If you’ve ever lost your luggage, you’ll like this idea. Surprisingly, the tags don’t use GPS or any electronic tracking system. Instead they feature a unique barcode and serial number that gets registered on the Immobilise database with your contact info.

So, if your luggage does get lost, an agent can scan the barcode or punch in the serial number which will give them with your contact info. Then a text message is sent to your mobile phone letting you know that your bag has been located and what to do. Pretty good idea, which should help avoid some headaches. You won’t have to put your info on the bag itself. The tags cost about $24 each, which is a one-time fee.

Anyone who watches Lost knows that the SAT phone used by the freighter people, looks like no other phone in existence. But new sat-phone company, MSV (Mobile Satellite Ventures) now has a prototype phone that looks a lot like the touch-screen SAT phone Naomi used to call for help when she landed on the island with the Oceanic 815 survivors. In fact it looks prettier.

The L-Series satellite phone will be available in 2010, complete with a new hybrid satellite/cellular system based on two satellites that MSV is launching in 2009. It go between cellular coverage when in range and satellite coverage when no cell service is available. The company plans to strike a deal with a US-based cellular carrier to sell satellite/cellular service under the carrier’s brand.

We’ve all been there. You misplace an item, but you know damn well you left it on a shelf. You can see it in your mind’s eye. It’s frustrating, but a new device from Japanese scientists looks like it can help.

The Smart Goggles use sophisticated object recognition software. With a mounted webcam, the Goggles will recognize specific objects and save a few seconds of footage. So, when you lose your car keys, the goggles will just bring up a video of the last time the object was seen. Sure, you wouldn’t want to wear it all the time. It’s not practical. However, for those suffering from memory loss or Alzheimers, this could be very helpful.

If you’re easily lost in large malls, you’ll soon have a robot friend helping you out. Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR) based in Osaka has demonstrated a humanoid robot that recognizes people who seem lost and helps them on the spot. His name is Robovie, and he seems 50% creepy and 50% cute. I would want him to help me if I were lost, but I would also be wondering how he plans to disembowel me and take over the world with his machine friends. His Stormtrooper colors don’t help put me at ease, either.

His helpfulness was recently put on display at the Universal Citiwalk in Osaka. In an earmarked area measuring 100 square meters the robot scanned every passerby’s face. He had the help of 16 cameras, 6 laser range finders and 9 RFID tag readers installed in and around the area that acted like eyes and ears. He proceeded to watching 20 people at a time, and read their actions to group them in 10 different categories like waiting, wandering, running, etc.