While I typically don’t get into the Christmas spirit until about 6 p.m. on December 24th, I wondered what cool gifts are available for the engineers in your midst, family, or circle of friends. If you’re shopping, there’s still enough time. If you’re putting together a list, maybe there are a couple items here that you could highlight and pass along to Santa.

---

The absolute best site for gifts for engineers is, well, GiftsforEngineeers.com. According to this article, the inspiration for the founder of the site, Elizabeth Naramore, was her father — a structural engineer. Finding gifts for her Dad, engineer brother, and biology-major mother was never easy, so Naramore started off with custom-made T-shirts and expanded the site to include almost 260 engineering-related items. In admirable, engineering-style fashion, the site is obsessively well organized, includes both common and not-so-common offerings, and is the source for many of the items mentioned here. While I try not to endorse products (except for the iPod and lawn vacs), this site is a must-visit for those searching for just the right gift for their very own engineer.

Enjoy!

______________________________________________________________________

Wireless Network Detector
Best for the traveling sort, this Wi-Fi Finder eliminates the need to whip out your notebook PC, boot it up or wake it up, and pray for a signal. Priced at less than $30, it finds 802.11 b and g wireless networks instantly and has three lights to indicate signal strength.

http://store.yahoo.com/lovemacs/33063.html
______________________________________________________________________

Small Printer. Really Small Printer.

The MPrint MW-140BT weighs but 10 ounces and uses Bluetooth wireless technology (or USB) to print documents on-the-go from PDAs and notebook PCs. The device fits in a shirt pocket and will print up to 100 pages at a time — at 300 x 300 dpi — on a single charge. Is there a real, useful application for it? Who knows? It’s just about $370 worth of cool.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001M3NEC/ref=ase_ruggedeleganc3-20/103-8308512-7862236?s=electronics&v=glance&n=172282&tagActionCode=ruggedeleganc3-20
______________________________________________________________________

SR-71

I can’t imagine an engineer not drooling over the SR-71 Blackbird (or its sister craft), but I’m admittedly a tad, well, warped. OK, so it leaks like a sieve (the plane, not I) when on the ground, but it wasn’t meant to be on the ground. Anyway, here’s an SR-71 necktie ($39.95) for those days in the office that aren’t so casual. I want one of these myself, but don’t go by me as my taste in ties is questionable. (At least Jerry Garcia’s estate continues with some slick designs.)

http://giftsforengineers.com/125/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_78&products_id=269
______________________________________________________________________

I Kicked My Dog…

…in the dark once, discovering that a black dog isn’t all that visible at night. Another time, I tripped over her and, in an effort to save her from damage, fell into a closet. What am I doing wandering around the house at night? Hey, I keep strange hours. Anyway, I found the solution to the problem: BrightFeet lighted slippers. Yup, lighted. They have little headlights on the front of them, along with light sensors on the outboard edges.

The light sensors activate the headlights in darkness only, to save on the replaceable button batteries. No switches…just put ‘em on and start walking in the dark—they light right up. OK, it’s a little weird, but it works. And my dog’s happier and safer, though confused at the new beams. Engineered slippers. Ya’ gotta love it. ($39.95 from the site or your local JCPenney store.)

http://www.brightfeetslippers.com/
______________________________________________________________________

Cookies!!

Everyone loves cookies, even engineers on diets and exercise regimens.

These are of the chocolate chip variety, packaged in a paint can wrapped in faux building plans. The Building Plans Can of Cookies goes for a mere $42.95.

http://giftsforengineers.com/125/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_46&products_id=100
______________________________________________________________________

Leonardo Would Be Proud…

Here’s a pair of da Vinci Socks that should appeal to most any techie. As the site says, “Let your engineer keep his ‘inner da Vinci close-by!.’” OK, it’s just a pair of socks, but an ornithopter doesn’t store easily in most drawers. (“I’m the greatest engineer and thinker of all time. And you recognize my brilliance with socks? Socks?!” – Leonardo da Vinci)

http://giftsforengineers.com/125/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=336
______________________________________________________________________

Engineers Build America

Selections in this series proudly proclaim “Engineers Build America” and include a keychain/pen for $4.95, license plate frame for $3.98, a nice desk clock for $29.95 and a rosewood pen and case set for $29.95. Good stuff, especially considering that the proclamation is true.

http://giftsforengineers.com/125/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=41
______________________________________________________________________

21st Century Erector Set

While pretty much anything can be an erector set to an engineer (car, dishwasher, cellphone, etc.), the new Speed Play robot from Erector will help uncover the engineer in anyone. A new power driver, according to this article on Engadget, doubles as motor for the new toys. Configurations includes helicopter, motorcycle, dinosaur, and robot. The really cool element, however, is the set’s USB connectivity that enables the user to “install sound effects and functionality from Erector’s web site.” (Priced at $104 at the site below.)

http://www.utoypia.com/moreinfo.php?ID=3027&Name=Construction
______________________________________________________________________

For Everyone’s Glovebox

Of the items in this list, this one’s probably the most useful. Leatherman multipurpose tools are the epitome of You Get What You Pay for. They’re not cheap, they’re not fancy, they’re not electronic or gee-whiz — but they’re compact, exceedingly well-made, work magnificently, and last forever. Their site even has a clever gift finder to help you match the right tool to the individual. One of these things has been in my glovebox for years, coming in handy on countless occasions. Scared of the $30 to $100 price tag? Don’t be. Yes, this is a blatant, shameless endorsement. Get one as a gift, get one for yourself. Just get one.

http://www.swissknifeshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SKS&Category_Code=LTG
______________________________________________________________________

Digital Camera Binoculars

OK, at 3.2 megapixels, the resolution’s not great but it’ll do — and what a combination for race day or other sporting events. The Meade CaptureView 8×30 binocular camera is ruggedized, waterproof, helps the user along with a 1.5″ LCD, and boasts 16 megs of built-in memory and a 16 meg SD card. Sounds pretty good for $199.

http://www.acephotodigital.com/sc/review-product-information.asp?id=964599338&rf=froogle&dfdate=12_05_2005
______________________________________________________________________

Fuel Cell Car Kit

While this one mentions no age range, it’s certainly for the bigger kid — a kit that lets you build your own hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle. “A playful introduction to one fo the most significant technologies of the 21st century,” the kit can be built into a model car that runs only on plain (OK, distilled actually) water. It’s a little pricey at $149 ($119 at the link below), but for that amount you also get goggles and a DMM. (There’s another sentence I never though I’d type.)

http://www.discoverthis.com/fuelcelcaran.html
______________________________________________________________________

Is That a Gig in Your Pocket or…Oh, Nevermind.

Seriously, engineers love tools and computer stuff. The SwissMemory USB combines both in a cool device that attaches to your keychain. Made in partnership between Swissbit AG and Victorinox, the real Swiss Army Knife people, the scissors-knife-file-screwdriver-memory stick gadget is offered in capacities from 128 MB for about 60 bucks, to a respectable 1 GB for under $200. I have one of these and it’s great. Bulltproof, handy, and works every time with no fuss, no muss, and no iffy drivers required. Yes, that’s another shameless endorsement. Watch for better pricing, however.

http://www.swissknifeshop.com/page/SKS/PROD/SBUSB/qts/G1-USB/qtk/swiss_army_usb-e

______________________________________________________________________

Shirts, Mugs, and Such

This T-shirt says, “In school I learned that alcohol and math don’t mix. DON’T DRINK AND DERIVE.”

http://www.cafepress.com/shop/geeks/browse/store/linkinmall.14212553
______________________________________________________________________

This might be worth each of the 1,299 pennies that it costs: the Lean Manufacturing Mug. Starting with “Yankee Ingenuity Beats Cheap Offshore Labor” and moving to “Lean Manufacturing Keeps Jobs in the USA,” it tells it like it is — or as it should be. Then again, maybe the mug itself was Made in China.

http://www.cafepress.com/shop/geeks/browse/store/ct_yankee.22377335
______________________________________________________________________

Is mechanical engineering “better” than civil engineering? Well, yeah, according to this T-shirt which states: “Mechanical Engineers Build Weapons — Civil Engineers Build Targets.” A variety of styles and colors are available for women, men, even dogs.

http://www.cafepress.com/engineerstuff
______________________________________________________________________

If you don’t know what RTFM means, it’s inappropriate to define here. Nonetheless, any of the RTFM shirts, bags, or stickers in this selection should bring a smile to the face of any techie, from the highly degreed and accomplished engineer to the family member who’s called upon every time to address computer fix-it issues.

http://www.cafepress.com/shop/geeks/browse/rtfm

______________________________________________________________________

Books

I’ve avoided the technical references and engineering manuals that many engineers would find useful. Here are a few selections that may be a little more fun.

Engineering Tomorrow: Today’s Technology Experts Envision the Next Century

• How can we ensure that technology is humane and not inane?
• Can nations mount an effective defense without having to shoot?
• When computer intelligence exceeds human intelligence, what will it mean to be human?
• If you could ‘uninvent’ one technology, which would you choose — and why?
• How can we prevent ourselves from drowning in high-tech waste?
• Why should engineers take the long view?
These and other questions are supposedly answered, making the $62.95 seem a small price to pay. More than 50 famous and accomplished scientists and engineers are featured.

http://giftsforengineers.com/125/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_43&products_id=214
______________________________________________________________________

Lucky Strikes… Again

“…Ten years worth of…typical situations engineers encounter during their careers” has simply got to be good. “Not-so-subtle advice on ways to circumvent the red tape and gives bureaucratic hints” will no doubt make it even better.

http://giftsforengineers.com/125/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_43&products_id=255
______________________________________________________________________

Great Bridge Builders

I’ve always been fascinated with engineering and construction of bridges, and “Engineers of Dreams: Great Bridge Builders and the Spanning of America” is now on my Christmas List. “This is the story behind the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and a score of other marvels of the late 19th and 20th centuries’ engineering geniuses. The author depicts his heroes’ flaws as well as their virtues in his ongoing crusade to celebrate these engineers and the opposition that they encountered in politics, banking, public interest groups, and construction.”

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=782330

______________________________________________________________________

The Fantastical Engineer

OK, here’s what you do. Get this for your engineer spouse, wrap it, but stick it in a drawer somewhere for that day when he or she comes home from work screaming about the office. “The Fantastical Engineer: A Thrillseeker’s Guide to Careers in Theme Park Engineering” is sure to diffuse the mood, and maybe even inspire a new career path.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0966476328/002-1286426-9851225?v=glance&n=283155
______________________________________________________________________

The Introspective Engineer

OK, it’s liberal, but the description has a good ring to it: “In this title the author argues that we need cleaner, more economical engines, faster computers, more power, and a healthier planet all at the same time. He suggests that our leaders must take on an engineering mindset in designing solutions to the world`s moral and social problems.”

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=163229
______________________________________________________________________