Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve seen many types of calculators over the years – from ordinary ones to those that can compute the body’s fat ratio and others that can compute one’s carbon footprint. Far removed from most everything we’ve seen is this rather quirky calculator from Japanese company Wiz. You see, it’s meant to compute for something quite intangible – emotional damage. It does sound crazy, but it seems Wiz has its proverbial tongue fully pressed against its cheek upon this toy’s development.

Classified as a “gag” toy, this device aptly called “Consolation Money Calculator,” can tell your offender just how much their slight means in concrete money value. Users have to input details of their personality, details of the offense and their relationship to the offender to get the final amount. There are even bundled invoice sheets you can hand out to those who cause you grief. The Consolation Money Calculator will be available this January 24 in Japan for around $30.

I’m of the opinion that one of technology’s purposes is to make people’s lives a lot easier. But there are times when quirk and novelty count and make you want gadgets even if they make simple tasks a tad more complicated. Take for example this noodle vending machine by Nissin.

Though it’s called vending machine, it’s actually just a glorified hot water dispenser, cup noodle cupboard and piggy bank. Nissin’s My Vending Machine is a limited edition gadget offered only as a prize to a raffle draw where people can win one of the 3,000 devices. While it will be fun to play with this thing, the promo is available only in Japan.

For a video of My Vending Machine in action, check out the clip after the jump.

At CES, not even the toys are all fun and games. Take Paro, the animatronic baby seal from Japan. It’s cute as hell, sure, but Paro also serves a much nobler purpose.

Referred to as a “healing pet,” Paro is created to serve as animal therapy for patients, without having to go through the sort of troubles that real life animals pose. According to the representative we spoke with, Paro has been around for a number of years. It shows.

The little seal is surprisingly lifelike a receptive. He responds to touch and sound and can actually learn behavior over time. Paro has recently hit US shores.

Check out a video of Paro in action, after the jump.

There are always a couple of off-beat hits every CES, and it doesn’t come much more off-beat than Ozaki’s line of iMini Pets, little animatronic stuff animals that sit on top of an iPod speaker dock. The pets grove and lip sync to the music from your iPod. The dock features an on/off sleep system, dual alarm, and a 27 x 59 mm LCD display.

On display at the show this week were the Jazz Panda, Rock Lion, Rap Frog, Classic Bear, and House Dog. Oh, and, uh, Barack Obama, too. Yep, the presiden-elect was on the showroom floor today, grooving alongside the pets. That’s change we can all groove to.

Check out a video of the pets–and Obama–dancing to “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” after the jump.

Though the last Gearlog entry to feature Polaroid concerned its bankruptcy filing, rumors of Polaroid’s death are premature. That’s especially true after today’s announcement that instant print cameras are now digital! Kudos to our Mariella Moon who sniffed this one out in August.

The Polaroid PoGo is 4.7-inches wide by 3-inches tall and weighs only 10 ounces. It is indistinguishable from a bevy of other digital cameras except it prints! Sixty seconds after snapping the shutter your photo comes out fully developed. The photos are a bit on the tiny side and I suspect thinner than typical photo prints. At least that’s the implication from, “2×3-inch sticky-backed photos.”