Do you like to escape from the real world for awhile? You know, tap into virtual reality and feel like you're driving a race car or climbing a mountain? Well up until now, virtual reality users could only view a 60-degree horizontal field with head-mounted gear. So basically, you were just getting half of the whole picture.

Sensics has developed a way for VR users to delve into a wider field of view, based on eMagin OLEDs. It's called the piSight head-mounted virtual reality system, and it features 24-bit color, panoramic 150-degree views in 3D. The piSight can display 2200x1200 pixels per eye and offers an integrated precision motion tracker with six degrees of freedom. Plus, it weighs just 2 lbs.

Without getting too technical, the piSight uses 12 microdisplays for each eye, and are combined to form one large, wrap-around image.

piSight systems are available now, and I'll let you know for how much when I hear back from the company.

Read eMagin's press release.

UPDATE: Well, I heard back from Sensics, and they said that the piSight is not meant for the consumer market; rather, it's for "very high-end applications such as military training and simulation, automotive design and others." DARN. But, that doesn't mean it won't make its way into your hands in a couple of years.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said late Monday that it plans to hold its third Grand Challenge for autonomous robot cars in about eighteen months. The new challenge? Abiding by traffic laws.

The new DARPA Urban Challenge will take place in a "city," a mock urban area that will force the vehicles to obey traffic laws by moving into moving traffic, negotiate traffic circles, and scoot through intersections. The cars won't be ferrying kids to school, however; they will be performing "simulated military supply missions," DARPA said.

The race will mark the third Grand Challenge, after four vehicles successfully negotiated a 142-mile desert course without human intervention during 2005. The new race will take place on Nov. 3, 2007, with a $2 million prize handed out to the car which negotiates the 60-mile course. The second-place finisher will win $500,000, while the third-place car will win $250,000.

Click here to read about last year's winner, "Stanley," and its appearance at the CES trade show.

"Grand Challenge 2005 proved that autonomous ground vehicles can travel significant distances and reach their destination, just as you or I would drive from one city to the next," said DARPA Director Dr. Tony Tether, in a statement. "After the success of this event, we believe the robotics community is ready to tackle vehicle operation inside city limits."

While a team from Stanford University won the 2005 Grand Challenge, two other vehicles, both from Carnegie Mellon University, were close behind. "Graybot," a car designed by Tulane University and sponsored by the Gray Insurance Company, also finished.

On Monday, Stanford Racing confirmed that they will participate in the third Grand Challenge. "Since the previous race, the team has been working on an autonomous car capable of freeway driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles," the team said in a statement.

However, the methods by which a contestant can enter have changed. The first, more traditional way, is to submit an application and participate in a series of preliminary tests, winning $50,000 for making it to the semifinal round, known as a National Qualification Event. Those teams that pass the NQE and move on to the Grnad Final will win an additional $100,000.

The second method of participating involves submitting a detailed technology proposal to DARPA, without putting the ideas into practice via the race. If they do so, teams may win up to $1 million, but must allow the U.S. government limited license rights to the technology.

I don't like to wear jewelry or a watch when I'm playing sports. So, these sure would have come in handy on Sunday afternoon when I was playing basketball at Mercer County Park.

The Nike Cuff is a wristband that sports a digital watch. It shows the time and date and is water resistant up to 30 meters. The Cuff Wristband Watch comes with three interchangable colors, including White/University Blue/Light Graphite and Iron/Lemon Frost/Safari. One size fits all.

Get the Cuff Wristband Watch for $39.00.

[via Coolest Gadgets]

See what Apple has started? Every day I see a new iPod-related accessory. Of course, I can't help but be intrigued, so I'm just as bad.

I'm not a great cook, so I let my boyfriend step in and do the cooking for me. (I really lucked out.) I don't know about him, but I enjoy listening to music while cooking up a storm. A new arrival to the Hammacher Schlemmer store is the iHome iH36W Under-Cabinet iPod Dock and Radio. This unit plays any iPod (according to the site) and is mounted under your kitchen cabinet. It features a backlit LCD display that shows song information. The radio receives FM1, FM2, TV, and weather audio. And what would a kitchen be without but a built-in cooking timer and clock.

The folding dock on the unit plays and charges your iPod. Comes with 2 AAA batteries and a remote control.

If your mom owns an iPod (or maybe you'll let her borrow yours), then treat her to some music to accompany her in the kitchen.

Purchase the Under-Cabinet iPod Dock and Radio for $199.95.