Flashlight DVR offers underwater hands-free recording

If you’re something of an adventurer but struggle to prove your exploits to your friends, you’ll want a digital video camera – but what do you do if most of your adventures take place under water?  Use a waterproof wrist-mounted flashlight-cum-camera, of course.
Previewed over on TechChee, the device is far from the first waterproof digital video camera to hit the market – but its innovative form factor may be enough to tip it to the top of swimmers’ and divers’ top-ten most wanted lists.
Rather than being a normal digital video camera held in a waterproof housing – requiring the user to always keep one hand occupied while the device is in use – the Flashlight DVR is designed to be mounted to the user’s wrist.  This allows for simple point-and-shoot filming – literally, you just point your hand towards whatever you want to capture – while ensuring the both hands are kept free for delicate operations.
The device records 640×480 VGA-resolution video clips in AVI format at a rate of 30MB per minute to an integral 4GB memory card – although for longer trips this can be replaced with up to 32GB of storage – and uses a built-in lithium-ion battery to record for between four to eight hours.  Recharging – and data transfer – is taken care of thanks to a USB 2.0 connection – although there’s no suggestion of how long it takes to fully charge from flat.
As the name suggests, the Flashlight DVR isn’t just a video recorder: with light often at a premium under water, the device includes a 1W LED flashlight which can be used during recording to provide extra illumination to the sensor or as a stand-along flashlight.  An in-built microphone is included in the body of the device, although it’s of more use above the waves than underwater.
Sadly for those hoping to use the device for deep-sea expeditions, the IP68-rated recorder is only good to a depth of 10m – although that should be plenty for your average, casual user.  As well as the wrist mount, the package includes a bicycle bracket for mounting to a push- or motorbike – and the waterproofing will certainly come in handy when you’re venturing out for a ride in inclement weather.
The Flashlight DVR is available immediately from USBFever for $192.99, with $2.99 shipping and handling – and if you’re not quite convinced yet, a video of the device in action is available on YouTube.