This group of Hot Gadgets & Gizmos is all about Imaging - capturing scenes * Miniature ‘Spy’ Cameras * Infrared night-time viewers * Scroll down the page to find something you like.

Zoom Color Camera Watch- by Casio

- Use it

• Photos can be viewed the moment you record them.
• The thumbnail screen allows 4 images to be viewed at once
• Anecdotes can be added to your snaps, using the text attaching device.
• You can download all your images via Infrared technology to your PC in BMP or JPEG format

How many times have you wished that you had your camera with you? You won’t get high definition shots with this, but you will get 100 shots whenever you need them.  Don’t go anywhere without your colour camera watch!

For further details and to buy

Know it -

How it works

Features & Specification:

• Recording system : JPEG
• Storage medium : Built in Memory (1MB)
• Memory capacity : Up to approximately 100 (actual capacity depends on JPEG compression ratio).
• Imaging element : 1/14 - inch colour CMOS sensor (Pixel Yield : 25,344: Total Pixels : 28,000)
• Lens : f/2.8 fixed, f = 1.1mm
• Focal distance : 30cm+
• Light metering : full screen average
• Exposure control : ALC (light control)
• Shutter type : digital
• Shutter speed : 1/5.5 to 1/1660 second (auto)
• Stored image size : QCIF (176 X 144 pixels), full colour
• Monitor : 6,240 dots (78 x 80), 4096 colours, size : 20mm x 20 mm
• Recording modes : normal; lighting mode selection (outdoor, indoor, dusk)
• Timer (2,5 or 10 seconds)
• Adjustable brightness
• 2 x digital zoom
• Infrared communication : watch - computer, watch - watch
• Data communication speed : 115,200bps maximum
• Battery : one CR-2032 lithium battery.
• Approximate battery life : 6 months (basic timekeeping with 20 seconds of alarm per day); 4 months (1 minute of image recording per day with 20 seconds of alarm per day). Battery life is shortened by frequent use of recording and data communication functions

What is imaging (including focussing, CCD and infrared?

Wrist Camera - the WQV-1 by Casio

- Use it

How many times have you wished that you had your camera with you?  You won’t get colour or high definition shots with this, but you will get 100 shots whenever you need them.  Don’t go anywhere without your wrist camera!

It looks very much like a high-end digital watch and is more stylish and less obvious than other wrist data devices. A tiny, 1/14-inch sensor  takes the black-and-white pictures, which show up on the 120 x 120 dot screen. Obviously, the quality isn't as good as a standard digital camera but for it's size, the images are very impressive. You can store up to 100 standard black-and-white images in the 1Mb memory, or download your favourites to computer via infrared transfer (inter-WQV transfer is another option). A planned Merge mode lets you combine two images, a function that has endless amusement possibilities.

. For further details and to buy, go To FireBox.  Look in the category ‘Tech ’ for ‘Casio WQV-1 Wrist Camera’

Know it -

How it works

A tiny fixed focus lens focusses the image onto a CCD sensor.  The image is then displayed on a small screen of 14,400 pixels.  A snapshot can be taken, which encodes the image and stores it within its onboard memory. Stored pictures can be later uploaded to your computer by an infrared link.

• What is imaging (including focussing, CCD and infrared?

Night Star Infrared Scope

- Use it

A tiny but powerful instrument that can be used to see in total darkness.  If you live or work or play in the country, this is must for you!

The world's smallest infrared night vision scope. With technology originally designed for the Special Forces, the Night Star offers  1.5x magnification for superb night vision clarity in one compact, lightweight  (9.5 ounces) unit. Whether used for home surveillance, hunting or night photography, the Night Star lets you zero-in on objects in total darkness. And  the Night Star fits in the palm of your hand, which makes it easy to to carry from home to business for protection, or on nature and wildlife studies
Measures 6" x  3 1/4"

. For further details and to buy, go to Gadget Universe.

Know it -

How it works

The Night Star Infrared Scope contains CCD sensors that are sensitive to the infrared wavelengths of light.  CCD or Charge Coupled Devices are electronic devices that convert photons of light into an electrical signal.  If there is total darkness, where are the photons of light that the scope picks up?  Well if you took the scope to the far side of Pluto, it wouldn’t work at all because it so cold there, but on Earth, it always warm, and warm objects emit light at a longer wavelength than we can see.  Intense radiation at this long wavelength is felt as heat, but at lower intensities, it is similar to the light we can see. The Night Scope is sensitive to this infrared light, converts it to electrical signals and then displays an image on a screen that emits visible light.

• What is imaging (including focussing, CCD and infrared?