May 17, 2000
You've seen the bumper sticker, "He who dies with the most toys wins."
Well, as baby boomers have gotten older, the toys have changed a lot.
We've now become a gadget- oriented culture.
So, we asked Keith McCord to go out and sample the latest stuff.
Here's what he found.
In a 1964 comedy, Jack Lemmon's character makes motorized gadgets with old junk from the garage!
Through the years though, our gagdets have become much more sohpisticated!
Our cars talk to us now, and practically drive themselves.
If we're bored at the office, we can play golf on our pocket-sized computers;
If we get lost, we can wear a satellite tracking device on our wrists to get us home!
Jerry Richardson/ Sales Mgr. Kirkham's Outdoor Products: "AND IT'S NEAT TOO, BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST POP IT ON YOUR WRIST, AND YOU CAN SEE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE."
When we think of gadgets, contraptions, doohickeys and other thingamajig's, we probably think of toys! And yes, there are a bunch of those out there.
I played 18-holes in the boss's office the other day--a mini computer is attached to the golf club!
At the recent "Business Expo," some ladies were peddling a new lazer tag gizmo.
Rebecca Pehrson/Laser Quest:"AND IT HAS A LASER BEAM THAT COMES OUT--SHOOTS-- AND YOU JUST GO AND TAG OTHER PEOPLE."
Jerry Richardson/ Sales Mgr. Kirkham's Outdoor Products: "AND THIS GUY WILL ACTUALLY BOIL A QUART OF WATER IN 4 MINUTES.."
Gadgets are also popular in recreation. Backpackers love the titanium propane stove-- weighs less than 4 ounces!
Computer mapping programs allow you to drag the mouse to determine the distance of your hike!
Gadgets, make our lives convenient!
Jerry Richardson/ Sales Mgr. Kirkham's Outdoor Products: "EVERYTHING HERE IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR, TO MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER WHEN THEY'RE BACKPACKING OR CAR CAMPING."
Dashboard mapping screens in our cars guide us to restaurants and other points of interest.
If we get in trouble, or see a problem, just press the "SOS" button, and the GPS system will track it.
Jim Stoddard/Ken Garff Mercedes: "YOU CAN PUSH THIS BUTTON AND CONTACT THEM, AND SAY, THERE'S AN ACCIDENT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT, THEY KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT."
