Design Zealot

I'll be honest — I'm not sure I can explain the function or the purpose of the Jakks Pacific EyeClops BioniCam.

When you point the spherical front part of the BioniCam close to something like your skin or a bug or something else tiny, an image magnified at 100x, 200x or 400x is shown on an LCD screen. This magnifying video viewer is wrapped in a weird ball-shaped… thing.

What's the point of the form or function? Got me, but someone will buy it because its the third product in the company's EyeClops series. They wouldn't make two sequels unless the original was popular, right?

My notes say that this $70 version, due in the spring, is wireless, but I was unable to get a cogent explanation of this function from the company rep (or at least I don't remember one). Since there's a belt clip piece with a USB thumb drive, maybe EyeClops transmits the magnified video for recording. we couldn't play with one — they didn't have one. The product box at the booth had a styrofoam place holder instead of the product and the picture above, which was emailed me from Hong Kong, is only a drawing.

Maybe this prose confusion will result in a more cogent explanation from a company rep down the road as to its purpose and reason for being. I do so want to understand. I think.[via]