Product Watch

The product: HangTimer

What it is: The ultimate Dude Device. This clip-on gadget, about the size of a digital watch, measures the hang time -- the time you’re in the air when doing a skateboard, snowboard, BMX bike or in-line skate trick. Also for more traditional sports, such as ski jumping and basketball. It also tells time and temperature.

The pitch: “It really is rocket science,” says inventor Jeff Alexander, who also worked on the first version of the Xbox game console. “As soon as you leave the ground, you are being pulled back toward the Earth. That’s what we use to know you are in the air.”

How it works: Inside the HangTimer is a micro-electromechanical system that uses a tiny dot of silicon to measure gravitational force. When it senses an absence of something under you to block that force, it kicks into gear and starts timing until you land back on your feet -- or other parts of your body if the landing isn’t pretty.

Price: $99

Information: www.hangtimer.com