- Aerocool Infinite Drive: Connects where your old 5.25 in. floppy drive used to be; this offers the ability to read 25 different memory card formats, 2 USB ports, and headphone and microphone jacks. $61.
- IBM speech-to-speech transmission program: This program was created for the U.S. military to provide real-time translation for hundreds of languages. Nowword yet on when it will be available for the public.
- Cell phone jammers: Interfere with the reception of cell phone calls. These are not legal in the U.S., but are available in the U.K. and Japan. $260.
- Aimulet LA Bamboo Audio Device: According to Treehugger.com: From Japan, a batteryless, light-activated handheld audio communication device with an outer shell made from molded bamboo. The device itself is designed to be held to your ear, like a cell phone. When you stand over special LED emitters in the ground, Aimulet LA receives the light signals via an array of spherical micro solar cells set into the bottom of the handset. It translates the signals into audio messages that are transmitted through a tiny speaker in the device." No price yet.
- Glow in the Duck: This is a rubber bathtub ducky that changes colors when it gets in water $12.95
- USB Datalink Transfer Cable: Allows you to transfer data between two computers. $19.95
- Printdreams Portable Printer: Hold it like a mouse, and it prints where you designate. $200.
- Flowbee Hair Cutting Machine: Attach this to your vacuum cleaner for a haircut in minutes. The clippings go right into the vacuum cleaner. I am not making this up. $59.95
- Palm Treo 700p 700w 680: These PDA models "combines a smarter phone with wireless email and messaging, built-in web browser, and rich media capabilities — all at blazing fast broadband-like speeds." (no price given)
- LCD Scrolling Badge: Employees can be walking advertisements by wearing these badges that hold up to 10 scrolling messages. $40.
- Omnidirectional Camera Smart Wheelchair: This wheelchair of the future offers lots of control because because it uses camera images to detects potential hazards that arise while in motion and decelerates or stops accordingly.
- Ttraveling LCD projector: will weigh less than 4lbs and offer "native XGA".
- Microsoft Zune: Microsoft's answer to the iPod will make its debut for the holiday season and cost about $250. Walking stereo speakers to go with it will set you back $26.99.
- iTTUSB: Convert your old 33 1/3's to CDs or MP3 by using this special turntable/USB device. $119. This is what my husband Bob is getting for Christmas!
- Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader: A compact, handheld device that scans and reads materials to people with visual impairments, from books to address labels to ATM receipts and more. $3,495.
- Museo Silver Rag Paper: Very high-end paper for printing out digital photographs $52.00 for 25 sheets.
- Tandberg Video Conferencing: This Norwegian company offers a product that will allow you to hold a videoconference on your desktop computer. The company recently won a 21st Century Best Practices Award from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) for "leadership in the field of distance learning."
- Mop Slippers. Mop your floors as you walk. $9.95.
- Cell Sticks: The next generation in rechargable batteries.
- Samsung 10-megapixel Cell Phone: Take really sharp photographs with your cell phone. This phone has the highest picture resolution ever and even exceeds the resolution of mid-end digital cameras.
- TV phone: Samsung is developing cell phone that can receive TV signals. So far, Samsung plans to sell this item in Korea, but has no immediate plans to make it available in the U.S.
- USB oil burner: For instant aromatherapy at home or at work, plug in a $19 oil burner into a USB port on your computer. Those who have tried it say it is very soothing.
- MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is partnering with the U.S. army to develop technologies that will allow soldiers to literally leap tall buildings in a single bound and instantly seal off battle wounds, among other projects. It may be a long time before this technology is available on the open market.
- USB heated gloves: Warm these special gloves using a computer USB port before you venture out into the cold. Only $22.95.
- Laptops without hard drives. Laptops that depend on flash-based storage to carry computer programs as well as documents are the wave of the future.
- Slingbox: According to Wikipedia, Slingbox is "a TV streaming device that enables consumers to remotely view their cable, satellite, or personal video recorder (PVR) programming from an Internet-enabled computer with a broadband Internet connection." At the conference I spoke to someone who said she had been watching TV on her laptop; perhaps this is what she used.
- Sanrio Actroid: The Japanese company that makes Hello Kitty also makes robots. The Actroid is a female-looking robot (a "fembot") that can be rented for $3500 for five days.
- iPod jacket: For $750, one can buy a jacket with an iPod integrated into it. It is not machine washable.
- Electrolux screen fridge: This very high-end ($9000) kitchen appliance is designed to be the center of your home. It has wireless touch screen that can connect with TV or the internet so that you can read e-mail or check the online weather report as you make your shopping list. Reportedly, this has been test-marketed in Europe but hasn't really caught on yet.
- Nokia open cell phone: A cell phone that folds like a traditional Japanese fan. These are available yet, due to problems with developing a functional display screen that will fold like a traditional Japanese fan.
It will be interesting to see which of these up-and-coming gadgets become standard-issue in a few years, and which will die on the vine.
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