health

Phone-proof underwear

As far as potential health threats from mobile phones are concerned, the Europeans appear to be way ahead of the rest of the world in taking preventive measures. Perhaps they're just more susceptible to gadget allergies and other digitally related maladies.

A couple of months ago, a French cosmetics company came up with a mist that it claims will shield your delicate epidemermis from any harmful rays emitted by your handset. That's fine, but the Brits are more concerned about particularly sensitive parts of the anatomy, as research by the University of Newscastle has indicated.

So now, Swiss … Read more

The Wii: To your health

Nintendo has figured it out: Why should it let others take all the glory for the Wii's supposed health benefits? Tech Digest says the company is developing a game called Wii Health that will "test your fitness and send the results off to an unspecified UK hospital for analysis."

Not everyone is on the Wii's fitness bandwagon, daring to suggest that real-life exercise is better for kids than playing games regardless of how serious they are about them. But at least one personal trainer has created a workout routine based on Wii play, and others say … Read more

Is your mobile phone killing bees?

No, this isn't one of those items about how your cell phone irradiates your brain--there's been plenty of research in the U.S. and Europe looking at that fear. A Danish health study has concluded cell phones are not killing us large mammals.

But if you're still worried about cell phone radiation, CNET has the chart for you, and the key word is "Chocolate" because that phone has the lowest radiation of any phone tested in the States. (It should be noted that this story is coming out of Europe, where the EU allows nearly … Read more

TauMed brings social networking to health

TauMed is a new medical Web site for consumers who want detailed health information. Where the popular WebMD offers A-Z health guides, videos on selected topics, a 3D symptom checker and a symptom evaluation tool, TauMed goes an extra step with new features out this week that aim to build a community among those seeking health information.

The president of CEO of TauMed.com, Tauseef Bashir, attributes this extra depth to a proprietary search engine, which finds articles by theme, not just those with matching keyword tags. When I tried the phrase "birth control," I found that related … Read more

Gadget allergies: Our worst nightmare

Imagine being allergic to every single gadget on these pages.

According to this article in the Daily Mail, that nightmare is a reality for 39-year-old Briton Debbie Bird.

Bird says she experiences a severe allergic reaction when exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF). That means no cell phones, no microwave ovens, no computers, and even no cars in some cases. Bird is also sensitive to public Wi-Fi hotspots, which limits her possibilities for social outings.

Bird has experienced symptoms such as headaches, skin rashes, a burning sensation, and swollen eyelids when exposed to the electromagnetic fields created by today's technology. … Read more

A pain-relieving gadget (we're told)

If LED bulbs can improve health and fight depression, then why can't the "LifeMax TENS Machine" relieve pain and tone the body?

That's the claim of this handy device from U.K. company Maplin Electronics, which says the wonder gadget is "fully approved and certificated" (though by whom, we don't know). Whatever it does, it can be adjusted in "12 pre-set programs" and "2-channel user-defined programs for individual needs." We're sold!

And in case you were wondering: Red Ferret informs us that TENS stands for "Transcutaneous Electrical … Read more

Laser belt claims to make you healthy

Crave has seen some bizarre health and fitness equipment, but this may deserve a category all its own. The Korean-made "Photo Sauna Cauterizer" (cauterizer?) emits a laser with a "low level of radiation" for what its manufacturer claims are a variety of health benefits. An understandably skeptical Red Ferret says the claims involve "some kind of oxygen rejuvenation." Call us chicken, but anything that mentions cauterization and radiation in the same sentence isn't something we want strapped anywhere near our waistlines, or anyplace else on our bodies.

'Nursebot' lends a helping, er, hand

Japan may have robots that can clean and tend to hospital patients, but German scientists are working on a model that can do both.

In addition to mopping floors, the "Nursebot" can reportedly take a patient's temperature with laser beams and thermal camera imaging. And, as Technie Diva says, "this means no more rectal temperature-taking treatment for you."

The Nursebot is scheduled for 2010, but we're looking for ways to donate contributions to speed its release.

JoesGoals: A really nice goal tracker. Or is it a to-do list manager?

JoesGoals is a simple online application that's great for tracking your daily goals. You can assign positive or negative points for things you want (or don't want) to do, and just click on the goal to add or subtract from your tally. For example, I'd like to quit eating M&M's every afternoon. I set that up as a negative goal; when I give in to it, I click on it and get a point subtracted from my goals score for the day. On the positive side, I should walk the big hill home instead … Read more