Technabob » pointer

Terebi no Te Remote Control: Channel Changer, Back Scratcher or Nose Picker?

Technabob — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:00:04 +0000

There are plenty of remote control options on the market, but they’re all pretty ordinary looking. If you’re looking for something a little different, how about a remote control that looks like a cartoon finger you point at your TV? Your wish, my friends, has been granted, courtesy of Takara Tomy.

While it might look like one of those wacky Japanese potato chip holders that Karl Pilkington was using on An Idiot Abroad’s Mount Fuji episode, the Terebi no Te is actually a remote control for your television. To turn on your TV using the Terebi no Te, simply wave the wand vertically. A horizontal gesture changes channels or volume, depending on the button you’re pressing. They call this technology “FNS” or the “Finger Navigation System.” Nice initialism there.

It also can be used to flip pages in a paper TV listing (using “FSS “- the “Finger Skip System,”) and even has a light up LED fingertip (The “FLS” – “Finger Lighting System”) so you can read in the dark. Does anyone still use paper TV listings, though? Anyhow, its functionality seems pretty straightforward to me. Let’s see if this video can muddy things up for us a bit.

Ok, that was just weird. And is it just me, or do they have a TARDIS in their house? Pause the video about 13 to 15 seconds in and you’ll see what I mean. Maybe that’s where that strange lady with the Beehive hairdo came from.

In case you’re still wondering, this thing works with TVs from Sony, Sharp, Hitachi, Toshiba, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Pioneer, and Victor, but I doubt it’ll work to control a cable or satellite box, so keep that in mind.

If after watching that video, you’re still convinced you need one of these remotes (or something to pick your nose with) you can pre-order one over at the Japan Trend Shop for $44 (USD).

Spyder III Pro Arctic Laser is Perfect for the Militant Presentation Giver

Shane McGlaun — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:39:24 +0000

Over the years I have reviewed a couple of the lasers from Wicked Lasers and there aren’t things that you would call laser pointers, unless you like the ability to burn those who talk during your presentation. You can catch stuff on fire and blind people if you aren’t careful. Naturally, a couple of my friends were using them in an epic Lightsaber battle of geek versus dork last time we had a fight night at my house. I didn’t bother to tell them not to shine the lasers in each other’s eyes; I figured survival of the fittest and all.

Wicked Lasers has a new laser that is much more powerful than those other ones I have. The Spyder III Pro Arctic laser has a 445nm blue laser that was built using the diode from a home theater projector. Wicked claims that the beam is 4000% brighter than the blue beam in its Sonar laser, which was involved in that geek throwdown I mentioned before.

The best part about the $300 laser is the warning; you actually have to sign a waiver to buy it! You can read the full warning at the link below, but if you’re like me the important parts that will make you want to buy it are – extremely dangerous, instantly set fire, extreme caution. Yep, I’m sold.

[via Wicked Lasers]

Click Oven Mitts: Pixelated Potholders

Technabob — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:55:57 +0000

I don’t usually associate computers with cooking, but that doesn’t mean that your geek style shouldn’t find its way into your kitchen.

Brazilian designer Anderson Horta’s Clicking Kitchen Grip oven mitts are inspired by the little pixels of the hand cursor from your computer.

It’s too bad that there’s no way to make version that turns into an hourglass or a spinny beachball while your food is cooking, into an arrow when you can’t pick something up, and a closed hand when you grab your pots and pans. Damned non-virtual world!

Still, they’re pretty cool, IMHO. You can get your grubby little mitts on these anything-but-grubby, not-little mitts from Bazar Design for $24,80 Brazilian Real (appx. $11 USD). You can contact them directly for information on international delivery.

[via Designboom via Inspire me, now!]

Wii Style Cursors for Windows

Technabob — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:48:27 +0000

If you happen to like the design of those pointy-fingered Wii cursors, you can now enjoy them on your PC, thanks to this set of downloadable cursors for your Windows computer.

Designed by Deviantart member allewund, the cursor set contains reproductions of every Wii cursor I can think of. Just about the only thing missing is the ability to turn the cursors over as you lay your mouse on its back.

You can download the Wii cursor pack here.

[via Joystiq]