Diagnostic device looks to correct kids' eyes young

A new portable device lets doctors conduct a quick, non-invasive pediatric eye exam--and hopefully detect vision problems early.

The PediaVision Assessment Solution (PAS), scheduled to be demonstrated at the American Academy of Pediatrics meeting in Boston this week, uses an infrared camera to take digital images of the eye in children as young as six months. The screener consists of a small, handheld unit; a printer; and a laptop with preinstalled software.

Basically, the PAS projects an infrared light through the pupil onto the retina from a distance of 3 feet (good for shy kids who don't like people up in their faces). Depending on the refractive problem, the reflected light forms a specific brightness pattern within the pupil. The administering doctor then gets a digital printout of the results in about five seconds.

Florida-based PediaVision--which was founded by a team of optometrists and ophthalmologists--says the device can be used by non-vision specialists to detect conditions including near-sightedness, far-sightedness, blurred vision, and irregularly shaped corneas or lenses.
Read more »

Sony's "David Blaine" starts 30 days of living in display window

I don't know if there's a Guinness Book of Records world record at stake here, but as part of its effort to promote its digital book readers, including the just-announced PRS-700, Sony has "memory expert" Dave Farrow sitting in a window display in New York reading books all day for the month of October.

As we reported Thursday, the sit-in--or read-in--is timed to commemorate National Book Month and promote literacy in schools. According to Sony, for every one of Farrow's page turns, Sony will provide a set of 100 eBook classics to a school or education institution.

Of course, if endurance artist David Blaine were performing the same stunt, he'd probably never leave the window, but it should be pointed out that Farrow will get plenty of breaks--and not just of the potty variety. Apparently, Sony is allowing anybody to get in the window and read for a bit, so Farrow will get some time to leave the rather small space he is inhabiting.

Sony has a live Webcam that's pretty amusing with both an interior view inside the window (with sound) and a street-view perspective. Check it out.

Via CNET Crave

Bandai goes postal for its addictive Peri Peri game

If you've been following the full series of annoying keychain toys from Bandai Japan, you'd be overwhelmed by a strong sense of déjà vu. Not least because that courier service perp holding the product in question looks terribly like the same character who pitched the Puchi Puchi bubble wrap and bean popper.

For those who've been affected forever by these habit-forming gizmos, you can feed your habit with the new Peri Peri which this time hops onto another silly behavior. Here, it's a keychain toy that recreates the sound and feel of tearing open the paper "zipper" on a FedEx/UPS/DHL envelope. If you wish this on your worst enemy, get it from Strapya World of Japan which starts retailing it from November 22 for 998 yen (US$9.55).


Via New Launches

HDD enclosure threatens to break your laptop

Now here's another one of those concepts that make you wonder why designers go through such great lengths to make our lives more miserable. Like in this hanging hard drive's case (pun totally intended), which is perched on the precarious edge of our laptop screen.

How this will work, if designer Sangho Jin's idea takes off, is that the two swiveling clip-ons with LED power indicators will attach themselves on the edge of your laptop screen. Voila. As simple as that. Now you don't have to leave the 2.5-inch hard drive lying around on your desk.

It would have been a nifty idea, if not for the fact that uneven weight distribution will either warp your screen over time, or you'll constantly worry about the drive falling off. And we all know what happens if that takes place.

Via Gadget Lab | Credit: Yanko Design

Make a Canon dSLR out of wood

Can't afford a high-end Canon dSLR? Well, if you have a good pair of hands, you can pretend to own one by making this wood model. Found on Canon's Camera Museum site are instructions on how to paste, cut and shape pieces of balsa wood to make a dSLR model. Looking at the instructions, it's not an easy task, so don't expect to be able to make one yourself just because you are capable of assembling some papercraft models. If you do make one successfully, this will make a great home decorative piece for showing off how handy you are.

Instructions here | Via Notcot

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