The folks over at TechnoBuffalo have just come across a rather interesting specimen — it’s a dummy unit of the forthcoming Droid 4 from Motorola. While its rumored release date has come and gone, non-functional models such as this are commonly offered to consumers in a retail setting to poke and prod to their heart’s content. Nonetheless, the hands-on offers a few interesting details, such as a soft touch backside and insight into the redesigned keyboard, which is described as “the best one yet on a Droid handset.” Whether we agree with that assertion will be determined come review time, but if you’re interested to see the collection of up-close and personal shots with Moto’s latest slider, be sure to check the source below.

Droid 4 gets hands-on treatment, but it’s simply a dummy unit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I don’t use my garage very often, but I am a pretty forgetful person. So it’s not uncommon for me to leave my garage door open all night, revealing its precious contents to passers-by. Thankfully I haven’t been burgled yet. And now, thanks to a new Instructable, I can make my own “Hey dummy, you left your garage door open” reminder system!

How to install a “garage door open” indicator is a pretty clever idea. An open switch activates a small but annoying light in the master bedroom. If the garage door is open, you’ll see it when you lie in bed. It’s unobtrusive, but extremely functional!

UAB Engineering Students use the Wii for CPR from uabnews on Vimeo.

If you’ve ever been CPR certified, you know that it involves a lot of demonstration on a dummy that isn’t the best at giving feedback. But that’s the way it’s been done forever and it’s likely not going to change — although some undergrads at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are looking at a way to make the process a little more high-tech. They’ve designed a program, or “game” if you will, which integrates the Wiimote into the motions of the CPR training and lets you know if your compressions are deep enough, if you’re doing the right amount, etc. Sure, they could implement accelerometers and wireless data connections in the dummies, but we know that’s not going to happen.

It sounds kind of random, I know, but I think this is a good thing. My CPR training, while adequate, was less than stellar and more feedback and oversight would have been welcome. I’m not sure this Wii-PR will make it to the national stage or anything, but if it helps a few people learn a life-saving technique better than before, then it sounds like a winner to me.

It’ll be free and open source when it’s finished, though you will need a couple Wiimotes around to take advantage of it.