BalloonLamp

Here's a lamp that belongs to the weird and wondrous set of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The BalloonLamp is exactly what it claims to be: A balloon lamp. Which is a wonder since the balloon never melts, thanks to an LED light source that generates barely any heat. Here's another surprise. It's designed by Japanese musician Kouichi Okamoto, who based his idea on the Japanese Chochin, a portable lamp illuminated by candlelight during the EDO period. And just like a balloon, the BalloonLamp can be conveniently deflated after use for storage. Simply cool.

Click for bigger image | packaging

Price: About US$27.99
Availability: Think Geek
Device: Light source
Basic specs: Uses long-life LED, about 100 hours of Lithium coin battery life (included), two rubber balloons

Flygun

Pesky flies and mozzies beware. There's a new kid in town that puts the regular flyswatter out of business. We don't know about its claims as the fast way to get rid of flies. But the Flygun does look like a fun way to play gunslinger to your winged pest and it's eco-friendly, too. This bug shooter is good to release a spring-powered swatter at a distance of 30-60cm. A meter-long string attached to the swatter makes for easy retrieval. Admit it, you really want one.

Click for actual image

Price: US$6.96 for one, cheaper for bulk orders
Availability: Check the Web site
Device: Spring-powered flyswatter
Basic specs: In florescent red or blue, 150 x 175 x 20mm, 35g, fully washable swatter

Mute

Yet another cool prototype from the HearWear exhibition, this gizmo is just what we'd love to own--a remote control that switches off… drum roll… annoying noises. With it you'll soon be able to zap construction drilling, particularly in Singapore where there're always road works right outside your door, that bawling kid, traffic… Whatever the noise, this little high-tech silencer blankets it out by sending a signal via wireless connection to two tiny earbuds. All you have to do for a spot of sweet silence is point the Mute at the culprit and bliss.

See larger image here

Price: N.A.
Availability: Showcased at Victoria and Albert Museum's new exhibition, HearWear--The Future of Hearing, or more info at human beans
Device: Noise silencer
Basic specs: N.A.

Goldfish

Fancy hearing aids that are for the unimpaired? Simply pop a Goldfish in your ear, tap once discreetly, and it will replay the last 10 seconds of conversation. Very nifty if you don't want to miss something important like a name, a vital data at a boardroom meeting or that crucial delay announcement at the airport. The set of earphones was probably so named for its similarity to the goldfish's short-term memory. However, that's a bit of a misnomer since scientists have recently disputed that claim by showing that goldfish, in fact, have a recall span of up to three months and can even tell time. Now how about that!

See larger image here

Price: N.A.
Availability: Showcased at Victoria and Albert Museum's new exhibition, HearWear--The Future of Hearing, or more info at human beans
Device: Hearing device
Basic specs: N.A.

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