USB Construction Site with Illuminated Cones [Whimsical USB Gadget of the Week]

As regular readers will know, we always like to end the working week on a high (or is that a low – depends on your perspective I suppose) and for this week’s whimsical gadget we turn our attention to this USB Construction Site that, personally, I’ve completely fallen for (must be a vitamin deficiency).

Mindful of the fact that our traditional, weekly posting concerning a newly released projector has not materialised, regardless of the fact that I dropped Alex a hint in a posting some days ago that it’d be his responsibility to get it covered (shows that he reads my posts, doesn’t it?) we’ve gone out of our way to bring you something special in a thinly veiled attempt to make up for it and came up with this. No, it’s not a projector, but it is whimsical (in the same way that projectors aren’t) and yes, this is the result of over two hours searching to bring you something that’s eminently forgettable (some sites devote themselves to that particular cause, so perhaps all’s not lost).

The USB Construction Site is, dare we say it, actually rather cute (I hate that word, but it undoubtedly applies in this case). Perhaps this is not all the result of a vitamin deficiency after all. Perhaps, in employing the word ‘cute’ it hints at a hormonal issue. (Breaks post with the intention of getting jiggy with her indoors to compensate then realises she’s gone out to spend the evening with more interesting people. Damn. Duly decides to cease the digression and pull things back on topic.)

The USB Construction Site connects to a free computer USB port or USB hub and comes in three separate sets that, yes, can be mixed and matched. And someone has obviously put a great deal of thought into what each set consists of exactly as, if you want, say, a yellow sign but ideally want a workman as well you’ll have to purchase two sets. The same is true if you want the white sign and a workman and if you want the yellow sign and the white sign but don’t care about the workman….well you get the picture.

Thankfully each set comes with three cones that, courtesy of their USB connectivity, offer illumination. Thus, if you want the yellow or white sign and the workman you’ll be able to console yourself concerning the double outlay required as you’ll have six illuminated USB powered cones. That is until you realise that you now need two free USB ports in order to power all the aforementioned cones. Life, eh? Who would have though it so complicated.

In terms of pricing, each USB Construction Site comes in at a somewhat steep (considering) $43 a pop and that’s exclusive of a $15 worldwide express shipping fee.

Still, whilst everything tells us these are nothing but sheer tat, there’s just something we like about them. Moreover, if left overnight on your desk the chances are that the plastic workman (set 1 only, chaps) will probably have achieved about the same work progress as the real workmen outside my window are seemingly capable of. Oh, and the real workmen outside my window don’t have glowing cones, either a yellow or a white sign and (apparently) don’t even offer up USB compatibility.

Aside of the fact that I cannot believe I’ve just posted this, there really is no contest.