::: Star Weekend Magazine :::

Sci-tech

Swiss Army Sunglasses
Yes, these are Swiss Army Sunglasses. You can choose from over 240 different tools to put in it, including paintbrushes, a backscratcher, and a variety of knives. The biggest tool, of course, is you, who thinks not only that these aren't the fashion and design abomination that they are but also think they're worth the 400 USD price tag. If only they came with an attachment to restore your self-respect.

High-Tech GM Car Accessory Concepts
Sure, we look at high-tech car concepts all the time and our blogging cohorts, Jalopnik do even more, but how often do we get a chance to see actual car accessory concepts. GE has a few with the key fob, luxury lighting and high-tech rear-view mirror. The key fob is simply a better looking key that has more of a jewellery feel to it. The luxury lighting adds recessed lighting to places that normally don't have lighting, such as the above blinker. The high-tech rear-view mirror actually uses video and cameras, rather than actual mirrors. So how long until we see some of these in our actual vehicles? Well, if Will Smith knew, he would say beyond 2035. I, Robot took place in 2035 and they had automatic driving cars, but no fancy rear-view, recessed lighting or jewellery-like keys.

One Quick Tryk
Electric tricycles seem to be a growing trend, and we can now add this VentureOne to that list. This one gives you a choice of either all-electric or hybrid power. It leans when you turn, can reach 0-60 in 6 seconds and goes 100mph with an impressive 100mpg fuel efficiency. Perhaps the most startling of all is its price, 18,000 USD for the hybrid drive Venture E50, up to 23,000 USD for the all-electric drive Venture EV. We're most interested in that all-electric model, even though its top speed is just 75mph with a range of 120 miles.

Engineering students develop life-saving CPR Glove
Two engineering students from McMaster University have invented what they believe is the solution: the CPR Glove. The black, one-size-fits-all CPR Glove features a series of sensors and chips that measure the frequency and depth of compressions being administered during CPR and outputs the data to a digital display. To be effective, compressions must be given at the rate of 100 per minute and at a depth of four to five centimetres. A study measuring retention of CPR training published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that 59 per cent of the time, compressions were applied at the rate of only 80 per minute. Thirty-seven per cent of the time, the compressions were too shallow. CPR administered at these levels is not likely to save a person in cardiac arrest.

The two students started working on the concept in September 2006 and developed a number of prototypes, bringing the size of components down each time. They wrote the programmes and hand-fabricated the button-size computer chips that operate the glove. They even designed the pattern for the glove but turned to a professional seamstress to recommend fabric and stitch the glove together. "We see the glove being available as part of any standard first-aid package," explains Nilesh Patel, also a fourth-year electrical and biomedical engineering student at McMaster. "It is also ideal for CPR training and refresher courses. It would be easy to afford since the components are readily available and relatively inexpensive."

Gravitonus Workstation Gets Disabled-Friendly Add-on
The Gravitonus is one hell of a workstation that keeps the user in the most ergonomically optimized position at all times. This workstation is now being adapted for quadriplegics with the addition of ACCS, or alternative computer control system. Basically, a control unit is placed in the mouth that does all of the work and still allows for breathing, drinking, talking, smoking, etc. The addition for ACCS for the paralysed is definitely a plus, but I'm still amazed with the actual workstation.

Vibrating Shoes Give Your Feet a Treat
They say your feet are the most ignored part of your body. Well, a company by the name of Good Vibrations is planning on changing that. They've created a show with a built-in massager that soothes your aching feet with the press of a button. You can choose when you want the massaging to begin and there's even a rechargeable battery, but personally, I don't think I'd want to leave my house with a shoe that buzzes when I walk.

Compiled by IMRAN H. KHAN

Source: Wired and Gizmodo.com