Smartbrush ... The Kolibree toothbrush records brushing activity so users can maintain a consistent cleaning each time. Picture: AFP. Source: AFP
THE world's largest consumer technology show is a place to see both the next big thing and some really weird stuff.
The fun of tramping the never ending halls of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is coming across the golden nugget of geekiness, something that is so weird it's wonderful.
And when it comes to finding the truly bizarre, there is plenty of competition.
Last year the favourite weird wonder of show was a fork that linked to your phone to monitor how fast you ate your food.
This year, everyone in CES seemed to be talking about the app-connected toothbrush.
Chances are, many of the truly weird will quickly fade away but there's always a chance that any of them could be exactly the gadget you've been looking for.
Here is our top 10 "weird and wonderful" at this year's CES.
Secret weapon ... The Yellow Jacket iPhone case and stun gun gives new meaning to the term threatening phone call. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
Yellow Jacket's iPhone stun gun
Yes, it's a tough and rugged case that will protect your iPhone and, with an in-built battery, keep your phone charged longer. And if you happen to see someone you have an issue with, flick a switch and your iPhone case is a stun gun. It's legal in most places in the US except New York.
Kolibree
It's the electric toothbrush that analyses your brushing routine. Just the thing for anyone who would like their smartphone to criticise their dental hygiene routine.
Smartbrush ... The Kolibree toothbrush measures how much tartar you’re removing as you brush your teeth. Picture: AFP Source: AFP
Typo
American Ido l host Ryan Seacrest is one of the backers behind this iPhone case that puts a BlackBerry-type Qwerty keyboard on top of your iPhone. It's just the thing for someone who has used a BlackBerry for so long they just can't change. The only spanner in the works is Typo admit BlackBerry has launched legal action.
Type easy ... The TrewGrip keyboard. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
TrewGrip keyboard
If you find typing on your smartphone or tablet a bit too tricky, then the TrewGrip keyboard could be the answer to your problems. Or not. You pop your device in the middle and hold the keyboard like an open book, using your thumbs to hit the keys and controls.
Gold ... Got a spare $14,500? Why not consider a pair of 18K gold Happy Plugs. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
Happy Plugs
You know that feeling of going to pop your earphones in and finding them all tangled? Maybe you would learn to look after them better if you forked out the US$14,500 needed to buy these 18k gold ear phones made in Stockholm.
Edison
Intel is a big proponent of the "internet of things", the idea that everything will be connected. The chipmaker showed off the Edison, a computer that's as powerful as Pentium but looks like a SD card you would use in a camera. It can be sewn into clothing, like a baby's onesie, to monitor an infant's sleeping patterns or, as demonstrated, built into a coffee cup that glows with a happy face when the baby monitor says baby is sleeping. It might sound silly but it really is an insight into the future.
Parrot
Take your pick for weird device of the week. There is the Parrot Jumping Sum, a smartphone controlled robot with wheels that jumps 1m into the air. If that's not strange enough, perhaps you would prefer the Parrot MiniDrone that will hover around your neighbourhood.
Phonesoap
An often-quoted study once found that there are more germs on the average mobile phone than there are on a toilet seat. Perhaps that's why there is the PhoneSoap Charger, a case that charges your phone and simultaneously kills 99.9 per cent of surface germs. According to the makers of it, the unit produces a wavelength of light that attacks the DNA of germs. Doesn't sound very friendly.
Cool ... Poppy 3D lets you take and see 3D pics. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
Poppy 3D
It looks like the View-Master from your childhood has mated with your iPad. You slot your iPhone into it and take two pictures of an object to create a 3D image. Undeniably both cool and silly.
Sleep Number x12
Monitoring your sleep patterns with an activity tracker is now fairly common. Sleep Number take that to another level with the x12 bed with built in sensors on each side of the bed to monitor each person's sleep. If your partner snores, you can tell the bed to raise the noisy person's head to hopefully shut them up.
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