TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities » Distractions

Animated Moving Books Halloween Prop [Look Like Real Books, Motion Activated Books Move In and Out and Make Eerie Sounds]

Robert Lesher — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:03:33 +0000

I love Halloween. It’s the one season of the year where freaks feel normal and people can find yet another excuse to decorate their homes with piles of useless novelty crap like plastic skeletons and witches that look like they’ve smashed into a tree. Every now and then I happen across a Halloween gadget that doesn’t look like a pile of Chinese-manufactured throwaway trash and the animated moving books from BuyCostumes.com certainly fit the bill.

(...)
Read the rest of Animated Moving Books Halloween Prop [Look Like Real Books, Motion Activated Books Move In and Out and Make Eerie Sounds]

Ecoblaster Rechargeable Air Horn [Scare Friends and Annoy Sports Fans the "Green" Way]

Robert Lesher — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:28:45 +0000

It sure would be nice if you could annoy your fellow sports fans and scare the crap outta your best friend without having to worry about where you were going to get your next air horn refill, wouldn’t it? I thought that’d get your attention. Now you can have your audible mayhem device and remain environmentally conscious at the same time with the Ecoblaster Rechargeable Air Horn. (...)
Read the rest of Ecoblaster Rechargeable Air Horn [Scare Friends and Annoy Sports Fans the "Green" Way]

Danna Bananas Mosquito Sound Alarm Clock [Greet the Morning With a Pre-Malaria Buzz]

Robert Lesher — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:54:17 +0000

The grating sounds produced by most alarm clocks are enough to have you starting the day with a piercing headache. Whether it’s with an annoying electronic beep or old-fashioned brain-busting bell, being forced out of your restful REM is no fun for anyone. Maybe the sounds of a rushing waterfall or cheerful birds are more your thing. Getting the day started with the sounds of nature just might have you off on the right foot. At least that’s what the folks at Danna Bananas have in mind with their new Mosquito Sound Alarm Clock. (...)
Read the rest of Danna Bananas Mosquito Sound Alarm Clock [Greet the Morning With a Pre-Malaria Buzz]

Rubik’s 360 Puzzle Ball [Erno Rubik's Creative Madness Set to Unhinge The Mentally Unstable]

Robert Lesher — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:40:46 +0000

We all remember the Rubik’s Cube. Six sides of multi-colored mayhem that drove many a would-be puzzle solver to the brink of insanity. How could something so simple turn out to be so mentally taxing? As a child of the 80s I can still remember the craze as it hit the market. Nerds and geeks everywhere flooded the stores to become the first to solve the riddle. I was one of them. It took me only about a week before I was exploring ways of dismantling the device to return it to its original state of order. In an effort to entice a new generation, one lost in video games and technology, the torturers responsible for the Rubik’s Cube have come up with a new creation, the Rubik’s 360. (...)
Read the rest of Rubik’s 360 Puzzle Ball [Erno Rubik's Creative Madness Set to Unhinge The Mentally Unstable]

Box of Applause [Multitudinous Appreciation On Demand]

Robert Lesher — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:14:23 +0000

There is just something warm and comforting about hearing a crowd erupt into thunderous applause. Whether at a football game or rock concert, the result is the same. Even though it might not be for you, you can still find solace in the act of being part of this communal adoration. It’s a team thing I suppose. But what if your life doesn’t leave much room for you to be appreciated? What if a brown-nosing colleague is always overshadowing you? What if you are simply a loser? Now you can have your own canned pat on the back anytime you need it with the Box of Applause. (...)
Read the rest of Box of Applause [Multitudinous Appreciation On Demand]

Sega Toys Uchiage Hanabi Castrates the Fireworks Show [Mini Projector Provides Simulated Fun]

Robert Lesher — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:12:48 +0000

If you’ve ever thought about inventing a device that projects simulated fireworks on your walls and ceilings you probably work for Sega Toys. Because I’m pretty sure that no one ouside of the land of Hello Kitty would ever come up with such a lame idea. I won’t let the fact that I just don’t get this product stand in the way of the info. After all, that’s why I’m here. (...)
Read the rest of Sega Toys Uchiage Hanabi Castrates the Fireworks Show [Mini Projector Provides Simulated Fun]

Arimaz Creeps Out Computer Users with Tiny Robot Penguin [Autonomous, Interactive Robot Talks to Facebook]

Robert Lesher — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:16:58 +0000

I have always wished that I could have a small, multi-colored, visor-wearing autonomous robot penguin that would meander around my desk making noises and lighting up. Am I alone here? OK, this one almost defies description and it definitely defies usefulness. Let’s put this one in the WTF file. Introducing the mydeskfriend project from Arimaz.

(...)
Read the rest of Arimaz Creeps Out Computer Users with Tiny Robot Penguin [Autonomous, Interactive Robot Talks to Facebook]

Device Created to Entertain Pets, Stupid People [laser powered toy takes the human out of the picture]

Robert Lesher — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:39:40 +0000

We all know how satisfying it can be to watch your cat or dog chase a light around on the floor. Feeding into their innate lower brain function provides us with hours of mindless entertainment. But having to wave that little flashlight or laser pointer around can really tire you out. What’s a lazy pet owner supposed to do? Well wait no more. Owners of pets and slow children, you now have an option to help things along. The latest in laser-powered pet and stupid human entertainment/torture devices is finally here.

(...)
Read the rest of Device Created to Entertain Pets, Stupid People [laser powered toy takes the human out of the picture]

Fashionable iPanties for Your Geek Girlfriend [Slide To Unlock Its Power]

Alex Ion — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:06:56 +0000

I read once that girl geeks are on the rise. Apparently there are a lot of ladies who love gadgets and actually made a passion for the little devices. Hence why some people decided to come up with tech-inspired underwear. Probably the best iPhone accessories for men and worn by women, we present you the iPanties.

(...)
Read the rest of Fashionable iPanties for Your Geek Girlfriend [Slide To Unlock Its Power]

French designer John Nouanesing’s “Geekini” Set to Woo the Nerds!

Bo — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:56:58 +0000

I had to smile at this online post, mainly because I tried to think of how everyone would react to this inventive take on the bikini. French designer John Nouanesing’s “Geekini” (a classic two-piece bikini featuring strategically placed A, B and directional buttons from the original Nintendo controller) is still in the conceptual stage and I think, if I have to be honest, I’m quite sad to hear that.

(...)
Read the rest of French designer John Nouanesing’s “Geekini” Set to Woo the Nerds!

Discovery HD to Broadcast First High Definition Imagery of the Moon from Kaguya Mission

Andrew Tingle — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:03:41 +0000

Whist a little on the close side as far as timing goes, we couldn’t help but call to your attention to the fact that Discovery HD are due to air the first ever high definition imagery to be broadcast from the Japanese Kaguya Space Mission in a show to be aired this evening, November 14th 07, on the channel.

(...)
Read the rest of Discovery HD to Broadcast First High Definition Imagery of the Moon from Kaguya Mission

Free V8 M3 Coupé Driving Simulator Courtesy of BMW & 10Tacle

Andrew Tingle — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:14:44 +0000

If the very thought of taking a new BMW V8 M3 Coupé for a spin around the world famous Nürbergring Grand Prix race circuit results in spontaneous, uncontrolled salivation then you may be interested to learn that, thanks to BMW themselves, you can do exactly this in a free 3D race simulator presently being offered from the very company that makes the car.

(...)
Read the rest of Free V8 M3 Coupé Driving Simulator Courtesy of BMW & 10Tacle

A Novel Way of Getting a Screen Print

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:37:40 +0000

Technology is great until suddenly, for some inexplicable reason, it simply refuses point blank to work as it ought, as is the case in the video featured below.

How many times have you printed something on your nearest office printer – which just happens to be stationed at completely the other side of the office – only to find that, after navigating a maze of tables to get to it, your print just hasn’t shown up or, worse, that it has but it’s not at all what you expected.

In that respect I don’t doubt that any office workers amongst you can relate to the poor chap featured in this video who, having failed to get a simple screen print from his computer, resorts to a rather novel method of gaining the required hardcopy.

(...)
Read the rest of A Novel Way of Getting a Screen Print

What is it about Tuscan Whole Milk?

Andrew Tingle — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:45:02 +0000

And now for something completely different – which, loosely translated, means that this is a post that really doesn’t fit in with this site, but I thought what the hell and have posted it anyway.

Milk is milk, or so I thought, but apparently this milk is worth shouting about. I say that because the customer feedback on Amazon concerning this Tuscan Whole Milk is like no other product feedback I’ve ever read and to say that it’s obviously going down well is somewhat of an understatement.

Even if you have no intention of purchasing your milk from Amazon, I certainly don’t, I would recommend that you take a minute out to read the customer feedback concerning this product as it certainly brought a smile to my face (apparently even the mighty Chuck Norris recommends it).

You can read the feedback via this link – it’s all rather tongue in cheek, but highly amusing nevertheless.

[Source]

Cassette Tape & Concert Ticket Generator

Andrew Tingle — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 12:37:13 +0000

I cannot remember when I last purchased a cassette tape, though it was certainly a considerable time ago. What I can remember, however, is having to prise open my music system’s cassette draw with a screwdriver and unravel countless meters of tape from the mechanism on more than one occasion.

Curiously, you somehow felt wholly connected with your music as you tried to real the crumpled tape back into the cassette and then hold your breath as you tried to play it again.

(...)
Read the rest of Cassette Tape & Concert Ticket Generator