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Tech
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Live
out your fantasies, explore the endless possibilities, and
control your world this holiday season
Life is hard. And when your idea of the perfect gift is the
Universal Software Radio Peripheral, it can be even harder.
One sure fire way to get through this veil of tears is with
toys. Lots of them. Here is a quick list of high-tech (and
not-so-high-tech) gadgetry that some of my technologically
minded friends have assured me will soothe the savage geek.
Every year or two, it makes the news that yet another misanthropic
desk monkey has gone nuts and laid waste to an entire floor
of coworkers. And even though homicide is not the way most
of us choose to deal with our issues, we can’t help but sympathize
deep-down. Cause, sometimes, coworkers just got it coming.
So when you feel that those rubber bands and crumbled-up pieces
of paper have failed to carry the full symbolic weight of
your hatred, take a deep breath, relax, and go to thinkgeek.com.
There you will find the arsenal you need: the USB Missile
Launcher ($39.99). Unleash foamy darts of Shock and Awe
on your unsuspecting, and deserving, coworkers with this turret-based,
7-inch-tall desktop weapon of mass distraction. Destroy the
infrastructure of tiny countries up to 8 feet away with a
simple click of the mouse. Everyone near your cubicle will
be trembling under your geekish might quicker than you can
say Condoleeza Rice.
 If
that special lady in your life has got a weakness for incredibly
cute WiFi-enabled “smart objects,” then you won’t go wrong
with Nabaztag ($149.99-$179.99). Right out of its packaging,
this little white bunny rabbit will sync to her WiFi router
and stand ready to pamper your ladyfriend by reading aloud
the day’s headlines, weather, maps, Web sites, news stories—whatever
she wants. Her Nabaztag also will let her know when she has
a new e-mail or when her friends are online. Text and voice
messages, MP3s and much more can be sent through the little
bunny, with the lights in its belly flashing and ears spinning.
Bunnies are notoriously prolific breeders, and these bunnies
are no exception—a thriving community of Nabaztags has popped
up all over the world. (It’s OK for guys to want this, too.)
The cute just doesn’t stop. USB Sushi ($99-$269), USB
memory drives that look alarmingly like raw fish, are a healthy,
happy way to transport that valuable data. They come in a
variety of “flavors,” too!
Over at makezine.com, they have compiled a gift guide of open-source
tools and toys. For the young engineer, LEGO offers Mindstorms
NXT ($250). This kit brings simple drag-and-drop programming
and simple engineering together with the awesomeness of a
robot. Your little Asimov will thrill at the endless possibilities
of being able to build a robot that can “see,” “hear,” and
“feel.” The open-source firmware and adaptable design of the
kit will ensure the tiny tinkerer hours and hours of learning
and entertainment.
Once you start shopping for robots, how can you stop? The
SRV-1 Mobile Surveillance Robot ($374.99) seems a logical
addition to any geek’s home. Survey your surroundings without
ever having to leave your computer with this palm-sized, tanklike
bot. The wireless transmitter will send live video to any
PC up to 300 feet away, and allow the user to control the
tiny tank’s actions. Or, you can set the robot to an autonomous
roving mode that allows for independent exploration. And the
software is open-source, so the possibilities are pretty much
endless.
A sure favorite at any party is the once-upon-a-time high-tech
breakthrough the mixed drink. Imagine the technological advancements
and scientific developments that gave us the mojito! And after
a few (or a dozen) of these miracles of science, nothing could
be more hilarious than seeing just how drunk you really are.
The AlcoHawk Digital Alcohol Detector ($44.99) promises
to do just that. The pocket-sized party favor boasts a semi-conductor
oxide sensor and “advanced electric exhale pressure monitor”
that will accurately detect just how much alcohol the user
has imbibed. Go ahead, buy it—it will make you the life of
the party, we swear.
Last year, we featured TV-B-Gone, the empowering little device
that shuts off irritating televisions anywhere. This year,
we are pleased to feature the Ninja Remote ($9.99).
This tiny universal remote has finally given unhappy viewers
the surreptitious control over public televisions that they
have always craved. Bewilder your fellow Laundromat, bar,
or airport patrons by seizing control of any TV, surfing its
channels, controlling its volume, or simply turning the damn
thing off.
Which brings us right back to the Universal Software Radio
Peripheral ($700). Technology isn’t just about passive
enjoyment; it is about getting in and messing around, tinkering,
exploring, developing and creating. The USRP, developed by
Matt Ettus, gives the future-minded the ability to do just
that. Based on an open-source framework, the software-defined
radio allows your average computer user access to the full
range of radio waves: FM/AM bands, HDTV, GPS, emergency bands,
wireless Internet, cellular traffic, and on and on. Imagine
no bandwidth limitations. The political, technological and
business implications are boundless.
—Chet
Hardin
chardin@metroland.net
2006
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