Cell Phone Holder Inside a Human-shaped Cushion

Hiroshi Ishiguro (center), an ATR fellow and professor of robotics at Osaka University and 2 other colleagues.

The Japanese are know for their inventions and occasionally for their wacky ideas.  I think it would only be in Japan that you would find a cell phone holder shaped like a human torso. The reasoning behind this is to reduce the stress of having too many mobile phone calls, even late at night and to help people feel close to each other when talking on the phone.

According to the article written by the Japanese Kyodo Press, this is a joint project of  Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, known as ATR, a bedclothes manufacturer, Kyoto Nishikawa Co. and industrial materials maker Toyobo Co. The cushion is called, "Hugvie" and they hope to market it at nursing homes and child care facilities as well as to the general public.

According to research by Hiroshi Ishiguro, an ATR fellow and professor of robotics at Osaka University, human beings can feel the presence of others more strongly if two or more senses are engaged, such as hearing and touch.

"We found a material that makes us feel human presence more," Ishiguro told a press conference in Osaka, adding the developers are even considering creating a system to hold conversations with the cushions.   Read more here.

And what is the price for this new invention? It retails for 10,800 yen (about $87 US) and it is 80 centimeters long by 55 cm wide. Batteries and cell phones not included.

How To Mount And Use Your Awesome New Cell Phone Holder

The new cell phone holder for the car by StarShine products has been very popular in the past months. This video will describe how to mount the mobile phone holder onto your windshield or dashboard. It also shows how versatile, sturdy and flexible it is. Here are a few of the best points about this holder:. 1. Legal, safe way to drive, talk and navigate. 2. Have your phone where you need it to use speaker phone or GPS. 3. Durable and firmly holds your mobile phone even on rough roads with suction cup for windshield and stick-on plate for the dashboard. 4. Made from eco-friendly plastic used even for children's toys. 5. Comes with foam-lined grip to prevent your phone from being scratched. The video shows a young customer who really likes her brand-new car cell phone holder and drives off around the waterfront of Vancouver, Canada. to show you how well it works.

Clever Cell Phone Gadgets

Yes, the holiday season is over for 2014 but not in Asia. Besides, January is a great time to shop for bargains. Companies are looking to get rid of leftover goods and you are the one who benefits. Here are some great gadgets that you will find at reduced prices. But hurry - others will see these low prices too.

1. Multipurpose Travel Router - This router comes in handy in that hotel that is charging you an arm and a leg for poor WiFi service or a higher price for using several devices at once. Here's the Hoo Too Trip Mate to the rescue. It can also serve as a power source, a personal cloud (media sharing), and an independent WiFi source.

Here's the link to the router.

2. Selfie Accessory Kit - Today taking pictures of yourself and your friends is very popular. Remember those cameras that used to take remote photos after 5 seconds? No need to do this any more with your selfie kit. Just put your smart phone on the pole, frame or attach to a tripod (tripod not included - only the attachment). It even has a Bluetooth remote control for the shutter.

Here's the link to the selfie kit.

3. Cell Phone Waterproof Case - Like to snorkel, surf or just hang out at the beach? Great for the boat owner as well. It's padded and lined, watertight and it floats! Since most wet cell phones are toast, this is what you need for all water-related trips. Now on sale.

Here's the link to the case.

It's great to accessorize your favorite piece of equipment that everyone carries with them now. There are so many nice cases, holders and desk top stands. Please remember the cell phone holder from StarShine Products available through Amazon.com by clicking on http://net-on-the-go.com/awesomeholders and on this very website.

Cell Phone Accessories

Cell phone accessories refers to any item that does not form an integral part, either hardware or software, of the operation or functioning of the cell phone. There is a huge variety of cell phone accessories available in the market that attracts the customers. Today, a cell phone has turned into a transitional object for adults. It has replaced the teddy bears in delivering a sense of comfort and belonging. As Ted Turner puts it to be happy in this world, first you need a cell phone and then you need an airplane; then you’re truly wireless .The concept of cell phone accessories originates from the vanity that is a basic need of the human character. Cell phone accessories include a large number of items a few of which have been discussed below.

Mobile Covers

Conventional mobile covers came in simple colors, often with a rubber lining so as to provide protection against damage from knocking. However, the newest trend of personalizing everything has led to designer covers which serve both the purpose of protection as well as personalization. The trend has also emerged due to the fact that the latest smartphone models contain a lot of exposed surfaces especially the touchscreens which are prone to damage. The trending covers for cell phones include adhesive backed vinyl pieces. Other cells have replaceable designer covers. For the cells which do not feature a snap-on back cover, slip-on covers are available. These covers come in a huge number of designs, patterns, colors and themes. They make a cell phone fun to work with, all the while protecting it from some serious damage.

Head Sets and Hands free

The advancements and innovation in mobile phone technologies have made the traditional music players and mp3s obsolete. There is no need of carrying the luggage of an extra gadget such as an iPod because the new breed of cell phones and smartphones comes equipped with state of the art music players. However, a head set is a necessary cell phone accessory not only to play music but also as a safety precaution. Headsets allow you to place your cell phone in your pocket or backpack thus eliminating the possibility of street snatching as you enjoy your music. Hands free phones allow you to jog as you talk. It leaves your hands free to multi task. It also allows you to receive calls with more ease as you do not have to lift your cell phone to your ear; thus one can continue long cell phone chats comfortably.

Batteries / Chargers

In modern life, cell phones are the staple of everyday living. The usage of cell phones and smartphones is no longer confined to texting and making calls. The addition of internet surfing technology has multiplied the usage of cell phones many times. This implies that phones are prone to run out of battery. Thus the mobile manufacturers now offer extra batteries or travelling chargers so that the cell phones may be charged in cars etc. thus keeping you connected to the world.

Using the Touch Screen Stylus Pen

Cell phones have for many years had touch screen capacity (using fingers to activate certain functions). Now we have tablets, iPods and many other larger screens using touch. Along came the Samsung Galaxy with the touch screen stylus pen. What are the advantages of using a stylus?

• It's more exact. Some people have fat fingers or are not used to the exact touch needed for using their fingers.
• You can write on the screen faster, smaller and of course more exactly. Writing notes digitally has become very popular.
• The pen can easily be stored, it's cheap to replace and some of them come with replaceable conductive foam tips.
• People are used to using pens and pencils so changing to the screen is quite simple.
• The Samsung Galaxy has a small pocket in the phone itself for storage of the pen.

Although they are cheap, let's imagine you are in a location where they are not available and the online companies won't ship any to you. It is possible to make your own. Here's what one clever technician, Amit Agarwal, from Digital Inspiration has to say.

 To create your own capacitive stylus, all you need is an electric wire, an old pen (with either a plastic or metal body) and some conductive foam. Conductive foam is often used in the packaging of electronic chips and integrated circuits so if you have bought some computer component in the past (like extra RAM), you may already have all the required material in your home.   To read the original click here.

It seems that the clips to hold the stylus to your pocket or notebook can break or the pen itself can break if made from thin plastic. Also, the tip needs to be a durable and soft material such as fiber mesh. It's best not to buy the cheapest ones. Unfortunately not all styluses can be used on all devices as well. it's best to try one out before purchasing and not to press too hard on your hard-working screen. It seems in the future that these accessories will become more common, although the fast finger people may still keep their way of operation.