Well, it’s no surprise that the week between Christmas and New Year’s is usually one of reflection. Rather than look inward, we thought we’d reflect on the greatest ideas of 2006. One great source, David Pogue of the NY Times’ Top 10 list — not of the greatest tech products, but of the greatest individual features that surfaced this year, from Microsoft’s new music player, Zune to Nintendo’s Wii game console, Pogue covers it all. Beyond some of the more obvious winners, one of my fav’s, (courtesy of TIME.com’s BEST INVENTIONS OF 2006)…may I present to you the HUG shirt.
LOREFFREY FOR TIME
HUG SHIRT
Are you ready for this one? The Hug Shirt is a high-tech garment that simulates the experience of being embraced by a loved one. Here’s the way it works: When a friend sends you a virtual hug, your cell phone notifies the shirt wirelessly, via Bluetooth. The shirt will then re-create that person’s distinctive hug, replicating his or her warmth, pressure, duration and even heartbeat. And, yes, the Hug Shirt is fully washable.
Inventor: CuteCircuit
Availability: Not yet for sale
To learn more visit cutecircuit.com
Wow, what a novel idea. This is the sort of idea that can go a long way, or will simply fade. Like toe socks. Anybody remember them, they were cool, they were all that. Now, they are practically gone. I haven’t heard of this lately, I guess it’s gone. But what a great concept.