STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT
With all the hoopla and hype over the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) headliners like Microsoft's Bill Gates yesterday and Google's Larry Page tomorrow, it's easy to miss the truly out-of-the-box innovations that come out of nowhere.
No, it's not another variation on an iPod, or yet another cool re-incarnation of a Windows Mobile Smartphone or new video services from Google.
It's a far humbler device that brings the wonder back for mainstream consumers. It has already won the "Best of Innovations" in the Personal Electronics category at the Consumer Electronics Show New York Press Preview.
It's called a SkyScout (via Gizmodo), and it's released by telescope heavyweight Celestron. As their press release explains:
"the Celestron SkyScout is a handheld, portable celestial viewing device that can instantly identify and/or locate over 6,000 celestial objects viewable to the naked eye, transforming the night sky into a personal planetarium for stargazers, families, students and astronomers alike...
About the size of a camcorder and weighing less than 16 ounces, the Celestron SkyScout utilizes a consumer-friendly “point and shoot” technology that enables stargazers to point at any visible object in the sky, press a button and listen to commentary on the object and its history.
The SkyScout also has a “locate” feature that allows users to select an object they wish to view (i.e. Mars) and the SkyScout, using illuminated arrows in the viewfinder, will actually point the user to the object.
A totally unique, one of a kind product, SkyScout utilizes patented technology that combines data from sensors measuring both the magnetic and gravitational fields of the Earth, along with internal GPS and a substantial celestial database to dramatically improve how people learn about astronomy, making it much easier and more entertaining."
No price details yet...there is more information available in a Flash demo here. I like the device and think it's a potential "Thriller" because:
- I'm a fan of the night sky, but find that using fancier equipment requires a greater time and money investment than I'm currently willing to make.
- It uses existing technologies like GPS and related technologies to provide a whole new level of functionality beyond their core competency of telescopes and binoculars.
- It has the potential to appeal to a much more broader, mainstream audience than just space and telescope geeks.
- It shows that there's room to innovate after yet another MP3 player at CES.
Can't wait to get my hands on one of these gadgets.
love it! let us know if you get more details, price etc? be sure to try it out if its reasonable.
Posted by: mark slater | Friday, January 06, 2006 at 12:30 PM