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.

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.

Nokia 8800 Gold

Once in a while, a device comes across so kitschy that we feel compelled to feature it here, even though it's in poor taste. Well, here's the Nokia 8800... in gold. Whether it's plated, the real deal or just a paint job, this number belongs in the same league as LG's gold-plated home theater system. No word on whether Nokia has sanctioned this gold version, but we found it selling on a Russian site for, cough, cough, $9,999 y.e. (which really means US dollars). Thanks, but we'll pass.

Click here for image #1 | image #2

Price: Depends on online stores
Availability: N.A.
Device: Mobile phone
Basic specs: Same specs as the Nokia 8800 steel version

Power-Generating Backpack

Remember the old familiar refrain: "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, smile..." Well, now there's something to smile about. Prof Larry Rome of biology at Penn State Uni has developed the Suspended-load Backpack which harnesses mechanical energy from something as simple as walking. According to Rome, lugging 38kg of weight in the backpack can generate up to 7.4 watts of energy. That's enough juice to power multiple devices ranging from MP3 music player to PDA, to GPS and a mobile phone. The idea is based on a simple magnetic coil generator similar in principal to hand-cranked radios and flashlights that work with some rhythmic shaking. Forrest Gump, here we come!

See: larger image | generator diagram

Other green energy sources: Voltaic Solar Backpack | pee-powered battery | more info

Price: N.A.
Availability: Concept
Device: Backpack power generator
Basic specs: N.A.

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