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Tristar Massage Chair isn't built for the average living room
Really, we've yet to pinpoint a massage chair that fit in well with typical furniture and didn't cost a small fortune, but we're tempted to believe that the Tristar Massage Chair was actually created with Martians in mind. This rather terrifying seating device includes all sorts of apparatuses that will reportedly remove stress from your back, feet, face and fingertips. There's also an integrated audio system for surrounding yourself in Kenny G or Killswitch Engage, whichever group helps you cope with all that you dealt with during the workday. Too bad you'll be burning that midnight oil to pay off the €5,000 ($7,807) credit card bill.[Via Ubergizmo]
Wii Massage Feet
Wii Fit can be hard on your feet. So why not give them a nice massage? And by "give them a nice massage," we mean "make them stand on some plastic nubs." Japan Trust Technology hopes that the nubs on their Silicone Fit Cover Tsubu Tsubu (tsubu tsubu refers to something grainy or pebbly) will be just the thing to put them at the top of the burgeoning Wii Fit board cover market. In addition to feeling neat, the nubs help players keep their feet positioned properly and prevent slippage. JTT is selling this item online -- in blue only -- for 2480 yen ($23). We make fun of stuff like this, but we can certainly see the appeal of getting a nice cover for something that we have our feet on for hours.[Via GAME Watch]%Gallery-4745%
SHAPE Servcies "Massage Vibra" converts phone into personal massager
SHAPE Services Massage Vibra software uses your handset's vibrate function to help to rid you of your aches and pains. Featuring massage programs for just about any part of the body -- arms, chest, back, neck and so forth -- the MIDP 2.0 software even has a wizard mode replete with text instructions and graphical illustrations. The list of supported devices can be found on the SHAPE Services site, but for $3 it seems like a novel bit 'o software that may well be the solution to what ails ya.[Via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]
Massage Me turns (legitimate) massages into gameplay
A couple of gifted graduate students have found a great use for all the excess energy and digital dexterity required in playing video games: massages.By mapping game controllers onto soft wearable fabrics, Hannah Perner-Wilson and Mika Satomi invented Massage Me, a special device that allows gamers to give fantastic (legitimate) massages while playing their favorite video games. The website gives detailed instructions on how to build your own devices, but for those more curious than intrepid, the site also features photos and video of the product in action.See Massage Me in action after the break.[Via Next-Gen]
The WAO-1 robot: let the assimilation begin
Meet Waseda University's WAO-1 face juicing massaging robot. Equipped with a pair of 20-inch arms protruding from a large metal box, the $70,000 WAO-1 is designed to perform facial massage on those suffering from mouth, jaw, or facial disorders. Don't have one? No problem, just slide your brain sack between those pneumatic vice grips and we're sure WAO-1 can oblige.
ShiatsuCube: Homebrew happy endings
We don't see much homebrew for the Wii or GameCube that doesn't have to do with emulating some system or another, so when something wacky like this comes along, we can't help but jump at the chance to write it up.Working 160R's Massager application is easy -- select a technique or mode, place the GameCube controller(s) anywhere you want, and enjoy the rumble rubdown. Sure, it's nothing like the real thing, but have you looked at hourly rates for a professional massage lately? Inconceivable! And despite our efforts to coerce our cats into walking their padded feet on our aching backs, no amount of kitten treats will keep them there any longer than a few seconds.Unsurprisingly, this sort of vibration-based program is ripe for abuse -- we're looking at you, Jane Pinckard (link potentially NSFW) -- but how could the developer not expect to see his work perverted? It's a small consolation, though, to see the old purple console get a little love after all this time, even if it is mostly self-love.
Engadget gets a BlackBerry massage
The other day I took one for the team and went to get one of those BlackBerry massages everyone's been talking (I know, it's a tough job). There are a few places offering 'em these days, but the one closest to me was a little day spa place called Graceful Services on 2nd Avenue here in Manhattan. I wanted to be good and ready for my massage, so I made sure to use my Treo a ton to try and get my thumbs nice and sore (I felt a little dishonest being a Treo user going to get a "BlackBerry" massage, but I got over that really quickly).
Sanyo massage chairs also detect lies?
Sure, there's quite a few ways to sniff out fibs for those who just can't "read" body language all that well, and there's certainly a entire market saturated with massage chairs that supposedly coax your muscles in return for a hefty sum of cash, but it looks like Sanyo's lineup of massage seats just might sport a hidden agenda. According to Sanyo's ever-descriptive website, its array of massage chairs sport "physical shape sensors, power recline, and GK roller technology" among other things, but the standout feature is the "stiffness detection sensor" that "locates areas of physical stiffness and gauges fatigue by changes in skin temperature, perspiration, and pulse." Interestingly enough, those three measurements are the things lie detection tools are made up of my friend, so if you've got the 1337 skills to wire up a massage chair to some swank analytical software, you could potentially extract just about any truth you ever wanted while the culprit simply enjoys the ride.[Via CNET]
Ntech intros ear-rattling NVE 100B Bluetooth earbuds
After a long, hard day spent fixing that ever-present paper jam in the office printer, it's nice to kick back in iJoy's ZipConnect while letting the iGoGo personal massager sooth away your aches and pains to the tune of your favorite Breakfast Club jam. But Ntech wants to add one more aspect to your already jubilating experience by tossing an extra vibe directly on your ear. The NVE 100B is an "earring-style" Bluetooth earphone designed to simply clip onto your ear, with the front half pumping out music while the backside thumps to the beat. Strangely enough, the company actually expects the non-intrusive earbud to "prevent possible auditory disease," but we're assuming you take a major hit in sound quality to accomplish such a precaution. Nevertheless, these oddly sensational (albeit probably dysfunctional) earclips should be available on the Korean market just before the year's end for a currently undisclosed price.
OSIM's iGoGo MP3 player / personal massager reviewed
Since you can't take your iJoy ZipConnect chair everywhere you go, OSIM has a portable solution to your "musical therapy" needs. Boasting a stylish enclosure and a pair of massage modules, the iGoGo DAP performed its therapeutic magic surprisingly well -- once the kinks were worked out, that is. Reviewers at CNET were quick to praise the uniqueness of the device, but didn't hesitate to knock the "disappointing monochromatic interface, meager 128MB of internal storage," and the complete inability to play back any format besides MP3. While you can add a few more playlists via the MMC slot, they would've preferred a more expansion SD / CF option; furthermore, the player only mustered about 7 hours of battery life with massage mode in full effect. The crew noted that the "massagers suffered from frequent connection drops," but when things went smoothly, they provided a "truly blissful and relaxing massage experience." Still, for over $400 the iGoGo sports too many archaic features to be considered a true contender, and if relieving stress is your primary concern, you may be better off spending that coin in a day spa. [Thanks, Ficky Rick]
