If I drop my iPhone 5 on the sidewalk, how easily will it be to repair the screen? What if my Kindle Fire's battery stops holding a charge? When we're shopping for new tablets and smartphones, we seldom take these kinds of things into consideration. Most of us just presume nothing bad will happen. And if it does, well, we'll deal with it when it happens. 

As far as the manufacturers are concerned, they're usually more interested in getting customers to stand in line for the new gadget in another year or two, so making it easy to fix today's devices is hardly a priority. If you look at the user manual of an iPad, Kindle Fire or Nexus 7, you won't see instructions on replacing the battery - or opening the device for any purpose. iPhones are held together using proprietary pentalobe screws specifically designed to keep you out of your device's innards. 

Whether we like it or not, we're living in the Age of Unrepairable Machines. As our devices get more portable and sleek, our ability to tweak and repair the hardware diminishes. (The ability to work with the software, of course, is a separate question.)

Some argue that this is okay. Most of us wouldn't want to fix our refrigerators or our watches if they break, so why bother with tablets and smartphones?  

Computers Used To Be Hobbyist Favorites

The thing is, historically, computers have been easily modified by their owners. In fact, that ability to fix, upgrade and otherwise tinker with computers was a big part of the genre's early appeal. So while you can't crack open an iPad to add more memory like you can with your laptop, there are still plenty of consumers who would prefer the do-it-yourself route to replacing busted screens and dead batteries. 

But how realistic is that in 2013? Just how fixable is that tablet you're thinking of buying?

Thankfully you don't have to wait until the screen shatters to find out. The folks over at iFixIt have been tearing down the hottest new gadgets as they're released and posting detailed, step-by-step reports on the guts of each one. We put together this handy chart of how iFixIt ranks popular smartphones and tablets:

Note: If you're the DIY Mr(s).-Fix-It type, we definitely recommend reading through your gadget's teardown report with care before breaking out the 54-bit driver set. And keep in mind that none of these manufacturers intend for you to open their devices, so do so at your own risk. 

Photo courtesy of iFixIt.

Wearable devices like the Nike+ FuelBand, Jawbone UP, larklife, and future products like the Misfit Shine and Google Glass have been the subject of much discussion, for good reason: They give us access to information about our physical bodies and the physical environment we inhabit, a phenomenon we call Smart Body, Smart World. (Self-proclaimed quantified self-ers have been early adopters of tracking sensors, but they're new to most consumers.)

Though at Forrester we think the market for fitness wearables is relatively small, the broader potential for wearables is huge. Body-generated data could be applied to any domain, such as relationships, productivity, gaming, shopping, personal safety and identity validation, just to name a few possibilities.

I recently participated in a panel in San Francisco hosted by service design agency Fjord, along with Adam Gazzaley, Director of the Neuroscience Imaging Center at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF); Bill Geiser, CEO of MetaWatch; Sonny Vu, CEO of Misfit Wearables; and Olof Schybergson, CEO of Fjord. With perspectives from science, research, product and design all represented, we had diverse points of view but all saw the same challenges ahead for wearables: designing for the human brain.

No, I'm not talking about sensors implanted in your brain (although that's certainly possible, and already happening in research and medical settings). I'm talking about designing for the nuanced way our brains process the experience of wearing a device.

In particular, we all saw a need for wearables that:

Support rather than distract from goal-oriented behavior. Dr. Gazzaley’s research at UCSF explicitly focuses on this topic: how goal-oriented behavior is affected by distraction. On the panel, he joked, “I’m the guy reporters call when they want someone to say distraction is bad.”

But it’s not that simple: Dr. Gazzaley noted that if devices are designed with the brain’s limitations in mind, they could be used to support rather than distract from goal-oriented behavior. For example, he said, we know that humans are not very good at staying alert while driving. If a wearable could be designed to detect when we’re falling asleep at the wheel and alert us before we do, that could literally save lives.

Increase self-awareness, but not to the point of self-consciousness. As I’ve tested various wearable devices, I’ve found that wearing an activity tracker like the UP does have a positive effect on my activity during the day - I’m more aware of my sedentary behavior and more likely to walk when I can, like pacing the platform while waiting for the train instead of standing still.

But I’ve found that wearing a tracker to sleep introduces an unwelcome element of self-consciousness into my bedroom: I’m paying attention (and not in a good way) to how long it takes me to fall asleep.

And what about sex? Should some elements of our lives remain untracked? (I argue yes; others may disagree.)

Fjord CEO Olof Schybergson predicted that we’ll need new rules of engagement when wearables like Google Glass allow us to record our surroundings invisibly. In business meetings or on dates, for example, self-consciousness could detract from trust in our relationships.

Give feedback, but avoid “chart fatigue.” All the panelists agreed that feedback is an important element of why wearables work: That’s why the Misfit Shine has LEDs that light up to show your progress toward your daily activity goal. In Dr. Gazzaley’s lab experiments, he often uses gamification strategies precisely for this reason - achievements, progression, and competition are powerful and addictive incentives to keep doing something.

But Schybergson noted that the novelty of data quickly wears off and erodes into “chart fatigue.” For wearables to keep our attention over the long term, they need to be “living services,” evolving as we evolve.

Lead image by Dane Frederiksen, picturing Bill Geiser, Sonny Vu and Olof Schybergson (left to right).

Japan didn't just give us the quartz wristwatch, the DSLR, and the Playstation. It also gave us the Subway Sleeper, the Hay Fever Hat and the Kaba Kick Russian Roulette Toy for Kids! The country has long been a hub for wacky inventions you never knew you wanted, so in tribute to the keepers of the bizarre, here are some of our favorite devices to make you say それはクールだ!

#1. Taily - "The Tail That Wags When You Get Excited"

We're all fans of Necomimi, the "Brainwave Cat Ears," right? Right. I mean, without cat ears to wiggle, how will we ever know if you liked your donut? Well, Shota Ishiwatari, creator of the Necomimi prototype, isn't resting on his fuzzy laurels. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Taily:

You wouldn't wear a jacket without pants. Now there's no need to wear those adorable kitty ears without a matching tail. You'll be the talk of the furry convention circuit, and your friends will never have to ask how you're feeling again!

#2. The H-Boya USB Creepy Kid

Source: audiocubes.com The letter "H" is bad. Very bad. So bad, in fact, that you need a bobbleheaded child to blink at you in creepy terror every time you type it. Yup. That's all the H-Boya does. It blinks when you type "H," because, as the story goes, "H is for Hentai," and that's bad. But terrifying robochildren who watch your every move? That's totally right.

#3. The Marriage-Hunting Bra

When a suitor is feeling amorous, the Marriage-Hunting Bra helps him check his intentions. The bra sports a digital countdown timer headed for the precise moment when its wearer wants to tie the knot. It also has a ring-carrying compartment and a pen holder, so you'll never be a a loss if you decide to jet off to Vegas for a quickie ceremony.

Lest you think we're just beating up on Japan, we give you two humble entries from other countries with too much time to burn. First up, China's entry:

#4. The Home Core Toilet-Sink

Source: yankodesign.com
The iPotty was child's play. The champion of the pro toilet circuit is industrial designer Dang Jingwei. His second toilet design (following the ingeniously low-tech Portable Paper Toilet) is the Home Core Integrated Toilet, which combines a sink, a vanity, and, of course, a toilet. It's a bit crowded for our tastes. Gray water recycling is a fantastic idea, and we're all for saving the environment, but a shower might be an easier place to start. 

And in case you think innovation is dead in the USA, we bring you the awesomeness that is:

5. The TV Hat

Yes, that's right. Theres no need to buy a battery-busting Galaxy Note II to watch movies when you can slap a magnifying glass over your iPhone. Plus, you get a super-cool hat to hide your identity from thieves who'll want to break into your house and steal the hat! Or the horrifying possibility that someone you know might see you wearing this thing.

Honorable mention: the GoJo.

If the term "holiday spirit" has more to do with spiked eggnog than seasonal cheer, you aren't alone. This is our list of essential gadgets for making it through the travel, stress and awkward socialization of the holidays psychologically intact. And if you missed it the first time around, check out the Apps Edition of our Holiday Survival Guide for more tips to combat the various unique horrors of the holiday season - let's be honest, you're gonna need them. 

Be Your Own Internet With A MiFi Or Mobile Hotspot

Hell hath no fury like a geek without Wi-Fi. Holiday travel presents plenty of scenarios in which reliable wireless Internet can prove scarce. If your relatives are still stuck in the dial-up era or you refuse to fork over an airport's ridiculous day-use Internet fee, you'll count your blessings if you BYO-Wi-Fi. The methods of becoming your own nexus of sweet, sweet wireless Internet vary, and they each have strengths and weaknesses. 

If money is no object and you'd be happy to pay for peace of mind, pick up a MiFi device on your carrier of choice. If you'd like a balance between thrift and utility, add a mobile hotspot to your carrier plan for around $20 a month - but keep a close eye on your smartphone's battery life. On a shoestring budget or don't feel like paying for what can be had for free? Jailbreak or root your smartphone to circumvent carrier greed while cruising on your own personal network. 

External Battery Pack = Ultimate Gadget Life-Saver

The only thing worse than fighting a losing battle for Wi-Fi is a near-dead device. If outlets are scarce, battery life is the Achille's heel of even our most trusted electronic companions. Forgo the anxious ritual of watching the battery gauge slowly flat-line and carry around an external battery pack. Sure, it's frustrating to haul around yet another thing, but once you see that sweet symbolic lightning bolt spring to life in your smartphone's status bar you'll be a believer.

These things are perfect for travel, extended coffee shop sessions and just about any other scenario that might leave your devices high and dry. We like Mophie's Power Station line for its quick-charging ability, respectable capacity (4000 or 6000 mAh) and thoughtful design. With both a USB and micro-USB port, you'll be able to charge just about any mobile device you can throw at it.

Seek Sonic Solitude With A Good Pair Of Headphones

Odds are that you may need to drown out some ambient noise. Flights are noisy. In-laws are noisy. And holiday cheer? Noisier yet. Switching up your sonic landscape is the easiest ticket to an instant zen-like state, so you might as well invest in some good sound. Skip the earbuds and go for a bigger over-ear style. Sennheiser offers a good balance of solid sound and good looks. If you're on the (very) cheap, the HD 201's can't be beat. If you've got a little more to spend, you can get a pair of the HD 280's for around $100. For serious noise cancelation and a considerably more serious price tag, look into the PXC 450's. 

This could be you.

Little Tablet + Portable Keyboard = Just Like The Real Thing

Small, affordable tablets have arrived, and they're perfectly suited for all of the travel and jostling around that holiday gatherings often necessitate. If you can't set up a full-scale entertainment station wherever you spend the holidays, the low profile of a little tablet like the iPad Mini or the Nexus 7 will serve you well. Battling notebook or desktop computing withdrawals? Pack a Bluetooth keyboard or a keyboard case - it's the next best thing.

Find A Full-Scale Entertainment Haven

If you have the luxury of reliable Internet and a TV, your holiday escape hatch is just around the corner. Whether you're a gamer, a movie lover or a TV junkie, it's hard to beat the Xbox 360 when it comes to entertainment value. The 360's wide support of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, coupled with its obvious gaming chops, make for a great all-in-one ticket to seasonal sanity. It's the perfect time to strike up season one of a hit show (pick one with a multi-year run) or to immerse yourself in an expansive virtual world of some kind.

Good luck fending off nieces and nephews - and don't forget to come up for air.

Images of holiday ornament and woman with headphones courtesy of Shutterstock.

What's the old rule? The bigger a company gets, the slower it moves? Not so in Apple's case, at least not this year.

After a mostly-sleepy 2011, Apple has delivered a huge set of new product launches this year, in unprecedented pace.

These are...

• All-new iPad mini
• iPad third and fourth generation with significant upgrades
• All-new iMac, MacBook Pro
• All-new iPod touch and iPod nano
• All-new iPhone 5
• iOS 6 and OS X Mountain Lion

Compare this to 2011, when Apple launched...

Perhaps this is Apple's current playbook: A slow year, then a fast year. We'll see what next year brings — maybe an iPhone 5S and minor, incremental updates to everything else. Maybe, a big, new product in the spring, like an Apple television — or maybe not. Pseudonoymous Apple blogger Sammy the Walrus IV has a good post pondering where Apple goes from here; "the AAPL Unknown."

But this year, at least, Apple has been knocking it out of the park with big-update product launches at an unprecedented pace. It's really impressive, and shows that Tim Cook is doing a great job so far as Apple's CEO.

Next data point: Thursday afternoon, when Apple reports September quarter financial results, we'll see if its business is still growing as impressively as its product lineup.

Also: When Will Apple Peak?