Ambient Devices is a company started by MIT students has developed a number of nice low-key gadgets that display “glance-able” data that is transmitted over the U.S. pager network – no Internet connection is required.
The Ambient Orb is a frosted glass sphere that glows red through yellow to green indicating movements in the Dow Jones average. Green, for example, means a +2.5% rise in the DJIA. The benefit is that you can glean the market trend through the corner of your eye, without having to log onto something and read it. The service is free, but the Orb itself retails for $149usd. A premium service ($6.95/mo) tracks customized portfolios.
Similarly, the Weather Beacon, 
which is box-shaped, glows more red when warmer weather is forecast for your region (blue for colder), and pulsates when snow or rain is predicted. As above, the service is free, and no computers, phones, or backyard sensors are required; premium users also get 5-day forecasts, barometric pressure, wind speed, pollen forecasts etc.
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February 8th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
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