Every year we see new technological gadgets introduced and look forward to what’s coming next, and 2013 does not look like it’s going to disappoint our anticipation. Here, then, are two awe-inspiring gadgets that you might want to check out in 2013.
#1. Nest.
Built by two former Apple employees, the Nest is a “learning thermostat” that can program itself to adjust to your temperature needs. After it's been installed for about a week, it has learned your habits and programs itself accordingly.
The Nest has an “Auto-Away” setting that really comes in handy on those days that you leave the house on vacation and forget to turn the thermostat down. It senses that you are away and adjusts the temperature so that you aren’t heating or cooling an empty house.
Thermostats are energy hogs, and the Nest can save you up to twenty percent of your energy bill. It has a feature called the “Leaf” that will appear on the thermostat when it is adjusted to the optimal energy-saving temperature. In addition, the Nest can even show you when you used the most energy by monitoring your system when it’s on and telling you which part of the system hogs your energy the most.
By the way, you can program the Nest from your phone.
This is one awesome thermostat. Check out the demonstration video and see how the Nest can make you more comfortable, whether it’s physically or when you get the electric bill.
#2. Google Project Glass.
Let’s face it, Google and its part on the internet is a big part of our lives, whether we want it to be or not. That’s why it should be no surprise that the co-founder of Google (Sergey Brin) has come up with “Project Glass”, glasses that let you access the internet and “include a small screen in front of your eye and will have motion sensors, GPS and either 3G or 4G data connections.
The concept of wearable computing is always being explored, and Google has taken it to a whole new level. These glasses let you cruise the internet, tell you where the nearest restaurant is, give you directions to the nearest shopping center, update your Twitter feed, send email, and much, much more, all by “augmented reality” and hands-free technology.
Google feels that we are entitled to any information at any given time, and Glass apparently delivers. It has GPS, so it’s “location-aware”. You can tilt your head and scroll through pages on the internet. It has a front-facing camera and a flash. It has voice input and output.
Google is experimenting with different eyewear looks (Diane Furstenberg used the eyewear in her Spring 2013 fashion show), and Glass may even be available in contact lenses in the future (Project Contact Lens).
Developers who have pre-ordered them will have them by early 2013, although Public Release looks to be in 2014. The glasses run $1,500.00 a pair.
On a privacy note, if you think Google knows almost everything you do now, wearing the glasses should give them whatever information they don’t have (all paranoia aside).
You can view a live demonstration of the glasses here and get an idea of Project Glass and its awesomeness here.
Two gadgets to look forward to. Awe-inspiring, indeed.
Lori Cline, Phoenix Gadgets Examiner
Questions? Comments? Contact Lori at contactlorilei@gmail.com.
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