other gadgets library

10 Essential Gadgets

Electronic gadgets are the thing at the moment. See the latest in gadgets and the good-old high-tech standbys with this list of 10 essential gadgets.

12 New Technologies in the 1980s

If you lived through the 1980s, then you know it was an amazing decade. It seemed like every month some cool new technology came onto the market. See the most popular consumer products that made their mark.

Fact or Fiction: Apple

Apple Inc. is no mere computer company, thank you. It's a way of life. If you consider yourself a true "Apple person," take this quiz and find out how much you really know.

Gifts and Gadgets for Kids of All Ages

Love the pitter-patter of tiny robotic feet? Need a way to stash your cash? Check out some of the latest Discovery gifts and gadgets that are at the top of everyone's wish list this holiday season.

How Black Boxes Work

Often the only "survivor" among the wreckage, black boxes help investigators determine what happened in an airplane accident. Find out what's inside a black box.

How Cutting-edge Technology Works

How Fabric Displays Work

Fabric displays are revolutionizing the marketing and fashion industries. From furry TV to wearable computer systems, these displays are worth watching.

How Haptic Technology Works

Ever wonder how flat cell phone keys vibrate to let you know you've pressed a button? It's called haptics, and you can use it for lots more than just phones.

How Metal Detectors Work

Metal detectors can do more than just detect metal -- they can tell you the kind of metal it is and even how deep it's buried. Learn how these units pinpoint and identify their target.

How Night Vision Works

Most of us instinctively think of darkness as a cloak, a way to hide. So, how can you see someone standing more than 200 yards away on a pitch-black night?

How Spy Gear Works

Once only found in the movies, high-tech spy gadgets are part of our everyday lives. Is someone listening in on your conversation right now? Are you being followed?

How Steampunk Works

Everything new is old again in the world of steampunk. Steampunk artists overhaul technology with a neo-Victorian style. But what makes the gadgets so expensive?

How Stun Guns Work

Like the phasers used by Kirk and Spock, stun guns fall into the category of non-lethal weaponry. They can incapacitate without causing permanent damage.

How the Avatar Machine Works

The Avatar Machine lets users see themselves from a third-person perspective as if they were in a virtual environment. Could this gadget inspire human behavior studies?

How the Dyson Bladeless Fan Works

The Dyson Air Multiplier is a circular device that works like a fan. But it has no blades. Can it be as effective as a traditional fan? What’s so different about it?

How the iCache Works

The average person stuffs nine different cards into one wallet. What if you could consolidate all that card information into one thin little device? At the least, it'd save pocket space.

How the Taser Shotgun Shell Works

The Taser can be used to subdue subjects at close range, but what happens when police need to stop large crowds at a distance? They use Taser shotgun shells.

How Vampire Power Works

Forget the wooden stake -- the only thing that stops this vampire is unplugging your electronics. Vampire power sucks energy at a rate that would make anyone scream in horror.

How Virtual Reality Gear Works

The demand for virtual reality gear is determined by its uses in the medical, military and entertainment markets. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of devices like head-mounted displays.

How Virtual Reality Works

Virtual reality uses a computer to create a simulated three-dimensional world. Find out how virtual reality works and learn about the future of virtual reality.