How does technology keep you in the loop throughout the day?

I pretty much only use RSS feeds when it comes to keeping myself in the loop about daily events and new technologies. Since I’m glued all day in front of a screen, this is probably the most efficient way to do this. But what about you, dear readers? How does technology keep you in the loop throughout the day? What devices or software do you use to keep yourself in touch with your news sources? Be sure to let us know via comment section below!

Really? You Call That a Robot?

By Derek Clark
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

I have to admit, as a fan of robots, I’m a little disappointed with the latest crop on display at this year’s CES. Sure, there were a few helpful devices for those who don’t like to vacuum or do windows, but where are all the humanoid autonomous robots I was promised when I was a kid – when I cried myself to sleep, praying for a little robot buddy that would understand me and never make fun of my He-Man collection like my butt-head older brother. Oh roboticists of the world, when will I hear those geek-melting words “Number 5 is alive!”

Now, I’m no expert in robotics (unless we’re including break dancing skills), but Stephen Hawking Christ! Last I checked it’s 2011 already! I think we can do better.

Really, Murata? The best you could do was a female robot on a unicycle? Isn’t that just a tiny Segway in a miniskirt? Sorry, but if you’re going to label something as ‘female’ then there’d better be a way for me to have sex with it. (If there is, then please disregard my sarcasm… and call me.)

Really, iRobot? I mean, thanks for the improved vacuum cleaners, but excuse me if I don’t do cartwheels over your iPad on wheels, AVA. Come on, the least you could’ve done was given it some arms so I could program it to fetch me a beer.

Really, Intuitive Automata? A Teddy Ruxpin on Weight Watcher’s? Unless your doe-eyed Autom can shout names at me like ‘Jabba the Pizza Hut’ or ‘Geekopotamus’ while holding a mirror to my face, chances are, I’m not putting down that bacon sandwich.

Really, PARO? You couldn’t even give your robotic baby seal a new buddy, like Nanook the Inuit seal clubber? (Oh, stop gasping. Don’t tell me you didn’t think the same thing when you saw that cute little critter. No? Okay, moving on…)

Really, ATR and VStone? You want me to pay $41,000 for a robot to walk my grandma across the street? No thanks. I’m pretty sure that leash I put on her car-hating kitty will see her across just fine. Although I have to admit, your Robovie R3 is the closest of the bunch to my dream of a real robotic Gary Coleman.

Sadly, it looks like another year without my mechanical soul mate. Until that day, I guess I’ll just have to be content with sharing my He-Man collection with my Roomba.



Got Extra Cash? There’s an App for That.

By Adrienne Crezo
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

The Consumer Electronics Show 2011 is in full swing and geeks around the world are in tech-rapture mode. The first big reveal (and perhaps the forerunner for Least Necessary New Technology) is the Human Touch AcuTouch 9500, a massage chair controlled by iOS devices through the HT-Connect app. So how much will having an app for that run you? A cool five G’s. That’s right, $5000 to have your iPad give you a rub-down. Good news, though: the HT-Connect app and White Glove shipping are free! < /sarcasm>

Cost aside, the chair looks kind of awesome. Though the company’s focus on wellness seems like a thinly veiled attempt at justifying technological hedonism, the AcuTouch 9500’s inner workings appear to be high-end, well designed and effective. (This isn’t one of those weird, vibrating La-Z-Boy things your grandma had.)

So let’s break it down:

  • HT AcuTouch 9500: $5000
  • HT-Connect app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad: $0
  • Shipping: $0
  • Dropping a sack of gold dubloons on a chair solely for the gimmicky perk of running it from a device you’ll replace before CES 2012: PRICELESS