Robots, Gadgets & a Healthy Computer Mouse

Vacation time is just around the corner. Are you hooked? Or will you take some time off to enjoy yourself with your family? Do we spend too much time using the computer? If so, our hands ache from Repetitive Strain Injury and Cumulative Trauma Disorder. Be proactive and use infrared heated computer devices to deliver infrared deep healing heat to your muscles.

Where Gadgets Go to Die: Facility Strips, Rips and Recycles
By Brian X. Chen

When gadgets die, they go to a place like the one pictured here — if they're lucky.

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency came under fire for allowing U.S. tech companies to export millions of pounds of hazardous, used electronics to Asian countries where they are recycling with a lot less environmental oversight.

Negative press, new e-waste legislation and a depressed economy are pressuring tech manufacturers into assuming far greater recycling responsibly to show they’re part of the green movement. As a bonus, domestic recycling lets them save some money on materials, such as precious metals, while they’re at it. Manufacturers who handle recycling responsibly in the United States work with professional facilities like this one, where old gadgets are dismantled using a part-man, part-mechanical process.

With 15 locations in the United States, Sims Recycling Solutions is one of the world’s largest electronics scrap recyclers. Pictured here is the "demanufacturing" center of the company's Roseville, California facility, where workers disassemble everything from printers, cameras and computers to Jumbotrons for their reusable materials. The facility receives roughly 150,000 pounds of used electronics a day.

Follow along for a photographic tour of the Sims facility, where you'll learn exactly what happens to unwanted gadgets as they're dismantled, their components sorted and their raw materials melted down for scrap.

Workers separate parts into bins based on their materials as well as whether they have metal in them, and, if so, what kind of metal. There are roughly 60 full-time workers at Sims who handle disassembly; the nature of their jobs require them to attend monthly, company-sponsored safety meetings. Parts that are too difficult to dismantle by hand are separated and sent to the onsite shredder for grinding and separation using various automated technologies.

"New" junk arrivals roll in on a conveyor belt, and workers throw the gadgets into their respective boxes. Sims employees say they occasionally receive some awesome antiques, such as the 8-bit Commodore 64 home computer.

Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

Sometimes Nothing Works.... No Matter How Hard We Try

Infant Robot Still Learning and Creeping the Bejesus Out of Us

from GearLog

Hiroshi Ishiguro's over-sized "baby" robot, CB2, has made a lot of progress since we last reported on him...er..it, in 2007. According to a report on Breitbart.tv, the 73-pound, roughly 4-foot-tall robot can now walk with assistance, and navigate its way around a room. It's also very adept at creeping people out by following them with its inky-black eyes. Apparently CB2 has been programmed to record facial emotions, much as a baby would, to help it better respond to human interaction. The Breitbart report also notes that just below its gray, silicon skin are a host of sensors so it can react to all kinds of subtle touches. The researchers' goal is to have CB2 talking--in a child-like-way--within two years. The rest of report recounts much of what we already know about the rapid pace of robotics development in Japan. There is, however, a bizarre diversion to Kokoro (a subsidiary of Hello Kitty manufacturer Sanrio). The company actually makes some life-size robots of its own, and its planning department manager, Yuko Yokota, spoke to Breitbart. His words really speak for themselves:"Robots have hearts," said Yokota. "They don't look human unless we put souls in them. When manufacturing a robot, there comes a moment when light flickers in its eyes. That's when we know our work is done." Umm, yeah. Remind me never to buy one of those robots.

Grab an USB Hand Warmer by ValueRays. The air conditioning can do with a tweak and your aching bones can do with some heat! Infared heat is healthy for work or play. Browse for the best online at Warm Mouse Heated Keyboard. Looking for a warm computer mouse? A heated mouse is one of those little things in life where the fascination is never ending!

Not ergonomic, but cute, the baseball hat computer mouse will put a smile on your face, but probably make your mouse hand sore in less than 20 minutes. Hats off to this novelty designer computer mouse. I'll stick with the healthy infrared heated computer mouse!

Here's more about infrared heat: ValueRays USB heated warm mouse, heated keyboard pad, mouse hand warmer and heated warm mouse pad are made using a carbon fiber. Carbon fibers generate infrared heat. Infrared heat is a healing heat. It's the same type of heat generated by the infrared rays of the sun without the harmful UV rays. The warmth of Infrared heat provides a deep penetrating heat that is relaxing and removes tension and stress due to muscle strain, poor circulation and other conditions which cause hands to hurt and become cold. Infrared heat is also detoxifying.


Infrared heat has been effectively used to rid the body of unwanted, harmful environmental toxins and inhibit bacterial growth from these toxic substances. Infrared heating devices and the healing effects of Infrared Heat Rays are becoming more widespread in the USA. Eastern cultures have been using Infrared Heat Rays healing techniques for centuries.