Physios in Australia are using a Nintendo Wii accessory to help them rehabilitate people who have had a stroke, according to an article in The New Scientist.

It turns out that the £69.99 Wii Balance Board is a useable alternative to the lab-grade "force platforms" currently in use that cost £11,000. When re-teaching people how to stand and walk after serious accidents or strokes, it helps physios to be able to record how much weight a person is putting on each foot to judge how good their sense of balance is.

The cost of the official "force platforms" means that many physio clinics can't afford them.

The Wii Board needs to be hacked and customised a bit but according to the New Scientist, Clark and his colleagues at the University of Melbourne, Australia, were impressed by results rendered up by the strain gauges and accelerometers found in a Wii Balance Board. "We found the data to be excellent. I was shocked given the price: it was an extremely impressive strain gauge set-up." he said.

The data is clinically comparable to that gained from force boards.

Wonder if there are any other ways that the medical professions can incorporate computer games into their practise... using computer games to stimulate finger movement after broken arm bones perhaps, or just Hello Kitty Online projected on the ceiling to promote soothing feelings at the dentist...

[via the New Scientist]

I haven't bought any glittery roses for the purpose of personal decoration since I was about 14, but I still have a soft spot and a large drawer for all that cheap glittery stuff I bought from Claire's Accessories as a kid.

Anyway if glittery jewels plus audio technology makes you feel hot waves of gadget lust - the Jewellry earphones from gadget4all will probably please you. Designed to appeal to 13 year old girls and I guess anyone who still feels like one on the inside, there's a Jewel Rose Earphone for the pretties and Jewel Skull earphones for the alternative gothy ones.

Boys should pay attention to these cute earphones too. Valentine's day is only a month away (!!) and as Gadget4all phrase it: "With nice metallic plating, it must be a special gift to your friends and lover!!"

What's the audio like? We imagine that's not the priority. The 3.5mm stereo earphones weigh 30g and are 90cm in length.

Jewel Rose Earphone - $12.99 at gadget4all
Jewel Skull Earphone - $12.99 at gadget4all

Here's a really smart idea - customised cool earphones. I am arid I don't know much about them at the moment as the show isn't open and their press conferences isn't until Thursday, but Ankit have come up with a really interesting selection of what it calls 'the coolest earphones ever.' There's an intriguing selection of designs several of which have a, how shall we say this, a bit of a gothic twist.

The company says they don't just look good, they also sounds good too thanks to enhanced noise isolation and have g-bass™ technology.

No details yet on price or availability but you can have a good luck at the range of models, on the website here.

With pretty little orbs and a spaceman colour scheme these two watches from watch-makers Android are desirable and impressively, affordable.

I'm all about the Radar (on the left) channelling minimalism and spacesuits to produce a 70s style watch in pretty grey and baby-blue colours. The Sonic Radar is a specced-up version of the Radar that is water-resistant to 30m and has a stainless-steel strap.

Also both slightly cheaper than you might expect at $89 (£53) for the Radar and the Sonic Radar at $115 (£69) on Android.com

Related: Flik Flak launch Hello Kitty watches

[via RetroToGo]

ASUS - the laptop makers famous for their Eee PC netbooks - are looking around for new ways to carry laptops. And they're looking to you.

A bit more than just a "design a bag" challenge Asus has partnered up with a fashion industry group called Fashion Capital and launched a competition to find an "innovative new carry-concept for your laptop". So inventive types - get conceptualising!

Personally I'd like to have my laptop carried around by a motorised buggy that had a sweet little robot face, could also recharge the computer's battery and carry my coffee at the same time.

Though probably if you want to win you'd have to be a little more realistic. They're throwing the challenge out to designers and fashionistas, so maybe they're hoping for jump-suits with lap-top pouches or something along those lines.

The Eee PC range has targeted a female market through cute cover designs, very easy-to-carry but high-end notebooks and even collaborations with Disney. This new venture should wedge them a little further into the fashionable computer market.

New partners, FashionCapital (a support group for fashion businesses) seem to be keen on working with the laptop makers:

"In showcasing design-leaders ASUS we hope to inspire Designers and those in the Fashion Industry to think about how these new types of accessories are affecting what people wear and the way they wear it" says Jemima Compton from FashionCapital.

"Asus are presenting designer's and the public alike with a contemporary style challenge, just how do you remain at the top of the fashion parade when you are carrying a laptop."

How do you remain at the top of the fashion parade when you are carrying a laptop? Something I've never been able to work out.

The winning design will snag a Asus laptop.

See the competition details on FashionCapital

Some attractive new iPhone and iPod cases from case-crafters Technocutie - and it's not just the designs that are nice, the materials too.

Their Purple Billboard's iPhone case features recycled vinyl from billboards. (who knew they had vinyl on them? Giving it a toughness and an interesting sheen. Orange you Glad is made from limited-edition oilcloth imported from Mexico and the Moonlight Diner iPhone case uses glittery old-school diner-booth vinyl to give a retro sparkle. This one's my favourite.

All cases come with reinforced holes for headphones and charging access and with keyrings and elastic hooks. They seal with Velcro.

While having the toughness of the professional ones, these cases have quirk of looking a bit different from the average silicon skin.

$25 plus shipping from Technocutie

Bringing two wonderful things together: headphones and err.. ear muffs, skate, surf and snowboard headwear company Neff have created a headphone that come with a knitted case.

Less useful in a surf context - these is hardly bikini-accessorising stuff, this would certainly be good for skiing, snowboarding and just wandering around in the winter, looking darn good. Mixing sixties wholesomeness with geek trendy, these are pretty sweet and consequently have made it into pricey though hipster store Urban Outfitters.
The knitted case is sized to fit the bass-boosted headphones.

Sadly don't seem to be available in the British store but find them here on the Urban Outfitters American store for $42

[via incrediblethings]

Do you long to feel the fibrous roughness of bamboo under your fingers? You don't have to go to Thailand or even leave your desk to work with bamboo all day long - thanks to a new bamboo keyboard and mouse from Brando.

Yes - if like the look or feel of natural wood or just want something a bit different at the office, this could be the Bamboo USB keyboard and mouse for you.

Supporting Windows and plugging in via USB, the keyboard is standard size with 106 keys and the mouse has an optical scroll-wheel, which sadly is made of plastic.
The Bamboo is eco-friendly as well. We presume that means they didn't snatch it from the paws of baby pandas.

Usually we like to write about gadgets that look simple but are actually clever and do something cool that you wouldn't have expected: take the ring that is actually a Bluetooth headset.

BUT - on this occasion we saw fit to enlighten you about a gadget (if we can call that) that looks well, like a mobile phone, but is nothing more complicated than a small bottle. (for drinking out of, natch).

Yes the elaborate exterior with buttons, aerial and all the usual mobile phone regalia is a cover for a small metal flask. ... and the "aerial" is a small straw-like tube you can drink out of. Instead of topping up with pay-as-you-go mobile credit, you can top it up with say, bourbon, or Sainsbury's basics gin, you get the idea.

And why?

Read on..

I don't know about you, but I'm terrible asking for directions and prefer to get lost than embarrass myself. So I'm really pleased that TomTom has launched some more sat navs.

The TomTom GO 950 LIVE, TomTom GO 750 LIVE and TomTom GO 550 LIVE all have the company's IQ Routes technology, which calculates routes based on the real average speeds measured on roads every day compared to speed limits.

Using this data it can then give you routes based on avoiding areas that build up traffic at certain parts of the day.

The sat navs are also said to give drivers all the information they need about their journey before they set off, through the new LIVE snapshot feature. This includes road safety alerts and petrol prices of the stations you will be passing on your journey.

Once on the road, drivers automatically receive real-time updates on what's ahead, so they remain informed throughout their journey.

Those of us concerned about the environment will love the new Eco Routes option, which lets choose the most fuel-efficient route.

The TomTom GO 950 LIVE comes with pre-installed maps for America, Canada and 45 European countries. The TomTom GO 750 LIVE has maps for 45 countries in Europe including Malta, Greece and Turkey, and the TomTom GO 550 LIVE has maps of the UK/Republic of Ireland.

We haven't got any prices yet but as soon as we hear we'll let you know.

Genevieve picks up on a handbag with a difference...

While I'm not a celebrity, I am familiar with people taking photographs of me on nights out, not looking my best and in compromising situations. Instead of Paparazzi, I have click-happy friends. So this prototype handbag looks rather tempting. Coined the "Anti-Paparazzi handbag", it detects camera flashes and emits a powerful strobe to dazzle the photographer.

Whilst it's just a prototype at the moment, it seems like a good idea, but has anyone seen a picture of the bag? Does anyone know what it looks like? There will probably be an artist's impression "8" long, satin finish and had a menacing look about it" is what I imagine the eye witness report will sound like. It could be hideous and you'd be carrying around a really ugly handbag if no one was snapping you.

Also, what happens to it if it gets caught in the headlight of a car? Does it then go dazzling innocent motorists?

The more I think about it, the more I see holes in the idea. Still, at least knicker-less celebrities can use the bag to cover their parts as they're getting into cars. Then impressionable teens can read the gossip magazines and say "I knew it, the sun really does shine out of their bums".

By Genevieve Sibayan
AHProjects [via BoingBoing]

If you have the pleasure of being in possession of an iPhone (of any sort) or an iPod, you'll know that these slender pieces of hardware are expensive and that you really don't want to break them.

Sometimes those apple products are just too smooth and glossy for their own good. It's not that hard to imagine its glassy back sliding out of your palm and smashing *shudder* on the cruel ground or simply getting scratched up when you accidentally put it in the same pocket as your keys.

To prevent such disaster scenarios we've compiled a quick list of iPhone protectors. Cases come soft or hard, some cushion, some bounce, some simply stop it getting scratched and are really for flaunting your off-beat taste. It all depends on how much bulge room your pocket has, how much wear and tear you think your phone will get, and how much you're willing to spend.

Click on the image below to start the gallery

With the advent of a burning summer of heat, christened the BBQ summer by all serious media organisations in the UK, we'd hate to think of you getting hot, when some judiciously-applied gadgetry would help keep you cool.

These aren't the sort of gadgets that will make the hot, slightly sticky man pressed into you in the tube/bus/confined space move away from you - those are different - but these should keep you looking calm and dignified in the face of the burning sun.

Following the RSS pillow find, it seems I might be on a quest to turn my house into geek heaven. Even more tempting now after discovering Meninos which supplies a variety of nerdy household items including RSS coasters and more. Right now I'm loving the collection of lampshades, including the RSS shade and Metro shade.

Both are $70, and an unusual addition to any room. Meninos stocks a whole host of other items such as coasters, doormats and hard drive cases.

[words: Elle Symonds]

More Geek Chic here

Does your office have highlighter thieves? Hands up if you've ever nabbed your neighbours post it notes or worse- used their precious mug, y'know the one with their initials on it. Feeling guilty yet? Well the corner frame won't save you from mug related showdowns, but it will mean you always have a pen/post it note at hand when you need one. The frame attaches to your monitor with three fastener tabs, and lets you store pens, paper clips and photos easily.

Then again, displaying them this way might make them easier to steal...

$29.98 from get Organized ( via 7 Gadgets)

More computer stuff here

If you're anything like us and the myriad of gaming geeks out there, you probably spent a substantial amount of your youth wasting putting your parent's loose change into that two dimensional alien eliminating arcade game, Space Invaders. Well, the aliens are back - only this time for computer game themed H20 freezing purposes and the only way to do away with them is to leave them to the mercy of your tepid beverage.

Freeze those precious gaming moments here for £5.99.

Like this? Read these: Get 'em whilst they're young: Space Invaders baby clothes| Pants! Ted Baker Space Invaders underwear

All in one controllers sound well and good in the packaging, but once you've Stanley knifed your way through the interminable mounds of plastic you realize just how much you're going to hate your new device. It may say that it will control everything from your TV to your light fittings, but have you ever tried setting it up? Intuitive is not the keyword in this respect.

Well the XSight is an all in one remote that not only promises to manage up to 18 devices at any one time, but says it will SET ITSELF up. Yes you read that right.

Every year my mum heads to WHSmiths and buys one of those family calendars, y'know the type with a section for Dad, Sister and Dog so everyone's schedules can be co-ordinated. Well her meticulous planning can now take on a technological turn, with a much bigger price tag. Say hello to O2's Joggler, a geeky way of keeping your plans in order.

Who wants their in-car playlist dictated to them, with the interruption of vociferous radio DJs interrupting every ten seconds? Not me that's for sure.

Now iPod Nano 4G owners can finally join the rest of their brethren in the radio/iPod mashup arena by *finally* being able to listen to their iPod playlists via their FM radio. Griffin's iTrip provides the key. This little in-car audio streamer attaches to the bottom of your little player, which means no adaptor cables and no tangled wire-related break downs - it's completely wireless. The iTrip also features SmartScan that'll scan and save one clear frequency quickly and easily, so you don't have to do while driving and potentially run the risk of veering off the road (or into another car).

Bluetooth headsets don't normally make me smile, so the fact that this blinged out piece of ear jewellery elicited an eyebrow raise was enough to make me share it with you guys. You're looking at a LG/Swarovski mash up that clips to your ear to offer you the usual wireless free sound. But in the case of the HBM-530 you also get variety of overpriced crystals attached to an earpiece that screams Essex girl more than fake tan or acrylic nails. I quite like the plectrum like e-Clip design, but would never use it, unless they toned down the bling a little.

[via CrunchGear]

See here for more phone gadgets