Many of these “unusual gadgets” are novel and some are pretty cool.
1. A futuristic levitating lamp
This is the “Overhang Lamp” designed by John Lewis Stuckenberg. It is a cool-looking lamp that does not require cables or power outlets because it levitates above the base! The base contains magnets that create an electric current to turn on the light. When you touch one of the three buttons located on the base, it causes the floating glass ball with LED bulbs to move around freely inside the glass dome.
This lamp costs approximately $1,200 and it is available for purchase in the market.
2. A futuristic smart mirror
Do you need to focus on your outfit before leaving out in public? With this “smart mirror,” you can see your outfit without actually looking into it! It recognizes the color of what is behind the stand and reflects that color on display, which also shows time, date, and temperature (and other pieces of helpful information). This will come in handy if you have a hard time picking out an outfit!
This mirror is pricey at approximately $899. It is currently available for purchase in both physical and online stores.
3. A 360-degree rotating vacuum cleaner
This may be one of the coolest vacuum cleaners – ever! It is called the Dyson 360 Eye, and it was designed with pets in mind. Most pets do not appreciate a vacuum cleaner that gets near them! This cleaner rotates 360 degrees for maximum flexibility and control. Additionally, it has a powerful suction that can pick up even the smallest pieces of dirt and hair. It also has a self-cleaning brush bar that prevents dirt and pet hair from building up, so you will not have to clean it! Another cool feature is using it with your phone for precise control.
This idea was brought to life by James Dyson, an English inventor and industrial designer. He claims that this vacuum cleaner has twice the suction power of any other handheld vacuum cleaners in the market today. This certainly makes sense because if their previous vacuums had these kinds of ratings, why wouldn’t they improve on them? Another great “feature” of this vacuum cleaner is the price; it costs around $499.99.
4. A camera is hidden inside a fake plant
This is the “Surveillance Tree” created by artist Olivier Grossetête. The leaves are false fronts meant to camouflage a high-tech camera. This could be very useful if you want to observe happenings in a specific area but do not want it easily known that you are watching. Example uses of this technology could range from a parent remotely observing a caretaker tending to a child to a landlord remotely observing repairs or deliveries to ensuring the timely and safe arrival of children to the loction after school. Since it looks like a real tree, most people are unaware that they are being watched! Unfortunately, this gadget costs around $62,000.
5. A smart lock you control with a phone
The Yves Behar designed “August Smart Lock” works with your smartphone, as seen on Inhabitat. This means you can open and close the door from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection! Another cool feature about this lock is that it uses Bluetooth to recognize your phones, so you don’t need to manually take out your key each time. When it locates a smartphone in range, it unlocks the door automatically, making it very convenient!
6. A touch screen pencil case
There is a “Touchscreen Memo Pocket” made by designer Tomoko Namba. This gadget not only comes with an LCD, but additional features built into it, including a calculator and pen holder! While many people might use their mobile phones for all of these things for these functions, the benefit of the Touchscreen Memo Pocket is the convenience factor – especially in areas where use of a mobile phone is restricted. For example, if you need to leave your phone in a locker or your purse or backpack while taking notes at school or work, the Touchscreen Memo Pocket is a gadget that allows you to comply with the restriction and still be able to take and access note pages to get the lesson or job done!