The LightWedge: A better way to read in the dark
By Shoshana Berger
Business 2.0
Editor's note: Gizmos Weekly is produced by Business 2.0 and features gadget reviews and gift ideas
(Business 2.0) -- The LightWedge is a clever, portable reading lamp that will rescue business travelers from two near-death situations: 1) dimly lit hotels and 2) having to talk to the guy sitting next to you on the plane.
It works like this: A battery-powered black strip rests along the edge of the page, laying an illuminated screen over the text. A slide-on clip acts like a ledge, suspending the Wedge from the top of the book. The 6.75- by 9.25-inch acrylic screen looks like a nighttime window lit from within but is actually an LED lit from two points. Though it's not as bright as other clip-ons, the beam is concentrated on the page, not in the eyes of the guy sleeping next to you in seat 37A.
Let there be light
Other portable lamps I've tried are difficult to anchor at the right angle for a comfortable wash of light. The problem is that most shine down from above and white out the text. The LightWedge rests flat on the page, radiating across it fairly evenly (though the light beams did create some distracting moirč patterns). It's a subtle distinction, but one that counts over time.
A few caveats: Unlike reading lamps that cling to the bedpost or the spine of the book, you have to reposition the LightWedge with each page -- kind of a pain for speed readers and browsers. Plus, the screen doesn't retract when you want to stash it in your carry-on, and acrylic scuffs easily.
As of today, the Wedge is sized for standard hardbacks only (I've been assured that a paperback version is on its way). Still, if you're hunting for an inexpensive gift for a frequent flier you don't know from Adam, this should be a contender.
I mean everybody reads, right?
Available at Barnes & Noble, Levenger, and Amazon.com for $35. ww.lightwedge.com.
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