Obviously, this report is not the last word on the subject and we will surely see more studies in the years to come. And my guess is most of these studies will be in conflict with one another. Hell, we have already seen one incident where a Taser may have helped someone with a heart condition. What's next? A study that finds Canadian criminals are more sensitive to electrocution than American criminals? [CBC News via Digg]

After being tased, the electrodes that had been monitoring his condition were re-attached, and it was then that the doctors realized that the patient's heart had returned its normal rhythm. Apparently, this is the first time anyone has heard of a taser actually correcting an irregular heartbeat, but the role that the taser played in the patient's recovery is debatable. Many believe that it could have occurred as the result of his treatment with a beta blocker, or that it was a simple spontaneous event that occurred with impeccable timing. [WSJ]

Mounties corporal Scott Wilson defended his colleague's grandad-bashing actions. "Whether the person is 80 or 20, we are dealing with a person who had a deadly weapon in their hand. We could not deploy our ... pepper spray, because we could potentially contaminate the entire hospital."

Lasser, a former prison guard, reckons they overdid it, claiming that, with three Mounties in the room, they could have overpowered him without using a Taser. Lasser said there were three RCMP officers in his hospital room and believes they could have easily handled him without the use of a Taser. "I was laying on the bed by then and the corporal came in, or the sergeant, and said to the guys, 'OK, get him because we got more important work to do on the street tonight,'" he said.

"And then, bang, bang, bang, three times with the laser, and I tell you, I never want that again." That'll teach him to bring a knife to hospital, then. [CBC News via Dvorak]

Even if you never get to use it on a real assailant, it feels good to click an e-commerce button that says "Add to Cart and Choose Voltage"—that is, assuming you don't live in New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Illinois, New Jersey or the cities of Baltimore, Philadelphia or Washington, DC. [TBO Tech via BBGadgets]

Perhaps the most feature-free MP3 player we've ever seen, it has a mere 2 buttons and no screen on it. But hey, it holds a Taser! I'd like to see an iPod actually prevent you from being mugged instead of the other way around. Oh, and it also unveiled leopard print and pink Tasers, just in case you want to look fashionable before taking someone who's political beliefs you disagree with down to the pavement.

If the shotguns aren't enough to scare you, what if all the robots had Taser shotgun rounds, shocking your ass with enough electricity to make you wish you were dead? Now imagine this sucker dropping off a six-wheeled robot with TWO MORE of those formidable guns on board.

Good god, what's going to happen if this thing gets loose on its own? Until then, enjoy the potential mayhem of this doomsday weapon. [More video at Fortune Magazine, and Defense Review]

Zazzo says his hovering shocker will be raining down the pain sometime next year, and could even find its way to these shores. Pushbutton Tasering from a distance? Sounds like an insane idea. This whole Taser concept has gone way too far, but we suppose it's better than mass murdering crowds of people. [Danger Room]

While we've questioned the need for gadgets to be small and pink for girls to get on board, to answer the question at the end of the video, yes, women should totally be arming themselves with Tasers. It's kind of hot, plus we have protection, so it's cool. [Local 6 via Tech Digest]

It manages both its tiny size (its the smallest on the market) with its powerful punch (the company claims the highest volts of any comparable system) by losing the 9v batteries that most tasers use for what I'd guess is a nicad or lithium battery. That also means you can recharge the little bugger. Not bad for $80. I wonder if there's a way to turn an old iPod's lipoly battery into something like this with a capacitor? [PersonalSecurity via Red Ferret]

As you can see in the video, the biggest advantage of the Shockwave, meant for military checkpoints, is that you can be a crap shot and still lay out your enemy. Each unit fires six TASER cartridges, fanning out in a nightmarish 20-degree arc of electricity that's bound to hit something. That's what is called "area denial".

The other boon of the Shockwave is its modularity: you can couple, or "daisy-chain", as many units together as you want. Side by side alignment will enhance your kill, er, incapacitation radius. Stacked, you increase the number of salvos to return against a given attack wave. Of course, the 25-foot range on each TASER cartridge brings to mind every movie that ever featured a grizzled captain eying the enemy horde's approach and growling, "Wait for it... Wait... For... It..." I'd say that's in the "force protection" category.

The products should be in a pilot program this fall, with full release of the Shockwave next year. We'd be happy to product test them, Johnny Knoxville-style, if TASER would grant a media request, if for no other reason than to legitimately use once and for all the phrase, "You can really TASE the difference!" [TASER]

Each battery is crammed with enough juice to dole out a full 20-second cycle of pure "non-violent" punishment. 20 seconds! Good lord, that's a long time to be gettin' Tasered. It also has such neat features as three "torsion spring fins" which help the XREP stay straight and fly right into the fleshy part of that guy trying to steal an air conditioner.

Well, that settles it: I'm giving up my life of crime. You've convinced me, Taser! No more breaking and entering for this guy. " [Taser]

And if you're wondering, yes, this came from Japan. Where else? – Jason Chen

Product Page [Strapya via Sci Fi]

It's pink, fluffy, wired, and can shock you with 50,000 volts. Oh, and it's shaped like a tampon. Fantastic, eh?

Just be careful not to mix this up with a real tampon, ladies. This is not a proper way to deal with unwanted pregnancies. – Jason Chen

A Security System More Lethal Than PMS: The Tampon Taser Gun [American Inventor Spot]

Also works like a champ on that lovable yet playfully bloodthirsty dog next door. It's banned in some of the wussier states. – Charlie White

Product Page [Hollywood Gadgets, via Coolest Gadgets]

A mere 9-volt battery keeps those creeps at bay with 80,000 volts of Taser-like electricity. Hit the switch and teach that Neanderthal to keep his hands off the merchandise. There's an insulated rubber layer between you and the hot juice, but if you scratch your head while pushing the button, well, you'll be in for a shocking experience.

This is great stuff. Just the fact that such a jacket exists will fend off would-be attackers. Bravo. Maybe there will be one for guys, too. – Charlie White

Product Page [No Contact, via Wired]

Since June 2001, Amnesty International has compiled a list of over 100 people who have died after being shocked with 50,000 volts by a Taser stun gun used by a law enforcement agent. Obviously, these numbers don't help the company's sales or the good name of your friendly police officers. So to make sure the guns are used for the right reasons and to hold the user accountable for their actions, Taser has developed a Taser Cam, which will attach to the butt of the gun and record audio and video of whenever it's used. The Taser cam starts running as soon as the gun is turned on and will keep recording until it's turned off, so we won't miss a thing. It also faces where the gun is pointing for real accuracy. Of course, it doesn't come standard with the gun, so the camera will have to be purchased separately for $400. In October, rival stun gun company Stinger Systems, Inc also announced a gun that can be fitted with an audio-video recorder, selling for only $200 extra, though they won't say who, if anyone, has purchased the weapons.

Taser to offer stun gun cameras [CNN]