Gadgets on the go

Prospects for adventure beckon as summer approaches but even enthusiastic tourists have some departure ambivalence — worrying about their loved ones and the possessions they will be leaving behind. With new internet-enabled gadgets, travellers can hit the road and still keep track of what is going on at home. And for on-the-road entertainment, there are handy devices and even futuristic headgear.

 VUE PERSONAL VIDEO NETWORK

The Vue personal video system is a kit that lets its users aim two lightweight, low-power wireless cameras at whatever they want to monitor, such as the cat's food bowl or the basement water heater, then view the video in real time on the web.

Even mobile devices can be used to view videos of the homestead. "You don't have to be at your desk," said Gioia Messinger, founder of Avaak, based in San Diego, California, which produces the Vue system.

Vue is not a security system. The video can be recorded and users can share their Vue movies at a personal site. The Vue Personal Video Network costs $299 (Dh1,098) for two cameras and one year of service.

 SLINGBOX SOLO

Travellers who prefer more choice in their on-the-road entertainment can turn their laptops or mobile phones into remote receivers for their own television sets using the Slingbox.

Jay Tannenbaum, a spokesman for Sling Media, said many customers bought the product because they wanted to watch hometown sports or news when they were away.

"If the TV is the hearth and home, the hearth is now portable," Tannenbaum said. The simplest Slingbox, the Solo, costs $180 (Dh661). Features such as high definition and the ability to handle multiple streams are available in the Pro-HD model, at $300 (Dh1,102).

 I-GLASSES

Travellers who want to watch videos in private can use head-mounted displays that put the video screen directly in front of the wearer's eyes with futuristic goggles, priced at $299 (Dh1,098).

"It does look odd," Ross Rainville of I-Glasses said of his company's 920HR model. The goggles plug in to the composite TV video outputs of any portable player and the display is the equivalent of an 80-inch screen, the company said. Earplugs offer stereo sound.

 VIEWGUARD PRIVACY SCREENS

For $40-$75 (Dh147-Dh275), privacy screens — which restrict the viewing angle of a screen — make up in affordability what they lack in space-age technology. As described by ViewGuard, which sells a variety of these screens online, only people directly in front of the filtered monitor — that includes people standing behind the user — can see the display.

 CAMERA MASK BY LIQUID MOTION

When travellers put away their movies and laptops and start checking out where they are, the $99 (Dh364) Camera Mask by Liquid Motion is a good choice for water destinations. A small camera positioned in the centre of a dive mask makes it possible to shoot stills and videos almost hands-free. The original product was for divers, though demand has expanded to include people who want a waterproof camera.

Similar masks are in the works for skiing and other activities.

 iGO CHARGER

Before packing electronic essentials, the wise traveller might consider the iGo Charge Anywhere battery charger. This device — about the size of a deck of cards — works internationally, in aeroplanes and in autos without a voltage converter. It also stores power so it can charge a device even when it is not plugged in.

The Charge Anywhere costs $50 (Dh184) — and 3,000 tips make it compatible with a variety of electronic devices. The tips are sold separately, for about $7-$12 (Dh26-Dh44) each.

Considering the number of new travel gadgets available, the challenge for iGo will be keeping up