In a year that saw a few highly proclaimed gadget introductions (the Amazon Kindle Fire, in particular) and some updates to high-profile staples such as Apple's iPhone and iPad, Scientific American takes a look at 10 gizmos that, if they did not land on your radar screen in 2011, deserve a look in the coming year.

This year's Gadget Guide runs the gamut—from tech that takes your fitness regimen to the next level to cameras that push optical limits to tools that help environmentally conscious consumers shrink their footprints.

View a slide show of the 2011 Scientific American Gadget Guide.
 

5 Comments

1. 1. bigred93 11:39 AM 12/8/11

   These are undoubtedly cool, but of the ones I've checked out (Lytro, Nest, Orbotix, fitbit) only Fitbit is shipping this year. Is there another list of cool products that are actually available?

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2. 2. colincrook in reply to bigred93 01:44 PM 12/8/11

   Hey there - Sifteo is shipping, today. Not sure if that's what you were asking but thought I would let you know. https://www.sifteo.com/shop

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3. 3. bigred93 01:26 AM 12/9/11

   Yeah, sifteo looks interesting - in principle. I get the idea that you use these cubes to play interactive games that stimulate the mind! and help you learn! but even in looking at the site and looking at the videos - I just don't get it. Playing games on three (or up to six, if you pay extra) teeny tiny little screens doesn't seem as interesting to me as, say, an iPad or browser-based game. I saw one video on the site where if you shake a cube a particular way it'll make a different type of cacophanous sound than the other cubes. Honestly, the "opportunity" for my young son to make a different kind of noise around the house was not something I was looking for - let alone something I'd pay $149 for.
   
   Anybody care to educate me as to what the real value prop is to these things? Or is that an education only available if you buy the devices and download the 'value prop' game?

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4. 4. Snazster 09:01 PM 2/19/12

   I tried on one of these Golden-i things in Spring of 2010 and was completely blown away. I would have written a check right then if I could have. Now it is nearly two years later and STILL there is no indication of when these might hit the market (or how much they will cost).

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5. 5. Snazster in reply to Snazster 09:04 PM 2/19/12

   Ah, $2,500. Bargain two years ago.

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