Scientific American's 2014 Gadget Guide: 10 Technologies That Boost Mobile Devices
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Heads-up display for bikers Motorcycle riders know the dangers of distracted driving: taking your eyes off the road even for a split second can end in disaster. Fortunately, so-called “smart helmets” are in the works that will give riders all the information they need—including rear-vision cameras—without having to move their heads... Image courtesy of Motorcycle Information Systems Technologies, Ltd.
Custom-fit, 3-D-printed earphones Ear buds come in many shapes and sizes but, until now, there weren’t any that took the specific shape of your ear. New York City–based Normal changes that with earphones 3-D–printed to your ears’ specific dimensions... Image courtesy of Normal
Smart listening system What’s that you say? You have difficulty hearing people in crowded settings. You might want to get your hearing checked. I SAID, “YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET YOUR HEARING CHECKED.” Or you could check out Soundhawk’s smart listening system, which comes with a wearable earpiece called “Scoop” that filters out background noise while enhancing the strongest signals—although Soundhawk makes it clear that its product is not a medical device nor is it meant to be used in place of a hearing aid... Image courtesy of Soundhawk
Thermal imaging smartphone camera Wouldn’t you like to be able to use your phone camera to sniff out possible warm or cold air leaks in your home, identify wet areas and potential leaks in ceilings, walls and floors before mold starts or spot overloaded electrical connections at the source?... Image courtesy of FLIR Systems, Inc.
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Build your own mobile device charger and stand Who says LEGO toys are good only for hours of frivolous fun? Now you can use these fitted plastic blocks to charge your phone or construct a stand that holds your device in place for video viewing or phone calls... Image courtesy of COI+ Creative Singapore
Levitating Bluetooth speaker A magnetic field keeps the floating orb speaker of OM Audio’s ONE suspended above the base by a few centimeters, giving the whole gadget the look of a tabletop Death Star. OM Audio says that ONE, expected to ship by the end of the year, delivers high-quality audio because the desk, table, bookshelf, etcetera on which the base sits, do not absorb the sound coming out of the speaker... Image courtesy of OM Audio
Dual-screen smartphone Most smartphones can alert you to new e-mails, texts and other messages even when your screen is locked. Moscow-based YotaDevices, however, has come up with a smartphone that delivers this info to an always-on electronic paper display (EPD) located on the back of the device... Image courtesy of YotaDevices
Fashionable personal alarm Once useful exclusively for controlling long locks, headbands can now be used to help people take control of their personal safety. Mace Security International, known for its pepper spray products, has added First Sign’s Mace Wear Pod to its lineup of personal protection products... Image courtesy of First Sign
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Bluetooth in a knit cap If ear buds and headphones cramp your style, you might consider this knit cap by BE headwear or something similar from Rotibox. Both come in a variety of styles and colors and feature a removable Bluetooth speaker, so you can talk on the phone or listen to music without putting anything in or on your ears... Image courtesy of BE headwear
Smart standing desk We’re oft reminded of just how detrimental long periods of sitting can be to one’s health. Furniture makers have made this an opportunity to offer all sorts of standing desks. The Netherlands–based MisterBrightLight takes a higher-tech approach than most, offering a tricked out work space that serves as a wireless smartphone charger, features LED mood lighting around the edges and, if you own an iOS device, works with an app to monitor surrounding temperature and humidity... Image courtesy of MisterBrightLight
The term “gadget” has come to mean “mobile device accessory.” Whether you’re playing sports, adding appliances to your home or simply making a fashion statement, your purchases typically have some tie-in with your smartphone or tablet.
This year Scientific American presents 10 new gadgets that treat your smartphones and tablets as the center of your universe. The LEGO charging station, 3-D-printed headphones and levitating wireless speaker work directly with mobile devices to keep them powered up and sounding good. Others—including the motorcycle helmet heads-up display, fashionable personal alarm and smart desk—extend a mobile device’s capabilities in an attempt to help keep users safe and healthy.
Larry Greenemeier is the associate editor of technology for Scientific American, covering a variety of tech-related topics, including biotech, computers, military tech, nanotech and robots. Follow Larry Greenemeier on Twitter Credit: Nick Higgins
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