A gaggle of gadgets

Do you hear what I hear? Do you see what I see?

Those questions can be moot if you select the appropriate high-tech gadgets during the holiday gift-giving season. Options abound for devices that can help people hear what you hear — yes, a talking thermometer — or see what you see, such as video "instant replay" binoculars.

So, shoppers might consider these items this season, complete with all the silver bells and whistles you'd expect.

Sounds of the season

Hey, kids, think you're playing your music loud enough? I said, think your music is loud enough?! Parents wanting to avoid having kids with hearing aids before they do might want to get their youngsters Guardian Wired Headphones ($39.95, www.projectorscreenstore.com) from Hamilton Electronics. The headphones have "sound level monitor" technology, meaning green and red LED lights on the side so parents can monitor the listening levels. Green? OK. Red? Too loud and perhaps indicating a hearing problem or a risk of causing irreversible damage to their ears.

Zelco Industries Inc. has a product, the Outi ($110, www.zelco.com) that it says can eliminate problems of ear drum damage because the headphones clip onto the back of the ear instead of being crammed into the ear canal. The company says the revolutionary positioning lets the user both hear and feel the sound as it moves through the outer ear. Perhaps best of all, it lets runners, walkers, bicyclists and the like hear external sounds. Ninety minutes of charging time provides six hours of listening time. Formerly known as Vibe BS, the Outi will start shipping in December.

Like to run in step to your favorite tunes but can't get your pace to match "Bohemian Rhapsody"? The BODiBEAT ($299.99, www.yamaha.com/bodibeat) matches the beat of your downloaded songs to the speed of your footsteps. The device comes with software that automatically categorizes songs by beats per minute, and a small heart rate monitor clipped to the user's ear lets the BODiBEAT adjust the playlist accordingly. You'll probably want to avoid Barry Manilow ballads if you want to lose any weight.

Got some meat on the grill but you want to play football while it's cooking? Turn to the Talking Wireless BBQ/Oven Thermometer ($59.99, www2.oregonscientific.com) from Oregon Scientific. Just set the program on one of eight meat choices and the desired level of "doneness," then the main unit lets you know — from as far away as 300 feet — when the food reaches a perfect temperature. It can speak in five languages.

Seeing is believing