On the lighter - and more bizarre - side, here is a list of some of the oddities that were showcased at this year's information technology and telecommunications fair CeBIT, in Hannover, Germany, this week:
1. Pole-dancing robots. Two white, life-sized humanoids drew fair-goers with their gyrating display of pole-dancing, carried out to tunes by their robotic DJ counterpart, which donned headphones. According to the Times of India, hiring the entertaining androids for your next party will set you back about R300 000.
2. Shrinkable car. Designed by the German Centre for Artificial Intelligence, this “car of the future” or “pod” can decrease its size by up to 50cm at the touch of a button, making it easier for motorists to squeeze into tight parking spaces.
3. Sleep-enhancing chair. Wellness and massage systems company BrainLight's “Wellness Lounge” drew crowds at the fair with the company's featured invention, a chair that promises to give its “user” the benefit of two hours of sleep in the space of just 20 minutes. Apparently, through a combination of sound, light and massage, the chair induces “top-quality” sleep in a matter of minutes.
4. Serious alarm clock. For those who find it difficult to wake in the morning, the laser target alarm clock could come in handy. The device emits a high-pitched screech at the programmed time and can only be turned off by hitting a bullseye on the clock with a laser beam, a task probably not best performed in a state of half-sleep.
5. Anywhere iPad clip. Dutch company, Phoneclip, has pioneered a device that can attach a tablet or smartphone to any vertical surface imaginable, even the toilet wall - so you never need be without your lifeline, even if nature calls.
Share