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This weekend, the NBA and ESPN will utilize Cisco TelePresence technology to create an interactive "in-person" forum to allow athletes and fans to interact using Cisco's videoconferencing / telepresence technology.

According to Cisco, Cisco TelePresence has been deployed on the All-Star Jam Session floor allowing fans to interact "face-to-face" with NBA stars from the convention center's green room and backstage at the arena. On-site Cisco digital signage will provide All-Star programming content and live updates of the NBA Jam Session Trivia contest.

Additionally, ESPN will broadcast exclusive NBA All-Star Weekend reports on the network's popular news shows directly from the Cisco TelePresence system in Phoenix back to ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut.

Here's the full details:

ESPN and NBA Bring Fans Closer to All-Star Game Action With Cisco TelePresence Technology

Cisco TelePresence Technology Will Be Used to Create an Interactive Experience Between Fans and NBA Players and Legends at NBA All-Star Weekend

NBA All-Star Weekend -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) and ESPN today announced that they will utilize Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) TelePresence(TM) technology to create an immersive "in-person" experience that will bring NBA players and legends closer to fans at the NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix this weekend.

Facts:
•    ESPN will broadcast exclusive NBA All-Star Weekend reports on the network's news and information shows, such as "SportsCenter," directly from the Cisco TelePresence system in Phoenix back to ESPN's studio in Bristol, Conn.
•    With the implementation of TelePresence in ESPN broadcast operations, the sports network will be able to deliver a higher level of interactive sports broadcasting for major events happening across the globe.
•    During NBA All-Star, Cisco will deploy two Cisco TelePresence units at the Phoenix Convention Center and one at U.S. Airways Center for the All-Star Game activities. One of the Cisco TelePresence systems will be located directly on the show floor at the All-Star Jam Session allowing fans to interact "face-to-face" with NBA stars from the Convention Center green room and backstage at the arena.
•    Fans will be able to participate in trivia contests and interact with current NBA players and legends, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, Toronto Raptors' Jason Kapono and former Phoenix Suns' legend Dan Majerle, throughout the weekend via the Cisco TelePresence systems at NBA Jam Session.
•    In addition to TelePresence, the NBA will utilize the Cisco® wireless press center for real-time mobile media reporting on multiple All-Star events happening in Phoenix. And as an official technology partner of the NBA, Cisco digital signage, part of the Cisco Digital Media System, will be on-site to provide All-Star programming content and live updates of the NBA Jam Session Trivia contest.

Steve Hellmuth, executive vice president of technology and operations, NBA
"Cisco has been helping the NBA stay connected since 2007 and we're thrilled to extend this interaction to our fans by bringing Cisco TelePresence to the Jam Session show floor. We will be able to provide our fans with unprecedented access to both current NBA players and legends."

Ed Erhardt, president of customer marketing and sales, ESPN
"ESPN is working with Cisco to enhance the NBA All-Star viewing experience for basketball fans. Thanks to Cisco, we'll be able to offer our audience a closer look at the All-Star Game with exclusive interviews via Cisco TelePresence."

Alan Cohen, vice president, enterprise marketing, Cisco "By deploying Cisco TelePresence directly on the NBA Jam Session show floor, we are bridging the gap between athletes and fans, giving basketball enthusiasts a virtual pass to the arena with a unique ability to interact with players in new ways that were not possible at previous marquee sporting events. Building on our relationship with the NBA, we're bringing fans closer to the game, from the boardroom to the locker room."

Related Links:

• Cisco Sports Web Site
• NBA All-Star Weekend Web Site
• ESPN.com NBA All-Star coverage
• Cisco Video - Collaboration and Innovation: Bringing Fans Closer to the Game
• Cisco Video - Houston Rockets Center Yao Ming Using Cisco TelePresence to Field Press Inquiries
• Cisco Videos - The Human Network Effect in Sports
• Cisco Photos - Phoenix Suns Forward Grant Hill Reaches Global Fans with Cisco TelePresence

Sony announced GPS functionality for its Sony PSP gaming platform. While the GPS accessory was released in Japan in late 2006, this marks the "demo" launch (at CES) of the product in North America. It was simply a demo at CES, but Sony reps said they expect the product to ship sometime this year.

The GPS device will load map data from an included UMD that's region specific. Updated or additional country maps can be purchased and downloaded to a Memory Stick. The GPS will work with the older/original PlayStation Portable as well as the newer PSP-2000. Pretty amazing that the Sony PSP can now do gaming (obviously), Skype calls, and now GPS. The large screen should do nicely with GPS navigation, so TomTom and Garmin may need to be concerned since they are mostly one-trick GPS ponies. Though I doubt the first rev of the Sony PSP GPS software will include turn-by-turn text-to-speech naming of streets.

For those of us with smaller wrists, Mio has done what should seem obvious to any watch company -- design watches for those smaller wrists!

The MIO Sport Select Petite is designed for fitness enthusiasts -- and includes all of the features of MIO's great Sport Select watch. It comes with one interchangeable, two-tone petite watch strap in grey/black. (Additional watch straps are also available.)

It's the perfect workout companion with personalized heart rate display and calculation of calories burned. I don't have to guess what's going on -- I can simply glance at my wrist and know I'm in the zone.

(Let me state here again how great the Mio ZonePlus is for exercise and cardio workouts -- looks good too.)

The MIO Sport Select Petite features:

• ECG accurate heart rate without a chest strap
• Personalized percent of maximum heart rate display
• Counts calories burned during exercise
• Interchangeable two-tone watch strap in petite length of only 8 1/2 inches (specifically designed for slender wrists smaller than 6 3/4 inches)

MSRP: $129.99

www.miowatch.com

This is really cool!

Wild Planet's Water Talkies is an underwater talking toy that makes it possible to chat up your friends underwater.

Haven't tested the "unique design projects your voice clearly up to 15 feet" claim, but this is really cool.

Wild Planet has lots of other really cool water and pool toys and gadgets for those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer -- enjoy them while you can!

Price: $11.96 

www.shopwildplanet.com

Sure your cardio workout generates a good healthy sweat, but are you maximizing your heart’s potential? Are you making the most out of your workout -- raising your cardio and elevating your well-being?

Mio's new Zone Plus will tell you if you are. Customizable heart rate target zones help you maximize workouts; you get ECG-accurate heart rate measurement anytime, anywhere -- and without the chest strap typical of so many other heart rate monitors!

You can increase workout efficiency with customizable percentage of maximum heart rate target zones and alarms that will tell you when you are in and out of the target zone. (No personal trainer needed.)

Check out these extensive timer and training features:

• 12 or 24 hour clock option
• Date and alarm clock
• 100 Hours stopwatch
• Interval/ count down timer of 99h59m59s (settable to the second)
• 16 lap timers each up to 99m59s
• 16 lap memory
• Average lap time
• Total time of all laps
• Average heart rate of all laps
• Average heart rate of each lap

How much more data do you need to get fit?

Price: $99.99

www.miowatch.com