Send a text message while deep-sea diving

Ever want to send an underwater text message? Laugh if you will, but on your next scuba-diving vacation you'll wish you had one of these gadgets if your air tank runs unexpectedly low.

In fact, this "Underwater Digital Interface" from Underwater Technologies Center can reportedly keep up to 56 divers networked with ships or land bases up to 914m away. And fortunately for them, the designers kept the product's functions simple--because the last thing you'd need in this situation is a complicated keyboard. (We wouldn't want to take a chance on a finicky touch screen, for instance, or lug around a full LCD.)

The aquarian communicator is touted as "the world's first digital devices for undersea texting and SOS emergency communications," according to Dvice. We often scoff at "world's first" claims, but this is one category that presumably isn't overflowing with competitors, literally and figuratively.

Via CNET Crave | Photo credit: Underwater Technologies Center

A watch phone in dire need of a makeover

If this is what it takes to get a full-featured cell phone watch, we'll pass. Even if it does deliver as promised--MP3 playback, videos, Bluetooth, MIDI ring tones, 260,000-color resolution, and a raft of other features, according to ProductDose--we wouldn't be able to look at this ugly thing for fear of turning to stone.

It's not the Pepto-Bismol pink that bothers us; it's, well, just about everything else, from its bulky girth to cheap silver-toned filigrees. It doesn't help that it has a stylus that looks suspiciously like an eyebrow pencil.

It's a shame, really, because we thought these combo watches were finally getting some decent-looking designs. On the other hand, maybe not.

Via CNET Crave | Photo credit: Global Sources

Tri-bot and Rovio: New WowWee robots

This being CES, there's always space for some crazy robots. This wacky pair comes courtesy of WowWee, the folks behind the RoboSapien. Tri-bot (pictured right) is a born entertainer, while the Wi-Fi enabled Rovio is a trusty guard.

RoboSapien also gets a girlfriend, called FemiSapien. WowWee showed off some highly realistic plush animalbots in their Alive range as well, but frankly they just creeped us out. How long before we see electric sheep?

Tri-bot is a red robot with animated eyebrows and no immediate plans to crush puny hu-mans, preferring to chundle about, cracking jokes or playing games. Tri-bot is yours for a very reasonable US$99.99.

The Rovio is more serious. It packs a webcam on an extending arm, as well as three-wheel go-anywhere drive. It is controlled from within your Web browser, meaning that you can remotely operate it from any location. This makes it the ideal guard dogbot, if you're willing to shell out US$299.99.

You can program set paths for the Rovio to follow around your house, so it can perform circuits looking for snoopers and prowlers. The webcam arm allows you to see things from a different perspective than floor level.

Charging is no problem, even when you're away from home--say you're in Las Vegas, writing about robots. The charging base station gives out two points of light, so the Rovio can always detect where it is and automatically return to base for a much-needed rest. Similar to how Cravers recharge, except without the falling asleep on a night bus.

Via Crave UK

Bike's rear-view mirror checks your heart rate

If Cerevellum sounds like some Latin term from a medical dictionary, it would be entirely appropriate because it's the name of a new heart-monitoring device. But this one isn't attached to your arm or chest--in fact, it's not affixed to the body at all. Try the handlebars on a bike instead.

The Cerevellum doesn't stop there either: While checking your ticker, this gadget also serves as a GPS system and a digital rear-view display similar to those seen increasingly in cars. According to ProductDose, this all-in-one device has a 3.5-inch screen and 32MB of space to store your fitness data, as well as a 4-hour battery for those who ride that long (unlike us).

All this doesn't come cheap at US$299, but we suppose there's some consolidation savings because you won't have to buy three or four separate products for these various functions. Besides, we applaud anything that obviates the need for those nerdsome helmet mirrors.

Via CNET Crave | Photo credit: Cerevellum

Automated fast food

Forget the sluggish Slow Food movement. True geeks are in a rush to spend their cash on the latest electronics, not snobby epicure. So when we spotted a fast food restaurant that's automated, our heartbeat sped up.

Kitchen Mogu Mogu is a Singapore-based Japanese fast food restaurant that styles itself after similar dining concepts in Japan. In fact, it feels like buying from a vending machine, only in this case, it's hot Japanese grub, not ice sodas.

The transaction is easy. Tap the touchscreen for your orders and make your payment. You can choose to pay using cash (notes and coins) or ez-link (a Singapore wireless card payment system). Next, you just have to pick up your order at the next counter.

Sometimes it makes sense to take away the human equation. I remember the number of times I had to repeat my order or hold my tongue when my double beef patty was miraculously transformed into a soggy fish sandwich.

So should your next order at Kitchen Mogu Mogu turn awry, you only have yourself to blame. But if you crave a human touch, the restaurant has a sweet young girl on hand to coach the butter-fingered, or if you need to scream at something other than a machine.

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