safety

Technologies like the "DriveMaster Pro" may provide a ton of information about what's going on with a car's engine and emissions, but how about what's going on inside? Volvo has extended its reputation for road safety to the realm of personal security, developing a new technology that can detect if someone is hiding in a car.

Using a heartbeat sensor, the Volvo S80's "Personal Car Communicator" will flash its lights if there's "a murderous criminal hiding in the back seat," Popgadget says. The device is aimed at less sinister … Read more

Surfing in shark-infested waters isn't exactly our idea of fun, but we feel obligated to mention this item for all the California Cravers out there. Australia-based Shark Shield (gotta love that name) has released the board-mounted "Surf," which it describes as "the first electronic shark-deterrent system specifically designed for surfers."

Creating a "shark-safe zone" that's about 26 feet in diameter, the system supposedly generates an electrical field that the offending shark senses through receptors in its snout. (We're not making this up.) The fish then goes into "muscular spasms" … Read more

The idea of a car-board black box doesn't bother us, despite the obvious issues of data privacy and commentary on modern society. We are, however, offended by another aspect: aesthetics.

Just take a look at the most recent version from Gadget Universe. Would you really want to mount one of these things on your dash or in the rear window of your car? It's almost as bad as a dog with a bobbing head.

Sure, it's possible that your recorded evidence could come in handy after an accident. But what if you were at fault because your … Read more

You might already be familiar with the Nerf PS2 controller, a foam-covered wireless game pad that can survive the angry throws of frustrated gamers. Now Nerf is getting into the Wii accessory game, and televisions everywhere might be a little bit safer for it.

Performance Designed Products, the gaming accessory company that developed the Nerf PS2 controller, recently showed off the Nerf Sports Pack for Nintendo Wii at Toy Fair New York 2007. The Nerf Sports Pack includes a Nerf foam sleeve for the Wii remote and three Nerf sports attachments--a foam golf club, baseball bat, and tennis racket. It'… Read more

Announced today at Demo 07, security company Inilex is launching its own GPS car security system. Like competitor Lo Jack's early warning system, Inilex has a GPS hardware unit that's installed in your vehicle and alerts you if your car is moving when you're not in it. The unit also lets you know how fast your car is going. You can secure your vehicle via phone or a Web-based interface. What's really cool is that Inilex has created a way to make your own perimeters called "geo fences." Going outside of or (in some … Read more

As we were just noting in our usual cranky way, iPod cases are becoming the Starbucks of consumer electronics--a new one comes out seemingly every day, whether we need it or not (usually the latter). But what about its older and bulkier sibling, the MacBook?

As with many senior family members, the Apple laptop arguably needs more help in the injury-prevention department while the spry iPod goes on its merry way jogging or clubbing. Poor MacBook.

Luckily, RhinoSkin has come to the elder's rescue with a hard case to protect the laptop through the harsh winter months. MobilitySite … Read more

This is a perfect stocking stuffer, especially in preparation for late-night holiday festivities. The "Drive Alert Master" from Maplin Electronics is an over-the-ear device that's designed to keep you awake no matter how much cheap champagne was served at your company party.

It works like this: If your head suddenly drops forward while you're behind the wheel, the Alert Master sounds a loud beep just to make sure you're not nodding off. The contraption seems a little bulky for the ear, but it's not meant to be a fashion statement, and Shiny Shiny says … Read more

A Colorado company called Alcohol Monitoring System has created an ankle bracelet that weighs only half a pound and makes hourly BAC checks. According to Gizmowatch, 4,000 people are already wearing these bracelets, one of whom may or may not be your cranky, Jim Beam-loving neighbor. This way, authorities can keep tabs on repeat offenders and make sure they aren't getting behind any steering wheels. It's being used as part of a program that goes by the fantastic acronym of SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring).

But there's one thing this gadget's missing: a cool … Read more

It's been said on occasion that Crave doesn't always highlight the most useful items around--a scurrilous accusation to which we say hogwash.

So lest you think we're all about fluff, today we offer an item that's not only useful but actually promotes public safety: a combo flashlight and smoke detector, as seen on TravelGearBlog. If you don't know why this is a worthy product, you've never gone camping.

(Photo: Flarebrands)