DRAFT Magazine

DRAFTMag.com’s taking a break from beer-guzzling to attend the CES, but like any great love, absence only makes the heart grow fonder — here in Sin City, it seems all the greatest gadgetry reminds us of beer. Here are a few of our faves from day one:

Gunnar Optiks glasses
If hours spent staring at a computer leaves your peepers dry and itchy, you’re not alone; 90 percent of overworked saps like you who spend three hours-plus at a computer each day suffer from vision problems. Gunnar’s specialty specs use a yellow tint and proprietary technology to retain moisture, sharpen vision, and relax the muscles that cause eye strain. You can even get them in your prescription.
Beer use: Hours of beer blogging, minus the red-eye.

Nanomatic Nanonavi and nanoFinders
This company’s software, Nanonavi, mashes all of the major profile information from all of your friends in all of your social networks (Facebook, BeBo, etc.), then maps their locations in real time, and geo-tags photos and videos. In English, you can find your friends and share photos and videos whenever, wherever, without adding an extra devide to your pocket. NanoFinders are extraneous devices you can strap to your wrist while hiking or to your kids when they’re away, keeping everyone linked and safe.
Beer use: Find your fellow beer geeks in a crowded festival or a jam-packed bar.

EasyBloom Plant Sensor
PlantSense, the maker of this bloom-shaped tool, says more than $21 billion is spent on new plants each year, yet nearly a third of those kick the bucket. Solution: The EasyBloom sensor (about $60) sits in your houseplant; records environmental data like soil conditions, moisture, and temperature; then plugs into your Mac or PC and reports what you’re doing right (say, you’re giving it proper water) and what’s killing your favorite fern (like too much sun).
Beer use: Grow hops and herbs at home for your brewing pleasure.

DLP Projectors
Projectors are back, baby, and they’re not the bulky masses you watched Nova specials on in middle school: DLP’s technology runs on a slew of projectors that fit in your pocket. Our pick is the WowWee Cinemin Swivel ($299): It comes with 4 gigs of memory plus an upgradable memory slot, and a 90-degree hinge for ceiling projection.
Beer use: Watch video from your trip across Belgium or a slideshow of your favorite beer pics, beamed on the wall of your favorite pub.