HANOVER, Germany (AFP) - Water-powered clocks, eye-controlled arcade games and pole-dancing robots: this year’s CeBIT tech fair, the world’s biggest, showcased gadgets ranging from the useful to the downright nerdy.
Can’t be without your tablet computer or smartphone even when nature calls? Dutch company “phoneclip” has pioneered a small but strong device that can attach your beloved iPad to any vertical surface — including the toilet wall.
Yours for around 20 euros ($25), the clip can also be used to stick your smartphone to your bike handlebars, car dashboard or steering wheel, supermarket shopping trolley or even sportswear, explained entrepreneur Hugo Passchier.
Back after a year’s absence, German firm getDigital showcased their latest range of — in their words — “nerd toys” that no self-respecting geek should be without. For fans of sci-fi classics, getDigital offers the must-have pizza cutter or bottle opener in the shape of the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek or the machine that makes ice cubes in the form of R2D2, the stubby robot from Star Wars.
And for heavy-sleeping nerds, the laser target alarm clock is a must-have toy. Emitting a high-pitched scream at the appointed time, it can only be turned off by hitting a bullseye on the clock with a laser beam, by which time the owner is most definitely awake. Another firm, Satzuma, proudly displayed its own selection of pointless but fun toys, including a clock powered just by the energy produced by running water and a teddy bear that holds your iPod or MP3 player in its paws and plays music through the soles of its feet.
The CeBIT is always a magnet for the latest in robotic technology and this year was no exception, with intelligent humanoids showing off their ability to vacuum clean your bedroom, empty your dishwasher or sketch your portrait.