lost

Navigator could be 3D life-saver

It may look like an air hockey mallet, but don't laugh--it could be your survival guide if you get lost in Second Life.

The "SpaceNavigator," developed by Logitech subsidiary 3D Connexion, offers an alternative to the mouse movement and keystroke combinations now used to navigate 3D environments or move 3D objects.

Using six optical sensors, the navigator isn't a replacement for a mouse but is intended for use in the mouse-free hand. You can move through a 3D space by gripping the top of the SpaceNavigator and sliding it around, twisting it like a dial, tilting … Read more

Keep time like a moon base commander

The watch mavens at Japan's Tokyoflash seem to be caught in some kind of time warp. Recently, they introduced the Shaft-era theme of "Pimpin Ain't Easy" for their LED watches, clad appropriately in 18k gold plate. Now, they give us the "Numeri-color" model, which their site describes as "straight off the wrist of a Moon Base Commander from a 1960s Sci-Fi classic." We like the watch's look, but there's just one issue: We'd never be able to figure out what time it was. And that could be especially problematic … Read more

A homing device for the absent-minded

Why couldn't we have had one of these last month when we lost our cell phone? Or how about last week, when our car keys mysteriously disappeared? And about the dog...

Anyway, even less-addled individuals would undoubtedly find good use for the "Loc8tor," which offers some hope for the possession-challenged among us. Shiny Shiny says the handheld device comes with 24 tags, each about the size of a fat paper clip, that can be attached to your prized possessions and/or loved ones if necessary. When any of them are out of a designated range of up … Read more

Solar device for the geographically challenged

We have a terrible sense of direction. It's so bad that we're willing to buy and carry any manner or number of devices that can keep us from accidentally ending up in Sopranos territory, including this one.

Proporta is probably best known for its gadget accessories (and accessorizing) but, as The Gadget Blog points out, also offers some technology of its own. The latest example is a solar-powered GPS receiver that can send wireless signals to your smart phone or PDA and "poinpoint your exactly location anywhere in the world."

Now we just have to make … Read more