View From the Editor: Life after the singing sandwich - January 2006  

Readers, what happened to 2005? One minute S&T was trying to upload tracks onto our iPod Shuffle at ArkSports Towers, and the next it seems woefully out of date as we gaze (or should that be squint?) wistfully at the video screens on the latest MP3 players bestowed upon our friends and family.
Yep, 2006 has arrived (for those of you who follow the Gregorian Calendar), and we expect you were either blessed with the latest in top-notch gadgetry over the festive season, or (in the case of S&T), had to do with the usual satsuma and gold-foil covered chocolate coins. Sob. Only joking, Santa managed to squeeze a fab Digital Radio down our chimney which means it will never be a struggle tuning into The Archers* omnibus again of a Sunday morning. (*Radio soap tale of farming folk, produced by public service broadcaster the BBC in the UK and also available globally on the BBC World Service).
Talking of radio (you know, that medium without moving images), according to US scientists, there is a government plot in that country to ‘invade’ people’s brains via radio signals, and the only protection is to don a pointy hat made of tin-foil, to deflect the signals. Whilst S&T is always keen to sport the latest in sartorial elegance, especially when it derives from household items, alas we are convinced that there is nothing so untoward happening this side of the pond. Although, it has to be said, most Sunday afternoons we do spend a considerable amount of time salivating over John Deere tractors and herding sheep. Still, it’s all good fun and we can’t wait for harvest time! Yee-hay!

Singing sandwiches and more!

S&T was delighted to stumble upon a little gem of technology-related edible holiday cheer that we would like to share with you now (actually, we forgot to put it in the December issue, so apologies if it’s past its sell-by date). UK supermarket giant Tesco apparently launched a singing sandwich in time for the festive season. “Audacious”, we hear you cry! For a mere £2.99, the hungry nation could buy a cheeky turkey and cranberry bread-based snack that played the Christmas ‘classic’ ‘Jingle Bells’ when the packaging was opened. What next? A burger with fried onions that sings your football team’s most popular terrace chant when you bite into it? An Easter Egg that sings ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by rock gods Queen, when its wrapping is ripped open? (Where’s that patent form?)
Award-winning new business ideas aside, chocolate is always a good thing (except when you eat too much of it of course) and therefore S&T was very disappointed not to receive a confectionary sorting machine from the white-bearded red-robed seasonal main geezer. We kid you not, there’s a device out there that can colour-sort your M&Ms, Skittles, Smarties and the like into little containers for you, thus negating any need to ever eat the ones you don’t like again. Genius. S&T has long been offended by green-covered sweeties, in a general ‘Can’t stand green because of Plymouth Argyle FC’ kind of way. But perhaps that’s just us.

Blinded by new technology

On next year’s list of must-have gadgets for one or two folk may be the new video sunglasses that are being trialled in Japan as we speak. Readers, the mere thought of this may send you into a frenzy, but you will soon be able to walk down the street, looking simultaneously slick in dark shades, while watching the latest Hollywood Blockbusters or sport events in glorious technicolour! “What rapture!” we hear you cry. You will never have to enter a cinema and look uncool ever again! The video images will be projected onto the inside of the specs in the centre, allowing vision peripherally. (The launch of said item will no doubt be swiftly followed by legislation banning the watching of videos while walking in the street, and sunglasses will once again be the domain of the trendy and sun-sensitive among you. Phew.)

Plug for our conference

Before S&T invites you to e-mail us with details of your favourite new bits of technology and what you think will be 2006’s must-have bit of kit or gadgetry, we couldn’t let this column pass without another plug for Sport and Technology: The Conference 2006, which will be held at BT Centre in London on Thursday 23 February, 2006. Only 30 seats remain for this top-notch event which will be brought to a World Cup-themed climax by Marius Schneider, head of information services at FIFA. S&T can’t think of a better way to end the day, than perhaps also by having a charity raffle and lavish cocktail party graced by a mystery sports celebrity guest. Hang on a minute, we have that too! Can this conference get any better? Last year’s charity raffle was drawn by S&T’s idol, Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, who was at the time the 12-times World Darts Champion. S&T is delighted to report that Phil is now the 13-times World Darts Champion following his recent victory at Purfleet, and we know that he would probably attribute much of that success to have been at BT Centre last year. We just haven’t asked him yet.
So, hasten yourselves toute suite and sign up for the must-attend event of 2006 (www.sportandtechnologyconference.com) while stocks last and before the sell-by date expires. Ah, back to sandwiches again. Must be time for high tea.
Now that the plug is over, S&T will conclude this month’s ramblings by, as promised, inviting you to e-mail us with details of your favourite new bits of technology and what you think will be 2006’s must-have bit of kit or gadgetry. We really would love to hear from you and it would also mean we have to write less next issue. So get typing, and a very happy 2006 to you all!

Rachael Church
Editor

Do you think there is enough chocolate in sport? Or can you simply not choose between chocolate and crisps? If you have any comments or feedback on this article or any of the features in S&T, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please e-mail your comments to editor@sportandtechnology.com.

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