Hasta La Gadget!

iRobot makes robots for all sorts of needs in the military and other business areas. In the consumer space, the company is probably best known for its line of robotic vacuum cleaners, including the Roomba and Scooba. Last year, iRobot started trials of a robot designed to work in hospitals – called the RP-Vita, or Remote Presence Virtual Independent Telemedicine Assistant.

Developed by iRobot and InTouch Health, the robot is a telepresence device that stands about as tall as your typical human. It’s fitted with dual screens, a video camera, Wi-Fi and other sensors and even has its own stethoscope allowing doctors to perform patient examinations remotely. It uses an iPad to control communications, and the robot is able to use sensors to map its environment and navigate autonomously.

iRobot has announced that the RP-VITA has now been approved by the FDA to be used for active patient monitoring in pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-surgical settings. It can work in several areas of the hospital including cardiovascular, neurological, prenatal, psychological, and critical care. These robots are far from cheap and are estimated to cost as much as $4000 per month to purchase and operate, but that still could represent a significant cost savings by allowing doctors to check in on more patients and more frequently.

[via Science World Report]

I don’t know why, but getting gobbled up by this plush monster looks more comfy than scary. This chair was created by Jason Goh and was inspired by a story his grandmother used to tell him about how fish balls would turn into a giant hairy hungry monster if he didn’t eat them up. Needless to say, that if I was a kid and heard that, I’d probably gobble up my fish balls as well. Mmmm. Fish balls.

The Moyee Monster Chair actually looks pretty comfortable to me. While it might not be suited to you if you are claustrophobic, it will provide you with a bit of privacy. The lush interior will also allow you to curl up in a fetal position and relax. The interior also has built-in mood lighting, and bottom is weighted so it won’t topple over when you sit inside of it.

I wonder if and when Jason will produce these one so I can get one for myself.

And if you’re wondering what fish balls are, they are round balls made up of ground up fish that are usually served in a broth, and are quite popular in Asia.

[via Yanko Design]

My heart breaks every time I hear about school shootings and other incidents where people with guns fire at innocent people for no apparent reason. It’s especially heartbreaking if it happens at a school, no less, where almost no one expects to get hurt because they’re there to learn.

In response to the most recent school shooting in Connecticut, military armor maker Hardwire has taken it upon themselves to create something that I never thought you’d need in school – bulletproof whiteboards and bag inserts to provide teachers and students with their last line of defense.
When faced with a shooter, they can basically take the bulletproof whiteboard and use it as a shield to protect themselves. The whiteboard comes with two handles so it’s easy to grip and handle. While the whiteboard might not be large enough to protect the body of an adult, it will be enough to at least shield the vital parts of the person’s body.

Hardwire has also made a bulletproof insert for backpacks, transforming bags into potentially life-shaving shields in the face of danger.

The bulletproof whiteboard is available in two sizes: the smaller clipboard version costs $109 (USD), while the larger 18×20 inch board is priced at $299. It can shield a person’s head and torso. The bulletproof bag insert is priced at $100.

[via CNET]

I personally didn’t think that anything could be worse than human zombies. Now I know better. Zombie teddy bears are truly terrifying. Just look at this demented bear. He wants your brains. Even a headshot won’t kill him, because his head is just full of stuffing.

These gruesome undead teddy bears are the work of Phillip Blackman, a British illustrator who enjoys turning teddy bears into horrifying zombies. You can’t reason with them, you can’t cuddle with them and they can’t be hugged. They deal only in death.

Their goal? To populate the world with teddy bear zombies and use humans for slaves. Have fun sleeping after seeing these guys.

You can see more of Phillip’s demented teddies here. If you’d like to permanently scar someone, you can even buy one for yourself. They’re currently sold out, but keep your eye out over on the Undead Teds’ Etsy shop for more zombie teddies, as the infection continues to spread.

[via Obvious Winner]

If you are cool with electronic gadgets in the bedroom, then this could be  for you. Jimmy Jane’s Hello Touch fingertip vibrator is supposed to be like a pleasure Power Glove.

This fingertip device is said to offer three times the vibration, while taking up less than one third of the space of other such gadgets. This device has no extra bulk, making it less clumsy and more usable in the bedroom.

You can get the Hello Touch fingertip vibrator from Jimmy Jane for $65(USD). Just one question: Will it be like making love to a cyborg?

[via Uncrate]