Cute And Cuddly Robot Therapy

Paro is an extremely cute psychological enrichment robot that mirrors a baby harp seal. It may be adorable, but it’s not a toy. The name stems from “Personal Robot,” and the “Pa” is an “explosive sound” that is easy to remember. Add the two together and it equals Paro. Much different than any robot I’ve ever seen, Paro has been in development for several years and targeted at folks who are unable to take care of a real animal, or who live in places where no pets are allowed.In early April, Paro Robots U.S. Inc. was formed and will handle Paro’s sales and distribution in the United States.

“I view Paro as the embodiment of the best technology that has been developed over the past 30 years integrated into a ground-breaking robotic device that has as its sole purpose the task of comforting human beings,” said Walter Weisel, chairman and CEO of Paro Robots, U.S. Inc. “I could not be more privileged to have been asked to lead Paro Robots U.S. and bring comfort and therapeutic companionship to the health-care community.”

Paro is covered in pure white fur and features a hard inner skeleton under which are dual processors that control its proprietary software behavior generation and voice-recognition systems, and an array of sensors that work together to allow Paro to respond to you in a lifelike manner. It can “see,” “hear” and move proactively and reactively. This sophisticated technology is nicely concealed in the form of this treasured pet.


Considered to be a “mental commitment” robot, Paro is built to interact with humans and make the patient feel emotionally attached. These robots trigger impressions such as the cuteness factor or comfort. Mental commitment robots are designed to provide three effects: psychological (relaxation and motivation), physiological (improvement in vital signs) and social effects (spawning communication between patients and caregivers). These concepts have been proven with animal therapy. Animals often can relieve mental stress and allow you to relax.

To give the real animal behaviors, Paro has five sensor types: light, tactile, posture, audio and temperature. It recognizes light and dark with the light sensor, touch/strokes with the tactile sensor and being held with the posture sensor. Paro also can recognize the direction of voice and words (i.e. its name, greeting or praise) with the audio sensor. It shows cognitive behavior and can learn to behave the way the user prefers and responds to the name you call it. If you stroke it every time you see it, it’ll remember your previous action and try to repeat that action to be stroked. If you hit it, it’ll remember that, too, and won’t do whatever it did to make you hit it.

The fur on Paro is hygienic with an anti-bacterial, soil-resistant finish and hair-loss prevention to enable long-term use. It also is equipped with an electromagnetic shield so it can be used with a pacemaker. The reliability and durability has been tested through rigorous experiments, drop tests and stroking tests (more than 100,000 times).


Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to play with a Paro myself, but after watching some of the videos online, I can see that it responds as if it were a real animal. It moves its head and flippers, and makes baby harp seal sounds. it expresses surprise or happiness as it blinks its eyes. Each Paro is hand-made, so each has its own individual facial expression.

There are currently about 1,000 Paros with clinically documented results around the world used to mitigate the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia and emotional complications associated with severe injury or illness. None is used in Hawaii yet - at the moment, they are mostly in Japan and Europe.

For more information or to see videos of Paro, check out http://paro.jp/english. The cost is approximately $5,000 - since these are all hand-made, they are difficult to produce quickly.

Gran Turismo 5

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) released Gran Turismo 5 Prologue for the PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) last week. This is the fifth and latest installment of the Gran Turismo franchise, which has sold more than 48 million worldwide since its initial release 10 years ago. Gran Turismo has always been one of my favorite racing games, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to pop this into my PS3,not to mention it’s been a long wait since Gran Turismo 4 came out in 2005.

“Ten years after the Gran Turismo series debuted on PS one, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue arrives exclusively on PS3 as the most technologically advanced racing simulator on any platform,” said Jeff Reese, director, Software Marketing, SCEA. “With a great vehicle roster, unprecedented realism, online racing and support for the new DUALSHOCK3 wireless controller, this is the Gran Turismo fans have been waiting for.”

At first glance,I noticed how shiny the cars are as a result of how good the rendering is. I wish my own car would gleam and look that perfect in real life. You can see intricate details on the vehicles as well as nearly perfect,picturesque backgrounds (i.e. Mount Fuji). I’m not really that surprised, since the game runs in High Definition 1080p and it shows off the power of your PS3.

A first for any Gran Turismo game, online racing is supported in this release. You can play online with up to 15 other drivers (16 drivers simultaneously). When you’re going head-to-head against someone in your living room, you’ll see the split screen activate. About 70 cars, including high-performance cars from Ferrari, Audi, Nissan and Mitsubishi,are available to unlock and race. Choose from six realistic tracks including a London City Track, Daytona International Speedway, Suzuka Circuit and High Speed Ring.

When you’re in Arcade Mode, you’ll be able to practice your drifting technique. It’s measured based on drift angles, racing lines and speeds within evaluation zones located at different turns on the course. Once you unlock the In-Depth Car Tuning feature, you’ll have the capability to adjust your vehicle’s performance, including power, weight, tires and suspension.

As you’re driving,the new in-cockpit view provides a cool perspective and features a customized dashboard for each car.It has real-time gauges and human animations that accurately represent the true performance of each vehicle. You can actually feel a marked difference between the cars. To further extend the realistic experience, Prologue also is compatible with the new DUALSHOCK 3 controller that has vibration functionality. Soon Logitech’s Driving Force GT wheel will also be out - it’s the official wheel of Gran Turismo.


If you’re new to Gran Turismo you may not notice, but there is a new physics engine that gives you more realism (from previous Gran Turismos) and authentic handling specific to each car. You’ll see the “Standard"mode for easier driving, and the “Professional"mode,which makes the driving as realistic as possible. Furthermore, the improved opponent AI gives you a more strategic racing experience.Basically for beginners, the improved assist mode is the best I’ve seen in a Gran Turismo release.You’ll see an indicator for the racing line, and when you need to brake.

My biggest gripe is the fact that there are only six tracks.I wish there were more.When you’re doing single-player,you’ll spend most of your time on only three of them. Additionally, when you hit something, the amount of damage on your vehicle isn’t very realistic and, with the online play, you can’t really track your friends or plan a race.

But I think the game looks absolutely stunning as the car models are nearly true to real life and the details on the tracks are amazing. Keep in mind this installment is an enhanced demo, which is why it’s shorter than a normal Gran Turismo and much cheaper.

You can download Gran Turismo 5 Prologue from the PLAYSTATION Store (direct from your PS3) or you can find it at your nearest GameStop (www.gamestop.com), Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) or on www.amazon.com. The download and the Blu-ray Disk (BD) are both $39.99, but if you purchase the BD, you’ll have the opportunity to watch a behind-the-scenes HD feature called “Beyond the Apex,” taking a look at the Gran Turismo franchise - it’s pretty neat to watch. The BD is definitely worth it.

Keeping Track With Zoombak

Zoombak is an advanced GPS car or dog locator that uses satellite-enabled GPS and mobile phone networks that you can outfit to your vehicle or attach to your dog’s collar. It’s one of the first Assisted-GPS ("A-GPS") devices designed specifically for the average consumer.

I originally saw the Zoombak when it was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year. Since I do not have a dog of my own, I had to give it to someone who truly appreciates gadgets and also has a dog - I gave it to the boss, Marty N.

He tested out Zoombak for me with his very cute Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Galahad. “The Zoombak locator is the most advanced, versatile and affordable solution for consumers who want to easily find their loved ones and bring them home safely,” said Simon Buckingham, CEO of Zoombak. “Thanks to its nationwide coverage, its ease-of-use, unlimited number of on-demand locates and our 24/7 commitment to addressing consumer needs, Zoombak is the best locator solution on the market today.”

Marty ended up testing this for a few days - according to him, the setup was easy, considering this is a fairly complex cell phone/GPS receiver. The on-screen instructions made it easy enough for just about anyone to follow. After the initial setup was squared away, Galahad didn’t mind wearing the device on his collar. That wasn’t too much of a problem with his 30-pound weight but, for a smaller dog, size could possibly be an issue. Marty’s wife ended up walking Galahad outside their specified safety zone and took him for a ride in the car to see what it would do. It functioned just fine.

“For Zoombak, I really had to think hard about what it’s supposed to do for me, being a die-hard dog fanatic,” Marty says. “Would I actually use it if I weren’t simply testing this? For example, my GPS receiver helps get me out of trouble, and my iPhone lightens my load when I travel (no more packing my iPod, camera, cell phone and laptop). But for Zoombak, I’ve really had to think hard about what it’s supposed to do for me.”

Marty says a dog that is unattended should never be left with a collar on. There is a significant risk of strangulation with a collar left on, but without a collar, there is nowhere to attach the Zoombak. When Galahad has his collar on, it’s attached to a leash with Marty or his wife at the other end of it. Ultimately it would be good to know where Galahad is when they’re not at home, but the dilemma is they will not leave him at home alone, unattended with a collar on.

“I can think of one scenario where I might find the gadget useful, namely when doing off-leash outdoor training,” he says. “That’s something we normally do in a dog park, though, and everywhere else we go is subject to leash laws. So I’m still left with a great technological solution in search of a problem.”

Overall, since this may not be the best solution for a dog, the car option is fairly viable if you want to track your kids to make sure they don’t go into the wrong areas of town. It also would be good to have in your car if it’s ever stolen. To me, the biggest drawback is the price - not so much the cost of the device itself, but the fact you have to pay monthly for the service (plans start at $9.99/month). Otherwise I think Zoombak is a good concept.


Another thought that crossed my mind: As Zoombak may expand, it would be great to have a version to give to Alzheimer’s patients. Perhaps they could wear it as a bracelet or necklace-type device. Too many times these folks wander off and are difficult to locate. In this case, I think it might be worth paying a monthly fee. We’ll see what happens ...

The Zoombak’s Advanced GPS Dog Locator is $199.99, and the Advanced Car & Family Locator is 249.99. Both come with unlimited on-demand location requests, free 24/7 toll-free customer phone support, along with an approximate five-day battery support. Check out www.zoombak.com for more information.

Cute & Cuddly Robot Therapy

Paro is an extremely cute psychological enrichment robot that mirrors a baby harp seal. It may be adorable, but it’s not a toy. The name stems from “Personal Robot,” and the “Pa” is an “explosive sound” that is easy to remember.

Add the two together and it equals Paro. Much different than any robot I’ve ever seen, Paro has been in development for several years and targeted at folks who are unable to take care of a real animal, or who live in places where no pets are allowed.

In early April, Paro Robots U.S. Inc. was formed and will handle Paro’s sales and distribution in the United States.

“I view Paro as the embodiment of the best technology that has been developed over the past 30 years integrated into a ground-breaking robotic device that has as its sole purpose the task of comforting human beings,” said Walter Weisel, chairman and CEO of Paro Robots, U.S. Inc.

“I could not be more privileged to have been asked to lead Paro Robots U.S. and bring comfort and therapeutic companionship to the health-care community.”

Paro is covered in pure white fur and features a hard inner skeleton under which are dual processors that control its proprietary software behavior generation and voice-recognition systems, and an array of sensors that work together to allow Paro to respond to you in a lifelike manner. It can “see,” “hear” and move proactively and reactively. This sophisticated technology is nicely concealed in the form of this treasured pet.

Considered to be a “mental commitment” robot, Paro is built to interact with humans and make the patient feel emotionally attached. These robots trigger impressions such as the cuteness factor or comfort.

Mental commitment robots are designed to provide three effects: psychological (relaxation and motivation), physiological (improvement in vital signs) and social effects (spawning communication between patients and caregivers). These concepts have been proven with animal therapy. Animals often can relieve mental stress and allow you to relax.

To give the real animal behaviors, Paro has five sensor types: light, tactile, posture, audio and temperature. It recognizes light and dark with the light sensor, touch/strokes with the tactile sensor and being held with the posture sensor. Paro also can recognize the direction of voice and words (i.e. its name, greeting or praise) with the audio sensor. It shows cognitive behavior and can learn to behave the way the user prefers and responds to the name you call it. If you stroke it every time you see it, it’ll remember your previous action and try to repeat that action to be stroked. If you hit it, it’ll remember that, too, and won’t do whatever it did to make you hit it.

The fur on Paro is hygienic with an anti-bacterial, soil-resistant finish and hair-loss prevention to enable long-term use. It also is equipped with an electromagnetic shield so it can be used with a pacemaker. The reliability and durability has been tested through rigorous experiments, drop tests and stroking tests (more than 100,000 times).

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to play with a Paro myself, but after watching some of the videos online, I can see that it responds as if it were a real animal. It moves its head and flippers, and makes baby harp seal sounds. it expresses surprise or happiness as it blinks its eyes. Each Paro is hand-made, so each has its own individual facial expression.

There are currently about 1,000 Paros with clinically documented results around the world used to mitigate the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia and emotional complications associated with severe injury or illness. None is used in Hawaii yet - at the moment, they are mostly in Japan and Europe.

For more information or to see videos of Paro, check out http://paro.jp/english. The cost is approximately $5,000 - since these are all hand-made, they are difficult to produce quickly.

Hungry for organization? Try Bento

When I hear the word “bento,” I think of an ono-licious lunch that needs to be eaten as soon as it’s in my hands - mmmmm! The Bento I saw introduced at Macworld earlier this year is not food, but FileMaker Pro’s new database program exclusively for Macs using OS X 10.5 Leopard. On its Jan. 8 release date, the FileMaker folks provided Bento lunches for us press folks in the media lounge - very cute.

So far it’s been pretty popular. As of last month, more than 250,000 have downloaded Bento (both purchased and trial copies). “Bento’s popularity is propelled by the need for easy-to-use organizational software tools such as Bento, and by the rapid adoption of Mac OS X Leopard,” said FileMaker president Dominique Goupil.

It’s a stylish, hip-looking database that helps you Mac users organize your work and personal life together. As with FileMaker Pro, Bento is a world away from being a boring spreadsheet or boxy, stale-looking database with 20 pre-designed templates available. It is so user-friendly that even the most non-computer-savvy individual can build a Bento database.

Using Bento is a simple way to organize your contacts, calendars, projects, events and more - in one place. It offers an intuitive iTunes-style interface, and you can do any of the following in minutes:

* Manage virtually unlimited contact details
* Track projects, assignments and fundraisers
* Connect related information together to see more details
* Prioritize things that need to be done
* Catalog inventory, donations and items for sale
* Assign ratings to service providers and sellers
* Create libraries for music, movies and media
* Store files and photos related to your projects and events

When you first install and start up Bento, it automatically imports everything from your Address Book and iCal programs.

Additionally, if you make any changes in these, it will automatically show up in Bento. This is especially important for folks using iPhones that sync up with Address Book and iCal.


Some of the pre-built templates to choose from are projects, contacts, to dos, events, files, inventory, event planning, time billing, home inventory, expenses, exercise log, membership list, customers, classes and more. If you have a few of these that need to be grouped together - as a diverse database, Bento can keep track of them simultaneously. The bottom line is that Bento can give you a more flexible and extensible contacts/calendar solution that can be associated with other data, not to mention it’s stylish.

If you were to use any other database program, you would need to create unique IDs in each table, populate records with the correct values and populate them. Bento does all this in the background without you noticing and relates/displays your items properly in seconds. Though, really, you would only need this if you’re looking to build a database or just need to keep track of stuff (i.e. recipes or your training for the next triathlon/marathon).

Bento is very affordable with its $49 price tag (or $99 for a five-license family pack). Download or order it at store.filemaker.com. If you want to take it for a test drive, you can download it or gather more information at www.filemaker.com/products/bento. The hardware requirements are minimal, and if your Mac already runs Leopard, well, you’ll have no issues.

Enhancing Sites With Silverlight

You may not realize it, but Microsoft’s Silverlight adds life to the Web pages you view. Initially introduced in 2007, Silverlight 2.0 is a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of .NET based media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web. It is regarded by some as a competitor to Adobe’s Flash pro-gram.

“With its use of media, social networking, interactivity and user-generated content, the Internet has come a long way in the past decade,” says Keith Otis, Southwest District general manager for Microsoft. “Microsoft Silverlight empowers users to capitalize on industry trends to reduce today’s challenges and differentiate their Web sites from those of competitors.”


Silverlight is now in version 2 Beta 1 and uses Windows Media Video (WMV), enabling immediate compatibility with millions of hours of content already available on the Web. So that basically means it supports viewing high-definition (HD). The HD (720p) support offers considerable performance benefits over other solutions, but is dependent upon the central processing unit (CPU) capabilities of your computer. If you have at least a 3 GHz CPU or a dual-core, that will greatly help you.

Most browsers are supported, including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. By using Silverlight’s support for .NET, HD video, cost-effective advanced streaming, unparalleled high-resolution interactivity with Deep Zoom technology and controls, businesses can reach out to new markets across the Web.

As far as audio and video formats go, it supports Windows Media Audio and Video (WMA, VC-1/WMV7-9) and mp3 audio. Unfortunately no MPEG4, H.264, AAC or Flash video is supported at this time. This Silverlight 2 beta also supports mobile devices with Windows Mobile. There are plans to work with Nokia on support for the S60 on Symbian OS and for Series 40 devices.


As mentioned in one of my recent columns, Microsoft announced at the Consumer Electronics Show this year that Silverlight technology will be used with NBCOlympics.com, the official U.S. online home of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Here you can watch more than 3,000 hours of live and on-demand content of your favorite Olympic sport. I’ll certainly make good use of the site since it’ll save me time to just jump to the events I want to watch.

The popular online DVD rental service Netflix uses Silverlight for its 7 million subscribers to watch movies with the instant-viewing feature. For you video gamers, websites for Halo 3 are powered by Silverlight - see http://halo3.msn.com and www.microsoft.com/silverlight/halo3.asp.

Other interesting Silverlight websites worth checking out:

* Hard Rock Memorabilia: http://memorabilia.hardrock.com

* Worldwide Telescope: http://www.worldwidetelescope.org

* Microsoft Videos: http://preview.microsoft.com/video

* Major League Baseball: http://mlb.mlb.com

Overall, Silverlight shows great potential and growth opportunities for the Web. Right now it’s just in the starting phases, but I’m looking forward to seeing what other innovations will unfold.

For more information or to download the free browser plug-in, go to www.microsoft.com/silverlight. For developers, sign up for a free account at silverlight.live.com - anyone with a Windows Live ID can participate.

God of War: Chains Of Olympus for PSP

When God of War first came out for the Playstation 2 in 2005, I instantly became addicted to the game.It won multiple “Game of the Year Awards,” then a couple years later in 2007, God of War II came along and scored high marks all around as well. Today’s latest God of War: Chains of Olympus for Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP) came out about a month ago and is on the same upward path. Prior to its release, it was considered the most anticipated game for the PSP.

”God of War: Chains of Olympus is a stellar achievement that truly shows off the capabilities of PSP and fully demonstrates our efforts to bring highly innovative and unique content to PSP,” said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. “If you’re a fan of the God of War universe or even just the action-adventure genre, God of War: Chains of Olympus delivers an epic gameplay experience and is a-must-own title.”


One of the first things I noticed about Chains of Olympus‘ game-play is that it’s amazingly true to the console versions. Note this also goes for the adult-ness of it, so a warning to the parents: This is a very mature, “Rated R"game. It’s probably not a good idea to let your children play it.

In the first God of War, you, as the Spartan Warrior Kratos, were deceived into killing your wife and daughter, and denounced service to Ares. Chains of Olympus takes place before this as a prequel, so you’re serving the gods of Olympus and basically trying to decide what’s best for you as the gods give you orders that create a moral dilemma within you. Throughout this, you’ll face all sorts of creatures from Greek mythology, then ultimately choose your personal redemption or save the world from destruction.


As with the previous God of Wars, you’ll find it very combat-oriented along with puzzles to solve. Most of the time you’re on land during your fights, but sometimes you’ll have to swim.You primarily fight using different combos along with your blades of chaos. Later on, you’ll find the Gauntlet of Zeus, a giant glove that lets you topple your enemies easily.

Each time your foe is killed off you’ll receive red orbs that increase your health and magic. You also can find red orbs often in treasure chests and by hitting items (i.e. vase).

By the end of the game you’ll be able to max out Krato’s powers in no time. When you play, you should use headphones, preferably noise-cancellation ones. It just adds so much to the game if you can hear every little detail. I noticed the load times are fast, and the frame rate is consistent. With all the characters you need to fight and the moving backgrounds, this is pretty impressive.

Chains of Olympus absolutely delivers on its expectation of being the most anticipated PSP game. I almost felt as if I was playing this right on my PlayStation again. The finish time is a bit short at only six to seven hours, and all the action definitely keeps it moving. When you finish it on the default level, you’ll unlock some concept art, a bonus costume, video (on the default difficulty) and a couple of levels. Then you can go back and play these new levels in the ultra-hard god mode.

God of War: Chains of Olympus is rated M for Mature (ages 17+), for blood and gore,intense violence, nudity, sexual themes and strong language), and is $39.99 at your nearest GameStop (www.gamestop.com), Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) or at www.amazon.com. Also note that a PlayStation 3 version will release sometime this year (no firm date yet). The ad for it is on the back of the game manual - can’t wait for this one, too!

Cutting Your Electrical Cord

Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to deal with a pile of electrical wire spaghetti for your gadgets? This very well could be the future of power with Powercast’s technology that broadcasts electricity through the air. Originally seen at last year’s 2007 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and winner of CNET’s Best of Show Award in Emerging Technology, Powercast was present again at this year’s CES with updated information and its breakthrough wireless power demonstrations.

“Last year we demonstrated power transmission through several feet of air. This year we can transfer higher power - at close range - to mainstream consumer devices,” says Powercast CEO John Shearer. “People consider wires and chargers clumsy and annoying. We have solutions that manufacturers can apply in creating true wire-free experiences.”


Powercast’s technology works over particular frequencies and wavelengths of modified radio waves as a means of transmitting power wirelessly. It works as a Wi-FI router would - one central power source plugged into a wall outlet, no cables. The power source transmits power wire-lessly to your gadget. The transmitter module is called the PowercasterTM and the receiver module is called the PowerharvesterTM.

Compare it to an AM/FM radio - the radio station broadcasts its programs to everyone in range of the tower. The Wireless Power PlatformTM works the same way. There are both transmitters and receivers, and Powercast has optimized each side to maximize the power transfers.


“We launched our first product in 2007, in partnership with Philips. I’m proud to say we introduced the first FCC-compliant consumer product that powers LEDs wirelessly,” adds Shearer. “Our first shipment alone included more than 50,000 PowerharvesterTM modules. And we’re working hard to build new partnerships with other industry leaders - companies that share our vision of a wire-free world and that want to innovate by integrating our technology with their products.”

At the moment, you don’t see Powercast as a packaged product you can buy off the shelf, and it’s currently targeted at smaller, easily supported consumer products. Devices that typically require high power levels (i.e. a TV, since it constantly needs to be plugged in) are not being pursued. Basically anything that uses a small battery (AAA, AA or coin cell batteries) can be placed near a transmitter and is a viable candidate for conversion. Mp3 players, phones/PDAs, remote controls, toys, watches, wireless headsets, lighting, flashlights and computer peripherals are the types of devices you’ll most likely see integrated with Powercast’s technology. In the commercial world, we could see this in building automation/security, security tags or active RFID tracking. Additionally, Powercast technologies can power aerospace (i.e. sensors) and medical devices (i.e. hearing aids or health monitoring equipment).

It’ll be interesting to see what this wireless power will have to offer in the near future. In years to come, this technology could possibly even power an entire city. For more information and updates on Powercast’s technology, visit the website at www.powercastco.com

A SPOT on device for outdoor enthusiasts

I first saw SPOT, an honoree of the Consumer Electronic Association’s (CEA) 2008 Innovations Design and Engineering Award, at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Its booth initially caught my attention with its bright orange color “yelling” at me. Targeted toward the outdoor enthusiast, the SPOT Satellite Messenger is the first personal messaging device that allows you to notify your friends, family or an international 911 emergency call center with status messages based on your situation and need.

SPOT incorporates both GPS and commercial satellite technology that provides coverage far beyond your cell phone. It offers three message options, plus the ability to create a record of your progress for later retrieval using Google Maps. “SPOT represents a quantum leap in personal safety devices,"said Darren Bassel, director of retail marketing for SPOT Inc."It gives users a family of features that until now have not been available, and it does it at a fraction of the cost of the more limited devices presently available.”


Weighing in at about 7 ounces, SPOT is ideal for hikers, backpackers, hunters or other outdoor junkies, especially if you are out of range of cell phones.

The device has four function keys that transmit messages based on varying levels of need:

* Alert 911: Dispatches emergency responders to an exact location

* Ask for Help: Sends a request for help with your location to friends or family.

* Check In: Lets contacts know where you are and that you are OK.

* Track Progress: Sends and saves your location and allows contacts to track your progress with Google Maps.

SPOT is very much designed for extreme conditions and coverage includes virtually all of North America, South America, Europe and Australia, northern Africa and Northeast Asia, along with thousands of miles offshore from these areas. You’ll receive 24-hour support while enjoying its long AA battery life (power on, unused - one year; tracking mode - 14 days; 911 mode - seven days; SPOTcheck - 1,900 messages). It also will survive if dropped and will float in water. The bright orange color makes it difficult to misplace, and it’ll work virtually anywhere from -300 feet to 21,000+ feet altitude, and in temperatures from -40 F to +185 F.

The National Association for Search and Rescue estimates more than 50,000 search and rescue missions are initiated each year in the United States alone, and many of these are without knowing the exact location of the missing party. Definitely raising the chances of being found, SPOT uses its GPS technology to determine your exact location and transmits both the location and status information via the SPOT Satellite Network, a commercial network with a 99.4 percent reliability rate. It’s a Commercial LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Satellite constellation.


On the plus side, SPOT is less expensive than a Personal Locator Beacon and does work in areas with no cell phone coverage. On the negative, it does not work in Hawaii yet, but will hopefully soon. To me, that really is not a big deal since this would be something I would use mostly on the Mainland or other parts of the world anyway. Additionally, satellite receiver requires unobstructed line-of-sight to the sky to work properly and cannot track you while indoors or in a car. Overall, if you do venture out into the boonies often, this is probably a good thing to have for your own safety.

SPOT has a retail price of $169.99 for the device itself and an additional service fee of $99.99 per year (or $9.99 per month).You can buy this at www.findmespot.com or www.amazon.com

Creating A Book With Blurb

I’d like to start this by giving a great big MAHALO and a virtual hug to Ms. Barbara MacDonald, who wrote a nice letter to me/MidWeek (published in last week’s March 26 issue’s Letters section). I’m so glad that your Blurb book made such a huge impact on you and your family!

Coincidentally, just before receiving this letter, I was already working on my update story on Blurb, since I ran into it again at this year’s Macworld a few months ago. Since I last reported on it last year, there have been a few additions to the product, including new sizes and more features.

“More and more we’re seeing the reinvention of what it means to be a book,” says Eileen Gittins, Blurb’s founder and CEO. “For some, success is creating a book that helps raise money for a foundation.

For others, it might be selling 25 copies of one’s own book, and for still others it might be a marketing piece like an event book or portfolio. Unlike traditional publishers whose economics drive a focus on the best-seller, Blurb is expanding the book market to include books for millions of very small, niche markets.”


The Set Your Price Program allows you to set your own price and retain 100 percent of the profit, while Blurb is your “bank” and “post office” - no headaches. In June 2007, the company added a printer in the Netherlands for the international customers, with reasonable international shipping options and expanded global shipping. At the moment, about 14 percent of Blurb’s revenue is overseas.

In October 2007, Community Books were introduced. This feature allows contributors to help you make your book from directly within the BookSmart application you use to build your book (PC and Mac compatible). This beats sending e-mail attachments back and forth. These Community Books can be shared, marketed and sold at cost (or profit) in the free Blurb Bookstore.

Living in the Internet age, we’ve seen shifts in the way people think about books, since just about everything is posted online now. Blurb sees itself as bridging people’s online and offline communities. There are two approaches - books as economic return vs. books as vehicles for communication (sometimes to make money, sometimes not).

Professional photographers and creative professionals typically use the most photos, since their content is highly illustrated. People do enjoy looking at pictures. For companies, a Blurb book is an excellent way to organize and share information in something that won’t necessarily be thrown away rather than putting it in a spiral binder.

I personally use Blurb to make my photo books because of the price and quality. Other folks all over the world use it to share their stories, recipes, poems or anything you can think of. For the starving author, this is a good way to possibly kick off your first book. As Blurb says, there’s no good reason why it should take tons of time, technical skills, big bucks or friends in high places to publish your book.

Visit www.blurb.com for more information and to download the BookSmart program to your computer to start a book of your own.