AdvancedBPM system

Hypochondriacs now have one more tool to battle their paranoia since this cuts down on hospital visits and medical costs. San Diego-based Triage Wireless has apparently developed a patch with a microchip which, when attached to your arm, will wirelessly transmit blood pressure, heart rate and blood oxygen levels to your doc's PC. The goal is to obtain a more accurate reading of a person's vital signs throughout the day. Hopefully, when this little smart patch retails next year, insurance won't flinch when it comes to covering the costs.

See larger image here

Price: N.A.
Availability: Prototype, expected commercially next year
Device: Monitoring systems for vital signs
Basic specs: Potentially two version of the patch system to be marketed, with one for hospitals and another for home use

Pack-Man Dust Box

Gadget Buzz saw this in Harajuku and big toy stores in Japan and was tempted to pack one home. Toymaker Tomy's Pack-Man comes in two versions. A giant bin that swallows garbage, and a tiny one which eats coins. Apparently the piggy bank model, first released in 1974, was so hugely successful that a dustbin version was introduced. Using the same principle of pushing the arm down to lever open the monster mouth, there's also a foot pedal should you prefer the Pack-Man Dust Box on the floor. What we didn't like, though, was the rather flimsy arm structure.

Click here on how to use

Price: 2,625 yen (US$23.80)
Availability: Japan, comes in green and yellow
Device: Dustbin
Basic specs: N.A.

Hello Kitty flower arrangements

If you thought you've seen everything, check out these Hello Kitty flowers. Gadget Buzz did a double take at a flower stand along Tokyo's famous Ginza strip. These blossoms are the real deal, only cleverly dotted with eyes and nose to resemble Sanrio's most famous export. As to how long these pricey if sweet-smelling blossoms will last is quite another thing. Comes in four different bouquets.

Click to see larger image

More cat in the bag: Hello Kitty fire extinguisher | Singapore Airlines and Hello Kitty | Hello Kitty toaster | Hello Kitty XBox console

Price: 2,100 yen (US$19), 3,150 yen (US$28) and 6,300 yen (US$57)
Availability: Japan
Device: Flowers
Basic specs: N.A.

Integra Face Care System

There's life after reality TV after all. And no, we're not talking about all ye reality TV junkies out there, but UK's The Apprentice winner Tim Campbell who's out to prove that beauty really is skin-deep. The 26-year-old former transport manager with the London Underground has been developing a secret weapon for the Integra Face Care division, after being the last man standing on the BBC2 show to snag a £100,000 job with Sir Alan Sugar's firm, Amstrad. Now that the gadget's finally out, there's just one wrinkle. Someone ought to have whispered in Campbell's ear that micro-current simulation, which sends electric pulses to the skin apparently to tone facial muscles, ain't all that new. Next.

Click for bigger image here

Price: £129 (US$232)
Availability: UK, check out Web site
Device: Home beauty kit
Basic specs: Zapper, starter pack creams, DVD

Singapore Airlines and Hello Kitty

While waiting in the lounge of the Singapore Airlines Japan office recently, who should Gadget Buzz see in the next seat but, horrors... Hello Kitty. Garbed in the sarong kerbaya uniform of the Singapore Girl, no less. Having said that, the lipless cat could stand to shed a few extra kilos if it intends to look the part. Turns out our very own airlines has succumbed to the Hello Kitty pull after all, and is giving away a keychain Kitty token to Japanese customers buying SQ tours. All hail the Kat.

See larger image: here

Price: N.A.
Availability: In Japan with SQ tour packages; the bigger version isn't available yet
Device: Keychain Kitty
Basic specs: N.A.

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