Chip-enabled soccer ball

Soon soccer balls could be smarter than the players, and it could be as early as next year's FIFA World Cup in Germany which has indicated interest in using the radio frequency-enabled ball in its 2006 match. The technology, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, Adidas and software firm Cairos Technologies, can read the current position of the ball and the 22 players on the field at up to 2,000 times a second. The data is then picked up by antennas placed around the field and sent on to a central computer. The chip is also able to track if a ball has gone out of bounds, empowering referees who have to make crucial goal-line calls. While it's great to know for certain if Beckham deserved that red card appeal, where would soccer fans and hooligans be without any bad referee decisions left to boo at or iffy fouls to dispute over beer post-match? Sometimes, technology just sucks. (image from Adidas ad)

Click for a larger image

Via PC World

Price: N.A.
Availability: Deadline 2006 FIFA World Cup
Device: Smart soccer ball
Basic specs: Based on ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chip with integrated transmitter, uses 2.4GHz frequency range, 12 antennas in strategic locations pick up data

rCARD

Got US$25? Coz this video business card will set you back that much each time you hand one out. Ouch. But for that price, Dallas-based CEO IQ aims to give companies that extra edge by replacing paper cards with a disposable multimedia version that can put your marketing message right in your client's hands. No more having to push customers to your Web site or force them to sit through long, tedious presentations. Instead, the rCARD has it own navi button and viewing screen, and you can upload up to 1GB of streaming video, text, graphic and photos. No PC. No wires. Now all it needs is audio.

Click to see with notebook | with credit card

Via News.com blog

Price: US$25 per card for an order of 250,000
Availability: See Web site
Device: Video business card
Basic specs: 3mm thick, 3.5 x 2 inch, 1.875 x 1.875-inch display, USB 1.1 and 2.0, supports AVI, MPG, Quicktime, Flash, MP3 and WAV, rechargeable disposable, 4-hr battery life, 2-hr video playback, 7-year shelf life, 1.5oz, in capacities of 32MB up to 1GB expandable

Brother USB sewing machines

We don't mean it in a derogatory way when we say here's Brother with its Mickey Mouse USB sewing machine. This gizmo actually bundles 78 Disney prints in its internal memory. Other than the strange addition here, the other oddity is the fact that this sewing machine can be fully operated from a PC via USB, complete with touch-screen LCD panel. Because it's all done through the computer, new designs can be downloaded from the company's Web site which aims to update its offerings regularly with fresh designs. However, since Home Economics is a distant memory for most of us, this pricey USB accessory is likely to remain a good-to-know rather than a good-to-get.

Click to see M200 | N150

Price: M200: 262,500 yen (US$2,276), N150: 210,000 yen (US$1,821)
Availability: November 1, 2005, more info here
Device: USB accessory
Basic specs: 436 x 204 x 292mm, 11.7kg for Innovis M200, 10kg for Innovis N150

BenQ "Crazy Arm" LCD Monitor

Branching off from your typical PC monitor, literally, is BenQ's 19-inch Crazy Arm LCD Monitor which resembles a multi-tentacled creature from the Deep. It sufficiently intrigued the judges to take home a bronze at the Industrial Design Excellence Awards, and is aimed at users who like to look sleek while working. The array of seven jellyfish-like arms are jacked into USB ports and can take on any USB-powered accessory such as that essential USB fan, LED light, memory card reader, Webcam, etc. A four-beam axle lets the monitor adjust to any angle, while the stand can be collapsed for reduced storage space. Cool or crazy? You decide.

Click for bigger image here

Price: N.A.
Availability: More info here
Device: LCD monitor
Basic specs: Built-in software interface allows for easy on/off control of USB accessories

Cowsticker

Ok, so this isn't a gadget. But having grown up with Gary Larson's bovine-obsessed Far Side comics, it's hard not to go moo moo over something like this fusion of fridge and friesian when it comes along. Udderly delightful!

Click for bigger image here

Price: US$20.91
Availability: I Want One Of Those site
Device: Fridge sticker
Basic specs: 6 black self-adhesive patches in various sizes, waterproof (like a cow), easy to remove (unlike a cow)

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