Innovative designer Priscilla Bernikowicz has come up with an idea that could fuel the next singles-bar craze: Connection Glasses. She noticed that while most people can easily master the task of drinking in bars, it's almost impossible to carry on a conversation.

Thus the Connection Glass, with which you can IM, search for people's online profiles, and even order your next drink, all without straining your vocal cords one bit. A chip inset into the bottom of the glass controls the screen, signal, power and interface; a built-in rechargeable battery powers it. The "screen" is a semitransparent OLED, and an antennae runs down the side. In Proximity Mode, the glass would tell you who was in your vicinity and display their profiles and pictures. And you can transfer messages to prospective pals by clinking glasses with them.

The Connection Glass is a concept right now, but Bernikowicz is looking for backers to help her make it a reality. I'll drink to that.

[via GizMag]

The team at Spark Fun Electronics, a student-run business, decided that a 6-foot wide LED alarm clock wasn't big enough. Instead, their little project grew to a 12-foot wide alarm clock with LED light bars, a simple controller, and a GPS receiver that sets the time all by itself.

To build the 12-foot time masterpiece, they used everyday tools, such as a handsaw, glue gun, sharpie, and box cutter. To get that glowing look, they used 8 LED light bars running on 12 volts to create the 6 digits and 2 colons. Just how accurate is it? Down to 100 nanoseconds.

It gets a bit more technical than this, so if you're interested in building a 12-foot LED Light of your own, they show you how. In the end, it took Spark Fun Electronics two weeks to cut the digits, three hours for the hardware layout, and an hour for the firmware.

The GearLog verdict: If you work for or own a business that's always on crunch time, then having a huge a** clock will make your deadline that much more in your face.

[via Digg]

I LOVE CLOCKS. I think that's why NewLaunches.com sent me their collection of the Top 5 Weirdest Alarm Clocks. To tell you the truth, these clocks aren't just weird--they're odd. Very odd.

5.) I hate having to get up to turn off an alarm clock. But if that's the only way you can wake up, the Sfera Alarm Clock is probably a good idea. It is a radio alarm clock which hangs above your bed. When you set the alarm, the light on the Sfera gradually dims and the music fades as you drift off to sleep. When the alarm sounds in the morning, you have to reach up to turn it off. This clock was a project created by two students, so you won't be seeing it for sale.

4.) The Anemone Clock (patent pending) will have you physically chasing after it in a game of "Tag, You're It." When the alarm goes off, it actually rumbles. The clock also bounces away from you, making it harder to catch. I suppose the idea here is to also give you some exercise. I can't imagine being this energetic in the morning though.

3.) If you're more of a "Hide and Seek" kind of person, you'll find "Clocky" amusing. Clocky is an alarm clock that actually runs away from you when you hit the snooze button and hides. The clock is on wheels, allowing it to quickly move to anywhere in your room. It's made of shag carpet, which was used to absorb shock. But you can't outsmart Clocky: it finds new spots to hide everyday. Apparently, the "Clockly" concept is popular already, appearing on CNN, The Tonight Show, and ABC News. Go to Clocky.net to be notified when it will be available for sale.

2.) The Blowfly Clock would absolutely scare me from my sleep. It flies around your room at the time you set the alarm for and makes a buzzing sound, just like a fly or bee. Why anyone would want this contraption, I'm not sure!

1.) The only clock on this list that you can purchase is the Puzzle Alarm Clock. It wakes you up by shooting four puzzle pieces up in the air. To turn off the clock, you have to collect the pieces and put them back in the clock. Sounds harmless. The Puzzle Alarm Clock is $52.00 on BimBamBanana.com.