摘要：

Byline: Joseph Szadkowski, THE WASHINGTON TIMESTechnology makes dreams come true every day - and not just through scientific breakthroughs or engineering marvels, but also through slick, multifunctional, multimedia machines made to enhance and deliver entertaining experiences. The holiday season is the perfect time to introduce some conspicuously consumed technology in homes, and with this year's crop of cool gadgets, it should be a "wish come true" kind of season for those who love interactive gadgets.FIO DIGITAL SUNGLASSESWhat are they? The loudest shades on the planetPrice: $149 to $299, depending on memory-storage configurationGift group: Exercise enthusiasts, celebrities or Terminators who need to keep their favorite tunes close to the earSanta's scoop: Global American Technologies' UV400-coated polarized glasses with shatterproof lenses comfortably protect peepers from the sun while wrapping a jukebox around the noggin with their integrated MP3 player. The eyewear features dangling earbuds that hang on either side of the frames and pop painlessly into the ear to provide 81/2 hours of continuous stereo sound on a two-hour charge (executed via plugging the USB 2.0-compatible unit into a computer port). The MP3 player digests tunes from a PC or Mac (MP3, WMA and ADPCOM formats) with help from the included software, has five equalizer modes, LED display and 10 megawatts of output power. Those who enjoy talking to themselves - including Santa on long sleigh trips - also will appreciate the onboard microphone to record notes and carefully track who received what goodies. The sunglasses work to perfection, come with a hard-shell case and USB cable and are available with Flash ROM storage sizes of 128, 256, 512 megabytes and 1 gigabyte, depending on cash in pocket and listening needs.LAZER TRIPWIREWhat is it? An affordable security system requiring six AAA batteriesPrice: $29.99Gift group: Youngsters 6 years old and older obsessed with keeping siblings away from their most prized possessionsSanta's Scoop: Only Ethan Hunt from "Mission: Impossible" may be able to penetrate this three-point, laser-based protection system. Wild Planet, known for its eclectic line of child-friendly spy gear, offers more intelligent high-tech goods with this set of three clamp-on emitter/receiver pods that create a conundrum for any unsuspecting intruder attempting to access an area. Each pod releases an invisible, targeted beam of light (as safe to the eyes as a household flashlight) when strategically placed around a perimeter. It will sound an alarm when any of the beams is crossed. The company also cleverly includes a mist bottle containing a liquid concoction of oxygen and hydrogen that when sprayed on a beam illuminates it, revealing a bright red defense line. Clever agents can use room mirrors or buy additional Tripwire packs to create the ultimate geometric protection puzzle.FRETLIGHT 421What is it? A music teacher embedded in a guitarPrice: $599Gift group: Budding guitarists 13 years old and older who strive to mimic the styles of such masters as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Buddy HollySanta's scoop: Optek Music Systems' FG-400 Fretlight Guitar series allows all levels of musicians the chance to play with help from a series of LED lights embedded in the guitar's fret board. More than 3,000 chords and 500 scales can be illuminated, visually telling players where to place their fingers. The magic occurs when the guitar is connected to the USB port (a 10-foot-long cord is included) of a standard PC (Windows 98/SE/2000/XP operating system) and driven by the included Guitar Power educational software or other Optek program (such as Guitarz!, $59.95). Musicians can choose from classic jet black, pearl white, red, light red, tobacco sunburst and pink (a portion of the cost for pink ones goes to the National Breast Cancer Foundation) in full-sized Stratocaster styles that feature a maple neck, advanced polymer fret board, one Humbucker and two single-coil pickups, a five-position pickup switch, and white pearloid pick guard. …

展开