Posts from — June 2008

Just when you think you’ve seen everything, well you haven’t. Made by Sega, this 15-inch woman robot is actually being marketed in Japan as a friendly companion for lonely guys. Known as EMA, Eternal Maiden Actualization, this battery-powered robot diva can distribute business cards, dance and even pucker up for a kiss. Sega expects to sell 10,000 EMA robots in the next year, priced at $175 each. In addition, Sega seems quite optimistic about the demand for artificial intelligence, predicting multi-billion dollar demand in coming years. I think this is a nifty gadget, but I’m still wondering what happened to the old idea of getting a dog?

Beyond geocaching and all the fun you can have with GPS trackers, business owners are increasingly turning to GPS units as security devices for expensive equipment and cargo. After purchasing a GPS tracker, business owners typically must pay an activation fee in addition to monthly service fees for continued tracking service whether they need it or not, which is sometimes more than they want to invest in GPS tracking. As an alternative to ongoing fees, a new GPS tracking device, known as the GAT , or Global Asset Tracker, requires no monthly service or activation fees until it is actually needed. Made by TrackingtheWorld, Inc., a Burlingame, CA firm, the GAT can be remotely activated via a pre-installed SIM card and holds a single charge for up to 3 years. In the news, GPS trackers have recently been credited with foiling the efforts of thieves. On April 28, The Dallas Morning News reported that GPS tracking led to the recover y of 2 air conditioning units valued at $2,000 each. Theft of air conditioning units is rapidly increasing due to the escalating value of brass as scrap.

This nifty USB2 Bridge can take the headache out of attaching miscellaneous devices (old hard drives, compact flash cards) to your PC.