Wacky Ware

Odds and ends from the fringes of tech.

Inventions are often just an improved means to an unimproved end. They are like pretty toys that distract us with their workings, fogging our minds with fancy functions while achieving and delivering nothing more than what their prior editions did. Technology is definitely a lot of fun. But we allow ourselves to drown in our technology, becoming tools of our own tools as it were.

Here’s a look at some odds and ends from the fringes of the tech product universe.

Wooden Memory
Seen anything like this sticking out of a comp or laptop before? Well, neither had I. They look kinda weird because the memory stick is encased in thickish wooden twigs! Yep, these thingies are actual functioning USB memory sticks. According to the manufacturer, the sticks are “manually selected on their natural beauty, and professionally handmade into unique and personal USB memory sticks.” The 2 x 2 x 10 cm USB 2.0 sticks come 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB memory sizes, are suitable for Windows, Linux and MacOS and costs lumber between $50 to $90.
www.oooms.nl/usb

Germ-Killing Keyboard, Mouse
Yep, you read that right, this wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse incorporate an antimicrobial compound. Called AgION, this compound is alleged to prevent the growth of a broad range of bacteria, mold and mildew. Other features include an ergonomic straight keyboard layout, large, full-travel, quiet keys, Windows Vista compatibility, one-touch Internet calling controls, an integrated soft-touch palm rest, and sculpted mouse contours. Both devices cost $100 and boast sophisticated power management which ensures that keyboard batteries can last up to 15 months which the mouse can scuttle around for 6 months at stretch. Flit on…
www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2162,CONTENTID=12130

An Open LED Clock
Take look at this contraption. It is a series of four blocks, each of which measures 2 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches and displays a glowing LED numeral. If you have the inclination to place the blocks in the correct order, the blocks will have the correct time. Mix ‘em up and you’ve got a tech art work. This extraordinary timepiece obviously has to have an extraordinary price tag: $89. Time to time out?
www.gnr8.biz/product_info.php?products_id=274

Helmet for 360-Degree View?
Looks like a three-kilo monster moonman Bubble Helmet. It is. And it aims to revolutionise entertainment by giving couch potatoes and avid video gaming buffs a 360-degree view of whatever they are watching or playing view on a 40 centimetre dome-shaped screen. When will we see this in action? Don’t know. While we await details on this future contraption from electronics giant Toshiba, we need to figure how seriously will it impact munchie management and cola consumption.

Air Purifier, Thermo Clock
Call me a cuckoo for telling you about another quaint clock. But I must. This one sits on your desk, cleans (yep, as in purifies!) the air around and tells you the ambient temperature. And yeah, also tells you the time and date. You can it hook to your PCs USB port ($30), or get the AC adapter version ($36). It features a backlight that comes on when you press the clock body as well as a glowing LED light tells you the time in the dark. The air purifier with negative ion delivery style helps remove impurities in the air in a nine square meter (100 sq. ft) area. Hmmm…
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00194

Mini Shredder
OMG! Can’t think of too many people around me who would want a device like this. Yet, it so odd that I had to tell you about it. This 555 gram device hooks up to you USB port for power. You then feed it all the hardcopy versions of your confidential documents, love notes, scribbles, idling doodles, and unnecessary business cards down its 126 mm throat, two at a time. And it chews these printed pieces of paper in to little strips of scrap. And ah, by the way, it also functions as a letter opener. Go see the demo.
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00197&cat_id=035&dept_id=015

Tailpiece
My constant vagabondings across the cyberspace often take me to wacky, weird websites. Here are two sites that I came across recently that merit a visit or two: The first, www.msdewey.com, is neatly knitted, but utterly annoying search engine with Flash and lots of video. Use it when you have time on your hands and are bored of Googling. The second, www.office-humour.co.uk, a crazy humor site with hundreds of mad little scraps that will bring you many smiles. And a smile as you know is a little curve that sets everything straight…