'm Sexually Frustrated: Grab a handful of Stressticles squeezable testi-balls and save money on a prostitute. Available for around $10. [Gobaz]

The Copy Machine at Work Sucks: If you can't go "Office Space" on it with a bat, squeezing this copy machine stress toy may be the next best thing. Available for $2.99. [Kleargear]

I Ate a Wheel of Cheese Yesterday and Now I'm Constipated: No problem. Take this toilet stress toy into the bathroom with you and let it work its magic. Available for $1.99. [Office Playground]

A Luxurious Spa Treatment: Perhaps simple stress toys are not enough. What you need to relax is a little time in the spa.

The Wellness Skull: Designed by Dutch artist Atlier Van Lieshout, the Wellness Skull features a small bath in the neck and a sauna in the head. When it is working, steam pours out of the eye sockets. I'm not sure if it is up for sale, but it would definitely be a unique way to unwind. [Project Page]

The Red Diamond Bathtub: What does $47,200 buy you in a bathtub these days? Well, the Red Diamond comes with two retractable waterproof HDTVs, wireless controls via a built-in GSM module, massage functions, a Swarovski crystal-lined champagne holder and a frame made of solid gold. [Red Diamond via Link]

The Energy Cocoon Balance Bathtub: This spa features an infrared sauna, steam sauna, aromatherapy and light therapy functions, hydromassage, airbubble massage and a hand shower in an extremely compact design. [NeoQi via BornRich]

"Massage": Note the quotation marks. When all else fails, you can always turn to products like these to "release" a little "tension."

Fist-Shaped Back Massager: Uh...what? It looks like a cartoon-fist. Ooooh...that's just wrong. Available for $6.88. [Spilsbury]

Massage Pants: The manufacturer claims that these pants have multiple massage modes and an automatic temperature control. What are you supposed to be massaging? Why can you get it only in bulk? Are they assuming you will be planning some sort of kinky massage pants party? [Trade Key]

Human Touch Massage Chairs: These chairs were seen leaving a now-defunct Sharper Image store. Human Touch eh? What are these chairs touching me with exactly? [Link]

Pump-Action Relief... From Stiff Necks

Kit Eaton — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:44:00 EDT

Bless Skymall and its world of wonderful and strangely fascinating gizmos for bringing us this: the portable neck traction device, supposed to help relieve tight muscles and "joint and nerve pressure." Simply place around your neck (that's a worrying start, if you ask me) and "pump the inflation bulb until you feel a comfortable stretch." That'll be somewhere short of popping your head off like an unfortunate Legoman, I guess. Available now, for all you crick-necked blog readers who don't sit at your PC properly, in three neck sizes for $69.98. [Skymall via Random Good Stuff]

Airo Massaging Backpack Soothes Sore Muscles, Doubles as a Turtle Costume

Sean Fallon — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:45:00 EDT

Last year we came across the Rotoflexion massaging backpack, but alas it was only a concept device. However, someone out there was enterprising enough to turn the idea into reality with the Airo—a backpack that can apply massage, vibration, and relaxing heat to sore shoulder and back muscles. Unfortunately, it appears that they failed to make the device into a functional backpack, which seems like a missed opportunity to me. After all, if I am going to walk around looking like a freakin' turtle, I should at least be able to store my books in the thing. [Discovery via BookofJoe via DVICE]

LTK-2000 Therapy Station Tries to Soothe Your Senses All At Once

Kit Eaton — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:01:27 EDT

Sure, there're plenty of gadgets to soothe your troubled soul with smells, lights and sounds— but why buy a bunch of these, when the LTK2000 does it all in one? Once the Therapy Station has calmed your ears with 24 relaxing sound options, a pop-up ring of bright LEDs tries to banish those SAD blues. Aromatherapy scents will waft around you from its built-in heater, while an anion generator cleans up the air. Strangely its designers missed tackling all five senses by omitting a massager and chocolate dispenser, but hey ho. Available for around $395 in Korea at first, we guess it'll be over here soon enough. [Technabob]

RelaxStyle Lamp: Like Tripping at the Bottom of the Sea

Sean Fallon — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:30:51 EST

Need to unwind? The RelaxStyle Room Palette Effect lamp can transport you to a tranquil undersea world at the push of a button. The lamp projects light onto walls or ceilings that resemble undulating waves—giving users the feeling of being submerged in shallow water, looking up into the sunlight. You can even set a timer that will automatically shut the light show down after 120 minutes. That way you can blissfully set adrift into sleep and peacefully pee your pants in the middle of the night. Available for $69. [Japan Trend Shop via Crave via DVICE]

Rotoflexion Massaging Backpack Has Robot Hands to Rub You Down

Adam Frucci — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:10:04 EST

Normally, a heavy backpack is the cause of shoulder and back aches and pains, but not the Rotoflexion Massaging Backpack. No, it's got "strong mechanical hands" on the straps that give you a workover while you tote your laptop around. I'd expect a massaging backpack to just vibrate, which would be enough in itself, but this really takes the idea to the next level. It seems pretty impractical to me, which I suppose is why this mockup of a patent is the only place it currently exists. We need to slap more robotic hands on our consumer products, that's what I think. [Book of Joe]

MC Square X1 Stimulates Brain Waves, Makes You Smarter?

hook — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:42:00 EST

The MC Square X1—a get-smart-quick device—is already huge in Korea. Its makers say it helps you relax and concentrate by targeting your brain's sensory preceptors with light and sound. It looks like a little MP3 player with an accompanying set of video glasses, but instead of displaying video, the glasses transmit pulsing red dots that are synchronized to music or nature sounds. The X1 also includes a voice recorder—so you can listen to your own soothing voice?— plus a miniSD slot for your photos and music.

The device can take you through six different regimens for better sleep, improved concentration, memory improvement and relaxation, each running at about 15 minutes. The inventors say that doctors at University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University—both in Philadelphia—have put the MC Square through real clinical tests. Some studies have shown a 14% increase in memorization after about a week. That is, as long as the thing doesn't give you a seizure: since it is a device that emanates light pulses, MC Square says those who have suffered from seizures in the past should stay away. Ditto for kids under 13. Everyone else should pay $400 for it, in their opinion. [MC Square]

Carry This Hammock With You, But Not Too Far

Charlie White — Fri, 18 May 2007 08:51:19 EDT

It's getting to be hammock season, and we want to assist you in your lazy, hazy and crazy activities for the summer, so what better idea than to show you this Discovery Deluxe Portable Hammock? Well, "luggable" might be a more accurate word, because the thing weighs 22 pounds.

If you can deal with that, it's well over 8 feet long, so it's probably sizable enough to accommodate even the tallest Gizmodian siesta seeker, as long as you don't weigh more than an eighth of a ton. Take the jump for one more pic of this slacker's device in (in)action.

It's those steel frames that make this sucker weigh that hefty 22 pounds. Even so, this hammock is designed for carrying, with a couple of shoulder straps that will help you lug it to that special secluded spot. It's yours for $99.95. – Charlie White

Product Page [Discovery Channel Store] Thanks, Kevin!