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Hereâ(TM)s what a robot has to do.

Very close solution already:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/autom...
All but picking up dirty clothes, taking them to the washer, and putting them in. Heck, it was folding mixed clean clothes from the dryer five years ago. :-)

Find the pile of dirty laundry, distinguishing it from other clutter that might be in the room.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sci...
* But note: It IS the daily mail so grain of salt. Lol.
This is possible now. But.. an easy mitigation is to require throwing the laundry into a basket or into a laundry hole.
        Pick up each item in the pile. (Uncertainty: itâ(TM)s unclear how many objects the robot will have to pick up.)
http://www.hammacher.com/Produ...
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Ro...

        Put each item in a laundry basket.
        Navigate to the washing machine. (Because of where the robot has to hold the laundry basket, it can obstruct some of the its sensors which means it receives less information and cannot adjust its movements as precisely.)
        Depending on the type of machine, pull or lift the door to open it.
        Transfer clothes into the machine.
        Add detergent and/or fabric softener.
What is this "fabric softener stuff"?
Preloaded "push button" dispenser detergent has been around for 50 years.
        Close the washing machine door.
Trivial. Especially with the internet of theme providing a clear "door is fully closed"
        Choose the appropriate wash cycle (Delicate, Permanent Press, Heavy Duty) and start the wash.
        Remove the clothes from the washing machine and transfer to the dryer. (Uncertainty: the robot doesnâ(TM)t know beforehand how many times it will need to reach in, grab the clothes, and remove them in order to get them all.)
http://spectrum.ieee.org/autom...
        Choose the type of drying cycle and start it.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/autom...

        Remove clothing from the dryer. (Uncertainty: how many times will it have to grab the clothes to get them out? Is there a sock still clinging to the inside of the machine?)
http://spectrum.ieee.org/autom...
        Fold items depending on the type of apparel.
http://research.universityofca...
http://spectrum.ieee.org/autom...
        Puts garments away in a dresser or closet.
Can't find this-- but it's reasonable that everything "alike" could be put together on the table or hung so a human could finish the job easily. At a minimum- you'd probably have to tag the laundry in some way to identify it's target drawer or closet.

It looks like the solution is a quarter million dollars now. So 10-20 years before it's down to under five grand.

Sharper Image. God truly does save the queens. And republicans. Many of whom are. Queens. Secretly. I have seen Ted Cruz in lipstick and lace. Not a pretty sight.

Actually, not. Sharper Image went bankrupt in 2008, and it's now just a licensed brand name, same as Kodak and Polaroid.

Thankfully Hammacher Schlemmer is still with us.

Brand new: http://www.hammacher.com/Product/81898?tid=pr81898. More than a $150 tablet, but better than a $150 tablet that you can't use.

Not so new: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=manual+typewriter (One of those looks like what I did all my high school & some college papers with).

Exactly. If Pac-Man was 3 or 4 years old and still sold on store shelves I would have infinitely more understanding and sympathy for the IP owners.

Pac-Man is 30 years old and still on the shelves.

Google shopping returns 8,000 hits for licensed Pac-Man games and related products.

Namco sells $3000 full-sized replica Pac-Man Arcade Games for the family room.

I have also been thinking about getting one of those RFID blocking wallets. Has anyone actually tested how well the various ones work? Here are several examples of the RFID blocking wallets that I have run across:

• Stainless Steel Wallet
• ïSuperleggera Aluminum Wallet
• ïRFID Blocking Wallet
• ïRFID Blocking Wallet

They also have RFID blocking passport sleeves such as this one:

• ïStainless Steel RFID Blocking Passport Sleeve

Hammacher and Schlemmer still sells a manual typewriter, so I assume someone makes it for them. http://www.hammacher.com/Product/76336?query=typewriter
It's an Olivetti. However, on this page it says: "Due to the popularity of this item, we are unexpectedly sold out."

What are you guys talking about? I've had a voice-controlled bartending R2 unit for /years/. http://www.hammacher.com/publish/75698.asp?promo=xsells# One of his compartments opens to reveal a can-holding device!

"It covers the "simultaneous toasting of a bread component" "

-a.k.a. placing the bread in a toaster.

simultaneous toasting

nasty.

Well apparently this isn't going to improve CO2 levels much, since according to this website UV + titanium dioxide => CO2! Plus, based on the bug trap being sold at that link, I'm guessing that mosquitoes could pose a serious problem for this experiment...

I don't mean to be to be a downer, but I think there are other factors as well that will prevent this particular model from taking of. Namely does it look cool, is it safe, and how well does it hold up under extreme weather cases. Following the links, the Aptera looks fugly as hell, mostly because it's trying to damn hard to look futuristic. Why can't electric car developers go with a more conservative design to ease acceptance? Instead they have to try their damndest to make the car look like ass and dick. Safety is another issue. Most electric cars like they'd crumple if you stubbed your toe on them; again, it's a design issue. The next is versatility. All those evil gas guzzlers: minivans, trucks, and suvs, do have a functional use of carrying a lot of stuff somewhere through any weather conditions. I doubt electrics will have enough torque to go over rocky terrain or through mud. Though, I suppose this is fine. It will just relegate the electric car to a commute car.
In terms of acceptance, I guess I'd really like to see an affordable electric car that looks normal.

"1. Acquire satellite radio: This would allow apple to sell iTunes over wireless without a computer. Also, satellite radio use digital transmission. iPod can either do built-in transmitter or make it as an accessory. This would allow user to play their iPod on car radio (satellite radio) without wire and without loss of signal quality. I can think of tons of other benefits of Apple-satellite radio merger, but not enough space here. This will also allow wireless song sharing like Zune."

Satellite radio has a high capital cost, high licensing costs, and still not profitable. It would make more sense for Apple to use cellular technology for wireless such as EVDO and Bluetooth for sharing files like Zune. My cell phone already does a better job at wireless transfers to other phones and to my computer using Bluetooth than Zune.

"2. Acquire TiVO or offer similar service. Allow TiVO to download iTunes song and synch with iPod. Agains this will allow people to buy iTunes over broadband without using computer. Also, people can play their iTune songs on home stereo via DVR easily. This would fit in ther iTV or MacMini strategy quite well."

Tivo is dead...It's been on the market for years and still has less than 5 million subscribers and declining especially since DirecTV is no longer using Tivo. There is hope with Comcast though. Besides, iTunes is not a money center for Apple. More likely is iTV/iTunes integration.

"3. iPod remote: Make an iPod remote which looks like iPod nano. It can be synched with real iPod using a computer. Now user can truly do full control of their iPod using this remote control. My biggest problem of current generation of remotes is that I can't select a song, photo, video. I can only do play and then skip it if I don't like it. With a wheel and display, I can exactly select the song and then play. Such a remote should not cost more than 50/60 dollars."

Already available. Not quite the size of the Nano. But what is there to sync on a remote?
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/73001.asp?promo=Q Search&ls=CH#

"4. External memory/battery module for iPod nano: Make an external memory/battery module for iPod which will connect to docking connector. That way, I can expand my iPod nano. How about 8 GB module for $99? Or a 48 hour battery module."

The whole purpose of the Nano is the small size. If you want something larger with a larger capacity, the 30GB iPod is the same price as the 8GB Nano. As far as battery packs there are plenty of them out there....

Rechargeable battery pack that adds 6 hours of video or 10 hours of audio:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process ?Product_Id=282059

Battery pack that uses standard 9V batteries. $29.00 (not a referral link)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007NZQ2W/ref=dp _cp_ob_title_1/002-0578485-3817628

"5. A camera module expansion."

Do you mean something that allows you to transfer photos from your camera to your ipod? Apple sells the iPod Camera connector.

This is one of these silly non-products that companies like Neiman-Marcus and Hammacher Schlemmer like to have in their catalogs. It's not a real product, it's all about publicity.

It's one of these crazy but amusing-sounded "products" that sound as if they'd be appropriate for the title character in "Brewster's Millions" (who had to waste $30 million in 30 days in order to inherit $300 million).

They tend to be not-quite-one-of-a-kind items that are nevertheless certainly not mass-produced and frequently involve an obvious component of personal service or installation.

This year Hammacher Schlemmer has a $15,000 rocking horse. Nieman-Marcus has a $40,000 7 foot sculpture made entirely out of pencils, but their big item is the $1,764,000.00 six-person trip into space.

I can't seem to find any of items that must involve sending a small army of people to install them, but they've had them in the past. You know, amusement-park-sized train rides for a 400-acre backyard or live camels or that sort of thing.

I suspect that very, very, few of these items are actually sold, and I bet that in some cases the companies wait for the item to be purchased before figuring out how they are going to deliver or install it. Nieman-Marcus may or may not make money on the Virgin Galactic space flights, but their business is not built on these offerings.

These products are offered so that hundreds of local news pairs of talking heads will alternatively swivel them toward each other as Kimberly says "If you're looking for the gift for the person who has everything, take a look at _this_ from the Glooper-Gnorgl catalog!" then swivels her head toward Lance who says "That's right, it's a real home hospital complete with emergency room, three motorized gurneys, and a five-person medical staff, and it can be yours for $56,000,000!"

I bet these guys or these guys can top that!

More interesting still is Hammacher Schlemmer's remote control UFO. It's not the one with the camera but the price is right.

This is a joke, right? Mod funny? Because there are no end to iPod speaker accessories. None.

"The industry standard was 160F, as has been noted"

No, it is usually considered to be well above that. Check http://www.hammacher.com/about_us/Institute%20Ehel p/ins_December2000.asp: They recommend 180 - 190 degrees.

"McDonalds chose to deviate from this standard -- no problem so far."

No, they held to the standard.

"They did NOT inform consumers that they were significantly higher than the standard"

They did inform customers. They said it was "hot coffee". The "hot" was the typical expected temperature.

" I see nothing wrong with that, since McDonald's was in the wrong (in my opinion)."

As we see with yours, some opinions are incorrect.

"Her foolish action would not have caused nearly so much damage had it not been for McDonalds' decision to serve coffee dangerously hot *and* not inform consumers how dangerous it was."

1) It wasn't dangerous.

2) They did inform consumers.

I would have to go with this monitor http://www.hammacher.com/publish/10244.asp?promo=e l_computer#.
Sitting in front of one of those, I would just feel like the code was something organic, moving all around pretty much my entire view field. 21 grand is a bit steep though :\

At work I have two 19" screens at they work perfectly and were probably cheaper than this behemoth. Also, when I am buying branded monitors I have pretty good idea what I am getting, which I am not sure can be said for these guys. Sorry but it seems just like another gimmick. Anyway if you've got money to burn check out this bad boy

I saw this upside-down tomato garden on a recent flight in SkyMall and thought it looked pretty cool. The tomato plants grow downwards and then you can plant something else on top. It's rather large, but I think it's rather unusual and is the ideal geek planter.

Not mentioned in the article is that Sony and NVidia have entered into a strategic partnership with Hammacher Schlemmer

Anyway, I like the 'taxi wallet' format the best. It is pocket shaped and nice and light.
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/70450.asp (first search result)

I only carry some cash and 4 cards: driver license, check card, credit card, and one business card of my dad's with all the phone numbers I haven't memorized of family and friends on the back(nope, no cell phone).

Link to Hover "scotter".

Half life 2
+
This monitor upgrade

brace yourself for a promotion

They always seem to have something particularly geeky and they are always expensive.

How about:

• a hemispherical projection screen computer monitor;
• a human bowling set (you ride in the bowling ball); or
• a personal hover scooter (like the ads in Popular Mechanics)
• and much, much more . . .

IIRC they had a real submarine in their Christmas catalog one year.

They always seem to have something particularly geeky and they are always expensive.

How about:

• a hemispherical projection screen computer monitor;
• a human bowling set (you ride in the bowling ball); or
• a personal hover scooter (like the ads in Popular Mechanics)
• and much, much more . . .

IIRC they had a real submarine in their Christmas catalog one year.

They always seem to have something particularly geeky and they are always expensive.

How about:

• a hemispherical projection screen computer monitor;
• a human bowling set (you ride in the bowling ball); or
• a personal hover scooter (like the ads in Popular Mechanics)
• and much, much more . . .

IIRC they had a real submarine in their Christmas catalog one year.

This thing has to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It's essentially a $21,000 seaplane with a 90 mile range that's small enough to store in a garage.

Check their transportation page for plenty of stuff I'd be able to afford if I lost enough limbs to prevent my being able to use it.

A seven-person bicycle?

Hammacher Schlemmer has the most overpcied, cool, and fun stuff around. it's borderline insanity.... but very cool.

And they sell such cool stuff. - Steve

And they sell such cool stuff. - Steve

And they sell such cool stuff. - Steve

And they sell such cool stuff. - Steve

And they sell such cool stuff. - Steve

From the product description of the $20,595 (+$650 shipping) giant hemispherical 180 Computer Monitor:

Remote control uses 2 AA batteries (included).

Wow, thanks for the value-add!

I bet these things will be showing up for kids under the Christmas tree (or insert festival of your choice). I get a catalog called "Lifestyle Fascination" which rivals Hammacher Schlemmer for gadget psychosis. Sharper Image is strictly farm league.

The incredible thing is, this stuff really does sell. Really. Someone liked this stuff enough to post this article. And here I'd thought we'd hit the price/value nadir back in the 70's with disco and the Pet Rock.

Consider a car with active sound dampening. no road noise. No passing car noise. However, active sound dampening could be used intelligently, to allow you to clearly hear sirens, horns, etc.

Of course, with the sound beams and active noise cancelling, the driver could (theoretically, with enough sensors & speakers) hold a hands-free cellphone conversation without the passengers being able to hear.

Frightening.

Let's see, I can use the iSmell to recreate scents. I can get the 180 degree immersive monitor to immerse my sense of sight. My sense of hearing can be fooled by the AuSIM reCREate. The previously mentioned iFeel MouseMan covers my sense of touch. That just leaves my sense of taste, which is obviously lacking if I would use all of these products rather than go outside and take a walk. &ltsigh&gt I suppose I will just have to lick my iSmell.

I found this link which looks to be the same type of thing, only a lot smaller. It's priced at 20k, and would fit easily in a normal sized room.

I'd like the Aquatic Pod Suite from Hammacher Schlemmer. It only costs $91,100, and that's including the Bose stereo and diesel generator.

I saw this one about a month ago, and they looks strikingly similar :/

Hammacher Schlemmer has a large size MP3 player that while rather expensive seems nice.

It's only glaring failing I can see (without buying one of course) is that it uses Windows based software.
Maybe it will work under WINE. ;-)


The Tick - "Spoon!"