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Mars astronauts could use VR to remind them of home
To put it mildly, Mars astronauts are likely to feel isolation on a level that even the most daring space explorers can't understand. How do you feel connected when Earth is just a dot in the sky? NASA, Smart Information Flow Technologies and 8i might help. They're researching the prospect of using virtual and augmented reality experiences to fight the "sensory and social monotony" of a Mars mission. The aim would be to create a library of inspirational messages that remind astronauts why they're on the Red Planet, and connect them to family -- a bit like the video messages in 2001, only more immersive.
TomTom DUO / Eclipse AVN2210p get reviewed
Granted, we can't imagine Eclipse's AVN2210p appealing to more than a minuscule chunk of you out there, but we can't help but take note when someone rips apart their dash and drives around with it for days on end. The mettlesome crew at GPSReview was able to take the multifaceted device for a literal spin, and while they weren't thrilled with the tricky installation, lack of an included traffic kit, and the omission of text-to-speech, everything else seemed peachy. The TomTom DUO that slots into the in-dash device churned through routing at a respectable pace, and the touchscreen management of the internal functions seemed to delight time after time. Of course, it's hard to say whether or not replacing your double-DIN stereo with this conglomerate is a logical step to take, but if you were tabling this do-it-all creation until some kind words were spoken, we'd suggest giving the read link some thorough attention.
GlobalSat further clogs the 3.5-inch GPS market with GV-366
As if your choices weren't endless enough in the 3.5-inch GPS arena, GlobalSat is offering up yet another forgettable alternative in the GV-366. Aside from the obligatory touchscreen display, you'll find a SiRF Star III receiver, multilingual navigation interface, and software that was co-developed by Navigon. Additionally, a built-in media player looks to be included as is RDS-TMC real-time traffic support. No word just yet on price nor availability, but simply judging by the specifications, it ought to be a bargain whenever it lands.[Via NaviGadget]
