Just yesterday, I was discussing the Sanwa Throat Microphone, a type of communication device that clips to the throat like a collar. I have recently discovered the Taser Axon, which works like the Sanwa in the way it clips to your head.

However, the Taser Axon is meant to be a recorder. It is designed to stay affixed to a cop’s head, so that footage will always be taken when an officer is on the beat.

This way, if there is any case against the officer, and it is a civilian’s word against the officer, the evidence will be on the Taser Axon to prove one person’s testimony in a trial.

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This isn’t the first set of binoculars capable of taking digital photographs.  It is, however, one of the cheapest models I’ve seen.  Which might be a down side for serious picture takers, but for the casual photographer it’d be a great find.  For anyone from birdwatchers, kids, aspiring spies and even perverts with a non-photographic memory, this would be a great camera to have around.  It’s also slightly more inconspicuous, since other binoculars with a camera built-in sometimes have an extra pop up screen, making it more likely you could sneak these into a concert.

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It would appear that the giant aircraft maker company Lockheed Martin has developed an actual working exoskeleton. That’s right, one of those wearable strength-booster things plucked right out of science-fiction is now working reality!

Lockheed Martin calls this exoskeleton the HULC. Clearly, it takes its name as homage to the superhero Hulk, but, practically speaking, it reminds me of Iron Man, without the full-body metal suit.

The HULC is a “hydraulic-powered anthropomorphic exoskeleton that provides users with the ability to carry loads up to 200 lbs for extended periods of time and over all terrains”. Note the soldier carrying the bomb. I am assuming that the HULC is taking the weight, and preventing back strain.

As for the power of the HULC, it is completely battery-powered. I have heard that the exoskeleton is quite flexible, and its design is “power-saving”, to save on energy for secret missions.

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Ever wondered whether the maid you hired actually brings in her boyfriend to your apartment when you’re not around? If you’re thinking of catching a secret tryst on video, there are these DVR hidden cameras to consider – it comes in the form of an alarm clock like what you see on the right, but is connected to a special receiver and is smart enough to work only when it detects the presence of another human in the room.

Users can employ the cameras to watch nannies taking care of their children, office or business employees, inventory control at a warehouse, and many other types of covert use. With the SD card allowing anywhere from 8 to 144 hours worth of recording time, the user need not worry about running out of tape as with VHS tape, or space as with a DVD. The hidden camera’s DVR is completely contained within the system, therefore relieving worry of anyone noticing that they are being video recorded – no clicking noises, no lights on – the self recording hidden cameras are completely discreet.

These hidden cameras come in many form factors, ranging from a clock radio to an air purifier, an air freshener, or even a boom box. I’d be more wary about receiving these as gifts in the future.

Press Release

We all know that no two fingerprints are exactly alike, which is how biometric scanners can identify the correct user. However, did you know that people can be positively identified by their finger veins?

This is exactly what the mofiria is designed to indentify. It uses near infrared LEDs on the side of the user’s finger, and then CMOS sensors can capture the scattered light inside the finger veins.

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If you’ve ever had a wish to become a super secret spy, then you’ll need this lighter to help you capture all of those super secret spy moments.  Yes, I’m sure there are so many moments that come to mind, that you wish you’d have had a lighter with a hidden video camera and microphone.  Be it when your boss or spouse says to do something, then later claims they never said that or just when you know that the person’s words are going to come back and bite them in the rear.   You will be the one to capture it all and they’ll never know how.

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CES 2009 may be over, but I have enough material collected from the collective booths that I visited for articles for the rest of the month, and longer. For example, when I was passing through the Sands/Venetian portion of the show, I met two representatives for VIEVU.

The VIEVU PVR-PRO 2 is a camera that is small enough to be clipped on to a user’s shirt for home and law-enforcement purposes. There is a small lens there, and the cover can be flipped open to start recording, and shut for stopping it. With every flip, the video footage is saved as a separate file.

The video footage is SVGA and shoots at 30 frames per second with resolution of 640 x 480. The PVR-PRO 2 has an internal 4 GB memory card for over four hours of recording time. After filming, a user can then connect the VIEVU via USB to a PC or MAC for downloading the videos.

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Not a new product category, but as usual time and technology brings products that were once the domain of big business down to a more consumer friendly level.

The DLink DCS-1130 security / web camera is motorised for pan/tilt adjustment, wireless and can be controlled via a web browser. It can store the video on a PC or send it out to the web but I like the third option of viewing it on a 3G phone so you can monitor the builders / burglers / cheating spouses live in realtime.

(Photo courtesy of Engadget)