Doctors Compensated for Online Consultations

All of us are trying to find extra time, if you are not running to drop the kids off, food shop, get out to swim, bike or run, then you are sleeping. Imagine if you could get a doctor to visit your house like in the olden days, that would be great. Well then use technology to get that accomplished, as busy as you are doctors are just as busy. Well now doctors are being compensated for online visists. The Wall Street Journal reports that Aetna recently took a three-state pilot project nationwide, and Cigna plans to start paying for Web visits next year, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Both companies contract with RelayHealth, a company that has built a system for secure, online consults for simple health issues. Patients typically pay the same co-pay whether they go to the doctor or have a Web consult. Insurers pay doctors less for the Web consult — typically $25 to $35, according to the Inquirer.

With these types of initiatives taking place you have to like where things are heading. Full article

iPhone or iTouch Pump You Up!

Well another company has jumped on the iPhone band wagon, hitching itself to people carrying their phone around a gym and looking at their next workout.

Wouldn’t you love to have a personal trainer help whip you into shape? But who can afford one?. They typically cost over a $1,000 per month and can be hard to fit into your busy lifestyle. Enter PumpOne. Each PumpOne Trainer shows you what exercises to perform, in order and with a proper intensity -all while listening to your own music. PumpOne is your portable personal trainer.
PumpOne Trainers consist of images and/or video & audio instructions that you can download to most any handheld device such as an iPod, iPhone, nano, Zune and more."

UV Water Treatment Device

Treating water while you are out and about just got a little easier. Remember when you had the old filter that you would suck up through a pump and into your container, well those days are done.
"The AquaStar UV Portable Water Purifier is a spectracidal treatment solution appropriate for use in all climates and settings. Campers, hikers, emergency crews, and families who depend on having clean water, depend on Aquastar. Using a pair of standard camera batteries, the AquaStar UV Portable Water Purifier can safely and quickly treat a liter of water in about a minute. Lightweight -- less than 4 ounces (106 grams), rugged and simple one-button operatation, everyone should have an AquaStar UV Portable Water Purifier packed in their survival kit.

Reduces bacteria and viruses through UV light deactivation."
Now you have know excuse not to be drinking water and staying hydrated.

Bikes That Are Better Than Your Car!

This coming from Fast Company you know the world is changing or at least starting to look at things differently. Also take into account that these bikes might cost more than your first car or even worse the car you have now. Triathlete's and other high end sports addicts will send more on their equipment than they might on other things like, homes, cars, general living stuff. This article really does point to the high end of bike designs and equipment.
Here are the SIX bikes, for a complete break down go to, Six Bikes That Are Better Than Your Car

1. Trek Top Fuel 69er
   Best for: Cross country trail riding. While the 69er is dual suspension -- both wheels can absorb impacts using air-sprung shock absorbers -- it’s built lightweight with an aggressive rider position, allowing it to climb efficiently and absorb fast descents with equal aptitude.
2. Intense M6
   Best for: Downhill riding and racing. They may not look like it, but downhill bikes are more than motorcyles sans engine. Downhill riders have to be able to carve down the side of a mountain the way a snowboarder might, while maintaining enough control to thread themselves between trees and around sharp corners. That means light-but-strong componentry and a very calculated rider position.
3. Kona CoilAir Deluxe
   Best for: All-mountain riding. All-mountain combines the pedaling and varying terrain of cross-country with more aggressive terrain and bigger obstacles.
4. Specialized S-Works Ruby SL
   Best for: Expert and Professional-level road riding and racing. This bike would not be entirely out of place at the Tour de France -- except for the woman riding it.
5. Calfee Bamboo Bike
   Best for: Expert and Professional-level road riding and racing. While it’s just as much a piece of artistry as a piece of machinery, the bamboo bike doesn’t have to be treated specially, and can be ridden like any other high-end bike.
6. Orbea Ordu
   
   Best for: Time-trial road racing, in which riders race against the clock instead of head-to-head. Since the fastest time wins in TT racing and every millisecond counts, riders are outfitted with aerodynamic helmets and shoes and race in a tucked-down position.

WOW, bikes start at $2,000 and go to $6,000.

Let there be light, PentagonLight

Now you could run out and get the SureFire but does it come with a retractable sharpened spikes around the bezel that protrude outward only when the spike protector is lowered, I don't think so. Not sure that justifies the $129.00 it is however a selling point. Now the Surefire lights are tough to choose, there must be 50 lights to choose from. Hey just light the night and blind the person that is coming at you!
When did flashlight become a big ticket item, the ones at the Army/Navy store work just fine at $12.95. Your choice one is a defense weapon the other shines light.

Inflatable, foldable Rescue Carrier

Now this is just an concept but can this save time getting to a broken person. Here are some stats from NSAA: National Ski Area Association:
"STATISTICS ON SKIING/SNOWBOARDING

Fatalities - According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA): During the past 10 years, about 37.1 people have died skiing/snowboarding per year on average. During the 2006/07 season, 22 fatalities occurred out of the 55.1 million skier/snowboarder days reported for the season. Eighteen of the fatalities were skiers (15 male, 3 female) and 2 of the fatalities were snowboarders, both male. In two of the cases the equipment used was reported as unknown. The rate of fatality converts to .40 per million skier/snowboarder visits.

Serious Injuries - Serious injuries (paraplegics, serious head and other serious injuries) occur at the rate of about 43.7 per year, according to the NSAA. In the 2006/07 season, there were 40 serious injuries. Twenty-four of these serious injuries were skiers (20 males, 4 females) and 16 were snowboarders, (14 male, 2 female). The rate of serious injury in 2006/07 was .73 per million skier/snowboarder visits.

NOTE: A skier/snowboarder visit represents one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night and includes full-day, half-day, night, complimentary, adult, child, season and any other ticket types that gives one the use of an area's facility."

So the Inflatable Sled to the rescue, you wear it as a backpack then ski to the injured person, unfold and inflate and down the mountain to the hospital you go.
Designer: Janine Züst

Apple and Nike+ at it again!

Apple and Nike are at it again, no not getting the iPhone to work with the Nike+ but working with fitness companies to bring an integrated solution to the users. Having a user be able to plug into a treadmill, stair climber, stationary bikes, well you get the picture. Full blown athletes seem to have devices like Polar watches and Garmin's that can read your HR and many other functions. But allowing the user to hook right into the machines is really taking it to the next level and increasing the Apple/Nike+ population. They still have not contacted me regarding Health Currency. Oh well one can only hope.
Cheers

TOOKS, hats you can hear

Somethings really do seem to help with outdoor activities. Like skiing and listening to music. If you ski alone and just want to unwind then this is for you Tooks Hats, put this beenie on under a helmet and you don't have to worry about the buds dropping out of your ears if they get yanked.
Check then out, Tooks Hats.

Collapsible Surfboard

Space has become tight and finding a place to put all your stuff is a problem. With surf boards you need at least 6 feet of space and that in anyones home is hard to come by. Well Nicholas Notara, has come up with a great idea, the Collapsible Surfboard. Now I don't think that this is for the die hard rip and shred crowd but the weekend warrior or someone that just want to look cool, you might want to check this out.
"This carbon-fiber board has been carefully designed to maintain the balance and weight of its traditional counterpart, but with the help of two pins and a quick release lever can halve in size. A hot-swappable fin system completes the board with style and presents a viable concept that may make a surfboard purchase not such a bad idea."
Surf's Up

Pearl iZumi - AMFIB Lobster Glove

Winter riding can be tough and like skiing finding gloves that work are even tougher.Pearl iZUMi has come up with a unique solution to the problem, split the fingers, two and two, for mountain biking you have two for braking while still holding on the the bar.
Split finger design for maximum warmth
•Fully insulated waterproof protection
•Ripstop fabric shell is lightweight and durable
•Reflective piping for nighttime visibility
•Microfleece wiping surface
•Split finger design makes it easy to use brake levers
•Pittards® leather palm for excellent grip and durability
•Contents: Palm: 80% Pittards® Leather/20% Olefin, Shell Back: 80% Nylon/10% Polyester/10% Polyurethane, Lining: 100% Polyester

You got to like companies that push the limit and find better ways to stay outside.

LZR RACER, Speedo's new suit

The claim is "Worlds Fastest Suit", major break through. Since the last suit the Fastskin broke more records than any suit in history, one can only imagine what this will do. A fully bonded male performance bodysuit with an ultra low profile zip and silicone gripper at the ankle. Made from Speedo's ultra lightweight LZR Pulse fabric, the suit's LZR panels, core stabiliser and bonded seams all combine to reduce drag. Available in regular and longer body lengths.

Check out the video from New York

Crazy Desgin, Pack what you need!

Crazy design can sometimes workout. This one by designer: Teo Song Wei, really pushes the limit.
"Adventuring thrill seekers know the right equipment is key to a successful trip but making sure you have everything you need is a chore, especially if you’re one that likes to rock climb, base jump, snowboard, etc. The QuikShell bag is a modular concept that snaps on only what you need. For example, you could have one module for rock climbing, one for base jumping, and one for snowboarding. You just snap on which ever module you need to the strap skeleton which comes with comfy padded shoulder pads and pockets for extra goodies."
Check it out, Pack-Only-Waht-You-Need

Cycle Caddy, golf just got interesting!

Golf has some good aspects, mostly being outside and for the pro's they at least walk from tee to tee. For most golf is about getting away and sitting in a golf Kart. One thing that Europe has on the U.S. is they let you do things a little different, like allowing you to ride instead of take a kart. Along come the Golf Caddy, attach to bike and pull your clubs around the course. This is great and so simple. The site is in German so, but the images speak for themselves.
Check it out, Cycle Caddy

Seeing at night, Princeton Tec Headlamps

Headlamps have come a long way in the last couple of years thanks to LED technology. Princeton TEC is one of the companies that are making them brighter, smaller, and lighter. You can now run with them strapped to your head without feeling as though you are wearing a helmet. Such is the case with the innovative Fuel headlamp – designed to meet the widest range of applications while remaining small,lightweight and robust. With all of the touch points of the product being considered, the Fuel’s smart design fulfills technology’s promise of actually making our lives easier. What could be better than a light that weighs only 78g with 15 lumens of brightness and 160 hours of burn time?
Seeing is believing, Princeton TEC!

ABC of Fitness, great learning site.

A little hokey but the site is filled with a lot of good Flash videos. ABC-of-Fitness.com claims to be a complete fitness, exercise and health portal. From my poking around it is great at showing you correct movements and positions, along with pointing out muscle groups being work. The fitness area has always been a little tacky but still when you have individuals doing the basic exercises wrong, sites like this have real meaning.