Gadgets

If your beat-up knuckles don't do you in, the tedium of tightening a nut in a tight spot will. But Midland Design's QuickTwist ratchet wrench makes short work of any job, no matter how limited the space. In addition to regular rotation, you can tighten by twisting the tool's grip like a motorcycle throttle.

Chris Pesa is one of the first people to put the Segway Human Transporter (a.k.a. It, Ginger, and the Invention That Will Change the World) to a real-life test on his 390-stop mail route in Tampa, Florida. We caught up with him to see how it works.

The most radical design departure since the clamshell flip-phone, Motorola's new V70 phone introduces the rotating cover, which swivels 180 degrees to almost double the size of the phone and serves as an earpiece. A blue electroluminescent translucent keypad adds the finishing high-tech touch. But the V70 doesn't just look pretty: The dual-band GSM/GPRS phone has a built-in infrared modem that connects at speeds of up to 56Kbps, a 1,000-contact phonebook, and support for instant messaging.


Price: $450

Some typists hunt and peck, but most serious keyboard-bangers use QWERTY.

The QWERTY (named for the key placement of the upper left row) key arrangement has spawned millions of touch typists-and enduring controversies concerning its value as well. Its inventor, Christopher L. Sholes, began its development in 1867; the layout is still dominant today. It was used on the Sholes & Glidden Type-Writer, manufactured by E. Remington & Sons (better known for their firearms) beginning in 1874.

1. Electronic Pinball Arcade
Build a pinball machine with sound, a scoreboard, and ball lift. Then convert it to a soccer game instead.

Price: $90
www.knex.com


2. Hummer H2 Spycam

Record and transmit images to a remote LCD.

Price: $400
www.nikkoamerica.com

The idea is simple: a home computer that acts as a kind of dispatcher, translator, and organizer for all your digital devices. A computer that can download and edit data from PDAs, digital cameras, the Web, MP3 players, DVDs, and CDs without the nightmarish struggles over compatibility that have made many users want to hang themselves from the nearest beam with a USB cable. Sony, which manufactures gadgets for almost every digital need, has been preaching this "convergence" for years, hoping consumers will buy Sony, Sony, and more Sony.

Long before they were units of measurement, Curie, Fahrenheit, Ohm, and Watt were exceptional scientists.

A loaded toolbelt is not just unsightly, it's uncomfortable. Here's a quick fix. American Tool's Vise-Grip Toolbox Multi-Tool is seven tools in one: a wire cuter, scraper, serrated knife blade, smooth knife blade, reversible screwdriver, and a quarter-inch bit holder for hex drivers—all in the body of locking pliers. Price: $30.

Your PDA is a great multitasker, so why not its carrying case? Logitech's flexible fabric KeyCase ($99) unfolds into a full QWERTY keyboard. The case, which has been in the works for over a year, weighs 5 ounces and works with newer Palm Pilots, including the m130, m515, and i705.

What's the point of having a cellphone for emergencies if 911 dispatchers can't figure out where to send the paramedics? By 2005, all cellphones will be required by law to track their location. The first are here, including Samsung's GPS-enabled SPH-N300 and SPH-A460. Meanwhile, the Magnavox MobilePAL+GPS (left, top: $299) is a true emergency phone, with one red button that connects you to emergency services.

Renew your driver's license, replace a lost or stolen license, or change your address without ever seeing a department of motor vehicles agent. If it sounds too good to be true, it is—but maybe not for long.


The e-DMV concept, designed by Steiner Design Associates for VisionRx, scans you retina to verify your identity, gives an eye exam, and takes your photo before dispensing a new license. Not only does this save time, but it also frees agents to catch the bad guys using fake Social Security numbers and birth certificates.

Clothes shopping not your bag? We understand completely. But the latest trend in New York's fashion world is technology, and at Prada's brand-new flagship store in Manhattan, customers will be ogling the microchips more than the miniskirts.

When I show my parents the newest Star Wars video game, they freeze into an updated version of the classic painting American Gothic. My normally vivacious mother stares blankly at the screen. "Well, it certainly looks nice," she says dubiously. A few minutes later, about when I hoped my father would be ready to take a try at the controls, he abruptly suggests that we go get a bite to eat.

A basic DVD recorder is fine if you're just copying home movies. But what if you're a budding Spielberg and want to edit and then record your directorial efforts onto a DVD?



You can do it--with the right software and a computer.