The Cigar Stub solves the age-old problem of burning your fingers on the tail end of a stogie. This foldable aluminum and stainless steel claw grips the nub so you can enjoy those final flavorful inches in comfort, then pockets away when you're done.
Artist Soomi Park created LED Eyelashes that literally light up your eyes with tiny LED lights wired to headphones containing a battery and tilt sensor. While not available to buy, this wild concept piece seems destined for club nights and Halloween costumes rather than everyday wear.
This heavy nylon cover wraps around your bicycle's drivetrain to keep grease and grime off your car during transport. Designed by a professional cyclist, it fits most bikes including mountain bikes and triple chain rings, using a simple hook-and-loop closure for quick installation.
Lance Armstrong's training bike comes home. The Livestrong LS9.9IC indoor cycle boasts heavy-duty construction, a 40-pound flywheel with Kevlar belt drive, adjustable saddle and handlebars, plus heart-rate monitoring. Designed for serious cyclists who want pro-level training indoors, with proceeds supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
GE's Vscan handheld ultrasound is a clamshell-sized medical device that delivers console-quality imaging in a flip-phone form factor. Aimed at primary care doctors and emergency responders, it could revolutionize portable diagnostics—especially in remote areas—once pricing and availability are announced.
Israel Aerospace Industries built Rex, a six-wheeled robotic mule designed for military use. The voice-commanded robot can haul over 400 pounds of gear, follow a lead soldier autonomously, and run for 72 hours without refueling.
The Entourage Edge featured dual screens in a clamshell form factor: a 9.7-inch e-ink display paired with a 10.1-inch Android touchscreen. Both panels were touch-sensitive and could fold 360 degrees, offering e-reader functionality alongside basic computing with Wi-Fi, 3G, and multimedia support.
Powermat brought wireless charging to retail with a thin platform that could charge up to three devices simultaneously. Each gadget needed a special receiver sleeve to draw power inductively from the mat, offering cord-free convenience at the same speed as traditional chargers.
This ambitious watercraft prototype aimed to blend luxury speedboat styling with submarine capabilities, racing at 50 mph on the surface before diving 100 feet underwater using electric thrusters. Though deposits were accepted starting at £100,000, the Scubacraft never moved beyond its 2009 Pinewood Studios testing phase.
Spooklight brings car-style turn signals and brake lights to any standard bicycle. The wireless system uses a handlebar-mounted touch control and an accelerometer-equipped rear lamp that automatically illuminates when you slow down. Both units quick-release for USB charging and add just 90g to your ride.
The retro Stylophone returns as a pocket-sized beats machine. Tap out electronic sounds on 13 metal pads, build and record loops with samples from UK beatbox champion MC Zani, scratch and playback your creations, or jam along with MP3 input. Portable music production in a handheld device.
The WikiReader was a single-purpose handheld that stored 3 million Wikipedia articles on an SD card, featuring a monochrome touchscreen, AAA batteries lasting a year, and full offline browsing. At $99, it offered portable encyclopedia access without internet connectivity.
Raytheon and Motion Reality have developed a wireless battlefield training system that trains up to twelve soldiers simultaneously. Participants wear VR goggles and shock vests that deliver jolts when hit and simulate flash bang blindness during IED-clearing and small unit combat scenarios.
The Dyson Air Multiplier Fan defies logic: it's a ring around a hole, yet it blows air like a champ. By pulling air through its base and amplifying it 15 times through an annular aperture, this bladeless wonder pushes 118 gallons per minute—quietly, safely, and stylishly—for $300–$330.
The Eigenharp Alpha is a wild electronic instrument that combines piano, woodwind, and percussion functions into one upright rig. With 120 multi-function keys, breath control, percussion pads, and limitless sounds, this $5,800 professional tool lets musicians play, loop, sequence, and layer—all from a single futuristic device.
Why choose between grooming and tech when you can have both? This USB Comb packs a 2GB flash drive into the handle of a classic barber's comb, letting you tame your pompadour and save files with the same pocket-sized tool.
This Barcelona-made distilling machine extracts scented oils from plant leaves so you can bottle your own original fragrances. With its copper tubes, borosilicate glass components, and walnut base, the Missisippi Distiller looks like something from a mad scientist's lab and works like a professional perfumery tool.
Weekend projects just got more refreshing. This novelty hammer hides a functional bottle opener on its steel head, so you can pop caps between tasks. The strike face doubles as an ice crusher, and at under three bucks, it's the ultimate gag gift for tool-belt-wearing beer lovers.
The Launchpad is a stunning hardware controller for Ableton Live featuring 64 LED-backlit buttons that display track status while you sequence, mix, and perform. Portable at 9.4 inches square, it ships with Ableton Live 8 lite for $199 starting November.
The Gyrowheel is a gyro-equipped bike wheel that replaces traditional training wheels, using battery-powered gyroscopic force to keep first-time riders balanced. Available in 12-inch and 16-inch sizes, it promises to teach kids how to ride a bicycle in just one afternoon.
Why squint through a fisheye peephole when you can see who's knocking in full color on a 2.5-inch LCD screen? This digital peephole drops into your existing door hole, capturing 190 degrees with a 1.3MP camera and night vision to boot.
Why settle for mini-golf when you can own a full arcade putting machine? The Putt Championship brings the arcade hall experience home with a 470-pound rig featuring a 32-inch LCD, real putter and ball gameplay, two virtual courses, and support for up to four players.
Meet the Robovie-PC: a 15-inch humanoid robot with a full netbook PC embedded in its trunk. Created by Vstone and ATR, this 4.8-lb machine boasts 20 degrees of programmable freedom, gyro sensors, accelerometer, VGA-out, and Wi-Fi. No external computer needed—just plug in a monitor and code.
This stainless steel flask marries two classic vices in one pocket-size package. The 4×3-inch container holds your favorite liquor while a built-in compartment stores a full deck of cards, making it perfect for impromptu poker games or Magic The Gathering sessions.
Forget burning through incendiary flares every roadside emergency. The Lite Flare runs 400 hours on two AA batteries, replacing over 700 traditional flares. Its high-impact polycarbonate housing survives being run over, while ultra-bright LEDs flash 54 times per minute with one-mile visibility. Sets of three run $33.
This Arduino-based DIY device replicates Homeland Security's million-dollar Dazzler weapon on a budget. For $250, builders get plans to construct a handheld LED flasher that induces temporary dizziness and nausea—or just makes really weird party lights.
Why let those empty front-panel media slots on your desktop PC go to waste? This clever drawer system converts unused 5.25-inch bays into lockable storage for CDs, office supplies, or secret snack stashes. Holds up to 24 CDs and includes dividers for organizing small items.
