TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities » Furnishings

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.

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Designer Fork Chair Wont Be A Pain In The Butt!

Bo — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:30:00 +0000

This one isn’t technically a gadget … but it is using the idea of a gadget to create something unique and stunning! The fork chair is an incredible design that uses the shape of a fork to make a comfortable and funky chair.

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The Funky Pink Beetle Pet Sofa Makes Any Cat Feel Like They Got The Cream

Bo — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:07:24 +0000

Man oh man, what I would give to have this in a human-sized offering. I think I’m in love with this plush pink Beetle Pet Sofa.

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Prezzybox Present Soft Shimmering Glowpets To Scare Away The Boogie-Man

Bo — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:24:19 +0000

Now I know these Glowpets nightlights from Prezzybox were made with kids in mind, but I’m all for owning a few them what with my absolute love of colourful lit objects such as my lustrous collection of lava lamps. In fact, I reckon these little sweethearts are children’s answers to lava lamps!

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The Gorgeous But Geeky “Pixel Couch” Hits The Market In A Flurry Of Colour

Bo — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:42:47 +0000

So I think I’ve pretty much explained how “nerdy” I am so this review on the “Pixel couch” should come as no surprise. The “Pixel Couch” is a celebration of bad computer graphics and terrible screen resolution, yet somehow, the designer, Cristian Zuzunaga, has designed a fabric that rejoices this phenomenon.

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Art Lebedev Dosugus Cushion – The DOS Inspired Cushion for the Unashamedly Geeky

Andrew Tingle — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:15:06 +0000

It’s been a while since we’ve featured a cushion here at TFTS but we simply could not pass up on posting about this unequivocally geeky Dosugus Cushion designed by Vasily Dubovoy from none other than Art Lebedev which comes with what appears to be a DOS directory listing printed on its fabric which, if you read the directories listed actually offers a few somewhat tongue in cheek surprises.

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Fluffy Phone Shaped Music Pillows for Sleepless Kids

Andrew Tingle — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 08:33:56 +0000

If you have young children then you’ll know that getting them to sleep can sometimes prove utterly exhausting. And, once you’ve read Harry Potter to them forwards, backwards and in a made up language that involves a great deal of dribbling for the umpteenth time (or removing that Mariah Carey poster from the wall – you know it gives them nightmares) there’s always one trusty fall-back that’s sure to do the trick.

And that’s soothing rhythm of music.

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Self Inflating Illuminated Traffic Cone

Andrew Tingle — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:43:09 +0000

Inflatables? We’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention…except, perhaps, for this designer inflatable chair, this inflatable motorised pool lounger, an inflatable meeting room in a bag and even an inflatable potty. And now we add to this collection with this curious self inflating traffic cone.

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The AirSeat – Inflatable Chairs with Sex Appeal, Whatever Next?

Andrew Tingle — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:31:47 +0000

Let’s be honest here, inflatable furnishings have never exactly oozed major appeal in the design stakes – or at least they didn’t until now. And in this respect the Swiss made AirSeat seemingly manages the impossible – namely by being the sort of inflatable seat you might actually want to be seen using yourself rather than just inflating whenever your mother pops round (its always entertaining to watch anyone trying to use an item of inflatable furniture in a moderately dignified fashion, don’t you think?).

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Rally Car Styled Executive Chair & Cadillac Couch

Andrew Tingle — Tue, 29 May 2007 21:11:42 +0000

We would like to say that we are writing this very post whilst reclining back in one of these highly desirable, rally car styled executive chairs but unfortunately this is far from the case (we’re actually sitting in a well worn office chair spirited out in a precision SAS styled operation from a company I once worked for – but to digress any further would be most incriminating, so we’ll move on).

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Miniature Designer Chair Collections

Andrew Tingle — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:30:36 +0000

Whilst it would be nice to surround ourselves with designer furnishings the truth it the majority of us simply cannot afford to do so – or at least we couldn’t, until now.

Coming in four volumes, these designer chair collections feature some of the best chair designs from some of the world’s most famous designers at a price that will suit most pockets. The only slight problem is that, in being 1/12 miniatures, the chairs themselves serve as models only and so have absolutely no function whatsoever other than as display items unless you happen to be 1/12 scale yourself (which, let’s face it, is fairly unlikely).

Cool Gear Stick Coat Rack for Petrol Heads

Andrew Tingle — Mon, 07 May 2007 19:34:32 +0000

Following on from the Car Wheel Alarm Clock (complete with gear stick) we posted about yesterday we could not hold back from posting about this highly original coat rack aimed squarely at petrol heads.

A great cloakroom gadget, this Gear Stick Coat Rack, which is constructed from steel and measures 83.5cm in length, features five different gear sticks that serve as hooks and we don’t doubt that it would it make a great gift for any car enthusiast.

Further details can be obtained from this site – though we are unfortunately unable to gain pricing information.

Quirky MP3 Compatible Fruity Pillows

Andrew Tingle — Tue, 01 May 2007 23:31:33 +0000

As many of you will no doubt agree, how you wake in the morning invariably determines your mood for the entire day, so why wake to the torturous sound of a screaming alarm clock when you could be gently summoned back to consciousness by the sounds of your favourite MP3 tracks emanating from an oversized strawberry or, perhaps a large bunch of bananas?

These curious yet somehow enchanting fruit pillows, known as ‘Morning Music Pillows’ will allow you to do just that as they come complete with an internal speaker and MP3 player connectivity thus allowing you to wake up – or fall asleep – to your favourite MP3 play list as long as your MP3 player has a timer function.

Coming in a veritable fruit salad of varieties – namely banana, strawberry, orange and apple (alas no melons) – these could be just the ticket for those of you who like to wake up to something a little fruity in the morning (don’t we all).

Further details can be obtained from this Chinese Online Store.

Cool Animated LED Space Invaders Doormat

Andrew Tingle — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:01:01 +0000

If you consider yourself to be a discerning retro gamer then this is, surely, the doormat of your dreams come true though, if you do dream of doormats perhaps it’s time to consider getting out a bit more.

Powered by a couple of AA batteries, this retrotastic doormat displays a series of space invaders via an inbuilt LED screen. And, if space invaders don’t appeal then you may be interested in this equally geeky Globright Doormat.

Very cool, thought we’re holding out for an animated Manic Miner LED doormat.

The LED Space Invaders Doormat retails for $110 and can be obtained from the Charles & Marie online store.

[Source | The Uber Review]

Geek Emoticon Smiley Designer Cushions

Andrew Tingle — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:46:23 +0000

It has seemingly become a tradition here at TFTS to offer at least one post per month concerning either pillows or cushions and, whilst we frankly have no idea how this has come about, we are never one’s to disappoint. Indeed, TFTS could be seen as starting somewhat of a trend following a host of pillow and cushion related posts appearing on gadget and technology sites the world over.

This is our legacy and, like punctuation, we bracket our posts concerning high-tech gadgetry with not full stops, but cushions and pillows.

We’ve featured a number of curious cushions and pillows previously on TFTS, such as the extremely bizarre Girlfriend’s Lap Pillow, the food inspired Breakfast in Bed Pillows and even a functional iPod MP3 pillow, but these Emoticon cushions are probably the most geeky we’ve happened upon and we think they would make great addition to any discerning geek’s homestead.

These fun, brightly coloured, Russian designed Emotion scatter cushions come in a set of six and show a range of emotions in the well established internet chat room/forum shorthand – aka ‘smileys’ – with the set retailing at a mere $24.82 / €19.94 from this online outlet.

And, if these Emotion cushions don’t appeal, there’s always this somewhat more macabre, Godfather inspired Severed Horse Head cushion.

The Earth Light – The Entire World in Your Room

Andrew Tingle — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:53:25 +0000

It’s been a while since a light or lighting device has inspired us to post but the Earth Globe Lamp is a very cool idea that appeals to us if only because it allows you to literally sit in your room and watch the world go by.

Powered by a 20w Halogen bulb and a 12v adapted, both included in the package, the twelve inch Earth Globe Lamp projects a slowly rotating image of the world across the walls and ceiling of any room its placed in as the lamp rotates on its base unit.

Ever you’re ever wanted to feel like an arch villain looking you at the world to plan your next dastardly deed (not that there’s already enough people doing that these days) then all you need is this Earth Globe Lamp and, of course, an optional white long fur cat (and, of course, you could always shave all your hair off for that extra sense of authenticity).

The Earth Globe Lamp retails at £49.95 and further details can be gained from this site.

[Via]

The Breakfast in Bed Pillows

Andrew Tingle — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 20:39:44 +0000

Having picked yourself off the floor, where you landed in a crumpled heap as you attempted to assault your alarm clock for doing its dawn duty, there can be nothing better that the smell of breakfast as its invigorating cocktail of aromas infuses the air with the bitter sweet smell of coffee and hot buttered toast and a fry-up.

Unfortunately this is not something I’m accustomed to here at TFTS Towers as invariably I’m so late each morning that I’m still getting dressed in the car so the closest I can get are these novel Breakfast Food Pillows. Indeed, never has the thought of lying on a fried egg been so appealing.

Available in four designs, the aforementioned fried egg, toast, coffee beans and pancakes as well as two sizes these pillows are sure to liven up even the dullest of bedrooms and there’s no denying that they all look extremely comfortable. We’re just a little surprised that there’s not a sausage or a fried tomato pillow in the range.

Of course, if you find the idea of resting your head on items of food unappealing you could always opt for one of the other curious pillows previously featured on TFTS (direct links to which are provided below).
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Novelty Light Switches

Andrew Tingle — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 17:11:29 +0000

Let’s face it, light switches can be rather dull can’t they. As a result – regular readers will know that a digression is about to occur – I’ve installed two sets of LED touch sensitive light dimming switches here at TFTS towers and I am happy to report that the one installed upstairs is working like a dream. As for the one I’ve installed downstairs, whilst it looks very cool, an unfortunate by-product is that the wife in now sitting in total darkness until we can get an electrician out – but, as I keep telling her, style invariably comes at a cost (and we are therefore martyrs to the cause).

If you have a retro themed house, however, these highly original light switches from Boutique to You could add that little extra spice to your house – or alternatively, of course, they could just look rather silly (this very much depends upon your personal taste).

Available in a wide range of styles, from pool balls (as illustrated) to cars, and even dinosaurs, these are certain to prove a talking point next time you have guests round – though the idea of flicking a dinosaur every time you what illumination seems curiously rather rude (don’t ask me why).

Retailing at £24.99 you can view the full range on offer by navigating to the Boutique to You website via this link.

[Source | Spluch]

The Severed Horse Head Pillow

Andrew Tingle — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:49:48 +0000

If you thought that the Girlfriend’s Lap Pillow – which we covered here – or the iPod Pillow – covered here – were a little odd, what about this extremely bizarre take on pillow design.

We all know someone who undoubtedly deserves one of these and, in true Godfather fashion, finding a severed horse head in their bed is sure to show them that you really ought not to be trifled with.

That said, as the severed horse head pillow is apparently quite comfortable one cannot help but wonder whether your message might be a little diluted as far as being a lesson in respect is concerned.

Still, it’s all a matter of horses for courses, as they say (surely you expected a cheap pun in this post somewhere?).

Available for $60 for the unstuffed version and £70 for the stuffed version (excluding shipping) from this site.

The MP3 iPod Pillow

Andrew Tingle — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:28:57 +0000

If you are looking to purchase a unique gift for someone and they happen to be an iPod nut then look no further than the iPod Pillow – a pillow that not only looks like an iPod but that also has a few neat tricks concealed under its polyester exterior.

Hook this pillow up to your iPOD and it will not only play your music via an internal speaker but it will also allow you to listen to your favourite radio stations courtesy of its own, inbuilt FM tuner. Furthermore, as if that’s not enough by way of establishing that this is no ordinary pillow, the buttons featured on its surface actually work, allowing you to change the volume, scan for radio stations and even power the pillow down.

And, if you think this pillow is a little different, why not check out the Girlfriend’s Lap Pillow or the Heartbeat Cushion (okay, not a pillow, but lets not quibble).

The MP3 iPod Pillow will set you back $19.99 and is available from this site, however, if you want something a little more high-tech by way of iPOD accessories, this rather wonderful gadget may well fit the bill.

My Beating Heart Cushion

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 17:12:28 +0000

Much like the previously featured Girlfriend’s Lap Pillow, the My Beating Heart Cushion is designed to bring comfort and a sense of well being to the user and is, probably, a great gift for your partner or significant other, especially if you spend time parted though business or study.

Designed by Banana Design, each cushion is hand made and features an 8 MHz computer, powered by a 9 volt battery, that utilises a specially formulated algorithm to generate a remarkably life-like heart beat – a beat so life like that in fact it changes subtly over time.

Available in two colour schemes the My Beating Heart Cushion will set you back $120. Further information and online ordering are available from the official product site which can be accessed via this link.

Neko-Nyanbou – The Cat’s Hand

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 10:39:53 +0000

Time again to offer another touch of the bizarre and, by way of indisputable evidence that only the strangest of the strange makes it to the dizzying heights of a posting in TFTS, today’s offering is the Japanese Neko-Nyanbou (literally – the Cat’s Hand).

Measuring 11cm in length and covered in fake fur, the Cat’s Hand offers pretty much the full range of movement of its real counterpart and even has extending claws – all of which can be controlled by a trigger mechanism on the end.

Quite why anyone would ever consider buying one of these curious devices is quite beyond me, though if you have a cat (and we at TFTS Towers do), then this could be an ideal plaything offering whole minutes of hysterical fun.

You can purchase the Cat’s Hand for $7.65 / €5.96 via this site.