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INTERNET HELPS TO FIND LOST STUFF

Most of us have lost something valuable. When it happened to me, my first reaction was to call the Lost and Found department in hopes that some good samaritan had done the right thing and turned it in. Was I being naive? Not according to StuffBak's president Scott Edwards who recently as an experiment for an insurance company intentionally lost 51 cell phones at airports, rest rooms, hotels, restaurants and other public locations. In less then three weeks, over 50 percent of the phones using his StuffBak system were returned and more are still coming in. Edwards points out that if people are inherently dishonest as so many believe, why then does just about every public place have a Lost and Found department? Given the results of StuffBak's experiment, perhaps the reason so many things don't get returned is because their finders don't know to whom the lost items belong. Edwards is convinced that most people want to do the right thing. His StuffBak system is helping them do it.

StuffBak's Lost & Found consists of a high-tech labeling system integrated to a central Internet database that can be accessed by anyone online. The six label starter pack ($9.95) contains labels shaped to fit cell phones, PDAs, computers and even a pair of eye glasses' tiny wire rim ear piece. Using the same glue used to bond the ceramic tiles to the space shuttle, each laminated water proof label displays a unique identification number, StuffBak's web address and toll free number. To set it all up, you enter each label's code, its matching item description and contact information on StuffBak's web site. You can even add an additional monetary reward. When a finder sees the attached label, they either call the toll free number or log on and enter the ID number. The site displays only the item's description, your added reward and further instructions on how to return the item via any Mail Boxes, Etc. or via Airborne pickup. The finder receives an additional reward from StuffBak as well. You always remain anonymous and if an area code changes or you move, you can easily update the web data at any time.

www.stuffbak.com (800) 800-8257

Half a keyboard

Sometimes it would be nice to be able to type with just one hand, leaving the other free to perform other tasks. The Matias Half Keyboard lets you do just that. It's like sawing a keyboard in half so it's half the size while preserving full individual key size. You keep the left half of the keyboard. To type the keys on the missing right half, simply hold down the spacebar (which also can type a space if you hit it momentarily). Now any key you type produces the corresponding missing key. For example, typing the letter "P" is done with your left pinky instead of your right pinky finger (which is what you would use to type the "P" with your right hand). At first one might think this is confusing but it's actually quite natural since you're using the same fingers on your left hand to type what you would be using with your right. Got it? Sure you do. Trust me, it works. Works with your PC, Mac, Palm and Handspring PDAs. $99.

www.halfkeyboard.com