Gizmodo: sensor

Kami Kami Sensor Counts Your Kids Chews, No Kidding

Kit Eaton — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:45:30 EST

It's been a long time since I've heard anyone reference the old saying "You must chew every mouthful 15 times"...but those memories of childhood arguments with my parents have just come roaring back when I spotted the Kami Kami chew counter. No, seriously: this gizmo really is a counter that you strap to your kids and it counts how often they're chewing. It emits "encouraging" noises after 30 and 1,000 counts, and comes in two sizes from manufacturer Nitto Kagaku, suitable for younger or middle-school aged kids. Both cost about $110, and are likely Japan-only items. Thank goodness. [JapanToday via Crunchgear]

Black and Decker LightsOut IR Gizmo Turns Lights Off For Lazy, Green Types

Kit Eaton — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:40:00 EDT

My old office used to have those irritating IR-sensor lights, so if you were working late and popped out—say to the loo—for more than a few minutes, you'd be welcomed back to uninviting darkness: now you can have the same facility in your home thanks to Black&Decker's LightsOut. Well, actually it's quite a neat gizmo—it's battery powered, and simply mounts directly over a light switch, which it then throws for you if it doesn't detect movement in front of its sensor. Plus it turns the lights on when you enter. You can even change the "off" preset delay time, up to 30 minutes. Handy if you forget to switch the light off in your garage—like I often do. No word on pricing yet. [NewLaunches]

GE's Battery-Free Sensor is a Breakthrough in RFID Technology

Sean Fallon — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:50:00 EDT

GE's new battery-free sensor could be just the kick in the pants RFID needs to start living up to its potential. The platform uses a conventional RFID tag coated with a chemically or biologically sensitive film that draws power wirelessly from a handheld reading device. Naturally, eliminating on-board batteries means that manufacturers can make smaller sensors (as you can see in the image above) at a lower cost. So, with any luck, this technology will lead to new tracking and info-swapping applications across a wider range of industries. [Gizmag]

RED May Be Making a DSLR Camera

Brian Lam — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:17:59 EDT

The RED camera's Jim Jannard mentions the next generation Mysterium "Monstro" sensor, which be offered as a free upgrade to the Mysterium-X piece shipping in the Epic cam. Then he blows my mind by revealing he's getting into the DSLR race with the same kit. [REDUSER via Engadget, image not of anything remotely made by RED]

DuoFertility Patch Measures Ovulation Timing, No Pee Samples Needed

Kit Eaton — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:44:00 EDT

Finding out when you're ovulating (assuming, you're among the Giz readership with ovaries, and trying to have a baby) may be a lot easier thanks to this upcoming DuoFertility device. Designed by Cambridge Temperature Concepts, a spin-off by Cambridge University PhD students, it consists of a small stick-on patch device that goes under your arm, and a handheld reader.

The patch is a small rubberized gizmo (with a new efficient battery that lasts eight months) and it sticks to your skin and measures your basal body temperature way more accurately than other systems: this temperature rises minutely during ovulation.

When the wireless reader unit gets the info on your temperature change, it then lets you know the best time to try out some baby-making with symbols on its display, or a readout on your PC— it's got a USB connection. Easy peasy, and no pee samples or early wake-ups for manual temp measurements that similar devices require. Human trials are scheduled for next month, and the device may be on sale as soon as the Fall. [Daily Mail via Dvice]

Sensor Tray Lamp Is Pretty, Will Probably Never Hold My Stuff

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 19 May 2008 04:33:21 EDT

Kazuya Koike's Sensor Tray Lamp, an ABS resin and polycarbonate tray which uses four LED lamps to light up when you put something on top, is one of those ideas that would be perfect if you were organized enough to always put your personal stuff on the same place. Knowing me, its cool design—available in sand white, charcoal grey, and wenge brown—would probably disappear in a mountain of unopened mail and bills in its first week here. If you are one of those organized people, however, you may want to buy it for $77. [Ideaco via Apartment Theraphy]

Kodak's 5MP Camphone Sensor Actually Fits in Slim Phones

Brian Lam — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:48:38 EST

What this means: 5MP iPhones without any extra girth. Most of the high end camera phones like the N series Nokias like the N95 and the Sony Ericsson Cybershots have a major drawback of being pretty thick. Kodak's 5MP sensor is build on an incredible 1.4 micron tech and reworking of regular CMOS design, so it fits inside the same case that a 1.75MP CMOS does. Is this just a meaningless stat push? That's not what the rumors are saying.

The Motorola Z12, an important phone for the flagging company, is rumored to have this technology inside. Chances are, that won't be the last, and so I find myself excited to see the light at the end of the grainy-phone-photo tunnel. (And the end of ridiculously sized cellphone like the n93 above.) [Reuters]

Wireless Sensor Monitors Athletic Performance

Charlie White — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:20:05 EDT

Hang this gizmo behind your ear, and it measures your posture, gait and other biomechanical data, perfect for athletes who want to improve their performance. The scientists who created it at Imperial College in London also say it will also be useful to monitor orthopedic patients as they recover from surgery. It can measure step frequency, stride length and acceleration, data that can help trainers enhance the performance of Olympic athletes, for example..

It works by employing a tiny accelerometer, whose data is wirelessly transmitted to a PC with software specially developed to analyze its data. By the time the device released in about a year to 18 months, the developers also hope to extend its range beyond its current 30 feet, and also enable it to monitor heart rate and other vital signs. [Technology Review]

Intelligent Coconuts Working to Stop Airport Noise

msparkes — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:29:40 EDT

Intelligent coconuts are the latest invention to come out of the MIT Media Lab, designed to combat excessive airport noise. They have built-in noise sensors, and will be hung on trees surrounding San Jose International Airport. When they detect a jet coming in louder than it should they use their built-in cellphone to call the airport complaint hotline and leave one of four pre-recorded messages. Check out the clips after the jump.

Sample complaint 1
Sample complaint 2
Sample complaint 3
Sample complaint 4

I can imagine that having to delete hundreds of these every morning from your answerphone could be almost as annoying as living on the flight path of a major international airport. [TripWire]

Five Feet of Green Frankenstein Fun

msparkes — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 05:13:42 EDT

This five-foot-tall animated Frankenstein's monster will move its arms, twist its hips and play spooky noises through its integrated speakers whenever it detects someone walking past. Adults will get a kick out of it, and children will never sleep properly again. The monster is accurate all the way down to the neck bolts and sutured scars, and runs on AC power.

At $199.95 it's a bargain, and you could even use it for Christmas too—just throw a Santa suit on him. Dry ice not included. [Hammacher]

Possessed Book Trick Scares People, Ghosts

msparkes — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 05:07:46 EDT

This toy is shaped like a row of books, and includes a sensor that triggers spooky noises and pushes out one of the books when someone walks past. It might fool someone, although I think that old-style binding may scream in-between all those O'Reilly books on programming. [UberGizmo]

Canon Creates 50-megapixel Sensor, Introducing New File Format to Hold Pics

Jason Chen — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:50:25 EDT

Two bits of news from Canon today. They've just created a prototype of a 50-megapixel CMOS sensor that's twice as sensory as the closest competitor and small enough to fit into DSLRs. Them's crazy talk.

Also, Canon's planning on introducing a new file format to store all its pictures. The format is intended to either replace or supplement JPEG and CR2 RAW, but we're sure this new format will only affect pro shooters. If Canon places this weird file format in consumer point and shoots, the resulting confusing in not being able to view these images will be devastating. – Jason Chen

Report: Canon ponders new camera file format [CNET]

Canon creates 50 megapixel monster [Pocket Lint]

Proximity Sensing Watercooler Knows When You're Thirsty

Jason Chen — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:00:25 EDT

Phileo has just developed a watercooler with "human sensor functionality," which can automatically turn on when it detects that someone's within a 3-meter radius. We're not sure what needs to be turned on in a watercooler other than the heating and cooling—which needs to be on all the time—so we're a bit confused at the practicality of this thing.

However, having just installed a watercooler in our home office, we're huge fans of the idea. Now all we need is to install some plumbing into this desk chair and we're golden. – Jason Chen

Phileo to present its new water purifier featuring human sensor functionality [AVING]

Sittin' in UR Fridge, Protectin' UR Foodz

Travis Hudson — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:56:40 EST

...is what the Fridge Alarm does. No, it won't tell you if one of your friends takes the last brew, but it will let you know if you accidentally leave the door ajar. The Fridge Alarm has a light sensor and an alarm that will sound if the sensor detects light for 30 seconds or longer. It also includes a cutesy little thermometer for proper refrigerator temperature monitoring. $7. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via uberreview]

Wireless Wii Sensor Bar

Jason Chen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 20:30:17 EST

Leave it to third party manufacturers to devise a Wii sensor bar that's both wireless and cheap-looking. No doubt easy to manufacture—since you can replace your Wii sensor bar with candles—this solution will run you only $24.99 + shipping.

Great for people with projectors or oddly-designed entertainment centers, the wireless bar frees you from having to place the Wii within a certain distance of your TV set. The bad news is these run off a 9V battery, which means good luck to your family in case there's a fire. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Wireless Sensor Bar - Thanks everyone who sent this in!]

Sun: 2, Wii Sensor Bar: 1

Jason Chen — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:30:39 EDT

Contrary to our update that said the Wii does not have a sunlight problem, a company rep just said that the sensor bar in fact does have interference issues.

Nintendo told Kikizo today that this is a known issue with the Wii. A company representative explained that the Wii sensor bar is affected by head-on exposure to sunlight, which could cause "some interference". But he likened it to not being able to see a TV with the sun shining straight on it.

So yes, you're going to have problems in direct head-on (apply directly to your Wii) exposure to sunlight, but that will probably be rare unless you can't find a way to close your blinds at certain times of day. – Jason Chen

Nintendo Clears Up Wii Heliophobia [Kikizo via Kotaku]

Image courtesy Stuff (NSFW)

Sun: 1, Wii Sensor Bar: 1

Jason Chen — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:30:01 EDT

Contrary to earlier jumps to conclusions, the Wii Sensor bar doesn't really have a problem with the sunlight directly shining onto it. Sure, one of their earlier engineering feats was getting it to work in sunlight, not to mention UV light, IR, and florescent lights. But Nintendo now says:

Our testing thus far shows no great risk of light interference when playing a game that relies on the pointer and sensor bar.

No problem here. Good job Japanese engineers! May you go out and get some sun once the Wii launch is complete. – Jason Chen

Nintendo Responds [1up via Kotaku]

Sun: 1, Wii Sensor Bar: 0

Travis Hudson — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:29:57 EDT

So the Nintendo Wii has that fancy pants wireless Wiimote thing. And because it allows full gyration controls the Wii needs a fancier sensor. Enter the sensor bar that we first saw a couple days ago. It seems if sunlight is shining directly into the sensor barit will not function properly or at all.

Ironically this flaw was discovered in a Wii demo room at Nintendo World. The Wii demo stations were set up by a window and at one point light was shining directly in and therefore disabling the sensor. Better start rearranging those rooms, kids. Or boarding up the windows (if they aren't already). – Travis Hudson

My impression of the Wii and some games [Nintendo Forums]

SensorfreshQ Tells You Whether You'll Die From That Beef

Jason Chen — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:35:50 EDT

This SensorfreshQ answers the question bachelors and fast food enthusiasts always ask themselves: "will I die if I eat this meat?" It works by analyzing the air around the meat, detecting the amount of bacteria and displaying the levels on an easy three light meter. If it's green it's safe, if it's yellow you have a day, and if it's red you should probably throw it away.

The QCard sensor needs to be replaced every two months, which are $9.95 for a pair. The SensorfreshQ itself is $89.95, and should pay for itself the first time you don't have to go to the emergency room. – Jason Chen

Product page [Sharper Image via Shiny Shiny]

Starfish Bath Sensor Notifies You When Your Tub Overflows With Boiling Water

Jason Chen — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 15:39:24 EDT

Personally I've always been a shower guy, but this Starfish Bath Sensor may make me switch it up once in a while, if I could get past the "soaking in my own filth" aspect. The Starfish has a water sensor so you can let your bath water go while you're getting your bubbles, music, and booze ready for a long soak. When the water level rises to hit the Starfish, it'll notify you via a sound—do starfish make sounds?

Also, the temperature sensor tells you exactly what the water temperature is, preventing you from burning your delicates. The Starfish is powered by 2 AAA batteries, and you can pick one up for $17.99. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Whatever Works via Gearlog]