20 Of The Weirdest, Wackiest Sights From CES 2009

At CES, the array of cool gadgets was outnumbered only by ones whose practical value wasn't readily apparent. But the bells and whistles in the various booths and conference rooms attracted many attendees' attention -- even those whose energies aren't typically spent in the realm of consumerism.

E-Cig technology, based in Las Vegas, has an intriguing solution to nicotine addiction. E-Cig's battery powered electronic cigarette uses a vaporizer and specially designed liquid nicotine cartridges to give smokers a realistic smoking experience. The end of the cigarette lights up when users take a drag, and steam-powered 'smoke' adds to the realism.





Sam Han, president of E-Cig, says his simulated smoking creations, which also include E-Pipes and E-Cigars, are a healthy smoking alternative that doesn't harm the environment. "This is a smoking experience that's very similar to the real thing, but without the negative effects," Han told ChannelWeb.

Interactive Toy Concepts, best known for making a variety of flying toys, showed off their Xtreme Duck Hunter Game on the CES show floor. This fellow's job was to 'shoot' down the flying duck as it quacked its way chaotically around the event hall. At one point, though, a team of confused security guards rushed in and tackled the guy, mistakenly taking his toy gun for a real one.

Given the preponderance of companies selling massage chairs at CES, a rickety iron chair advertising itself as a remedy for back pain was puzzling, to say the least. If anything, sitting in this chair would be likely to dramatically exacerbate one's back pain, and perhaps even trigger a herniated disc.





But this chair was actually part of the booth of a company called Rhythm Touch, which makes a portable massage device that uses modern Western technology and ancient Asian Acupuncture theory. The RTQ Massager sends low frequency impulses to stimulate and tone muscles, improve circulation and provide completely natural pain relief in muscles and joints.

Taiwanese firm Ozaki was at CES demonstrating the shaggy lovability of its iMini Pet, an iPod accessory that combines speakers, radio, and charger into a single irresistibly huggable package. And the best part is, this little devil actually dances while the music's playing, adding yet another layer to its adorability.

Launched at CES, the British-designed Minoru 3D Web cam has two cameras spaced about the same distance apart as human eyes, to create a stereoscopic effect and an anthropomorphic appearance. Minoru means 'reality' in Japanese, and the package includes 5 pairs of 3-D glasses so Web surfers can interact with their friends in life-like fashion.



It's an interesting product, but little guy apparently has an attitude to match his eerily accurate human qualities. "I'm not like all the rest. I've got two eyes and I'm looking at you in 3-D," says the camera's packaging.





Well, Minoru, here's a little news flash for you, buddy: If you don't stop staring at me, you'll be hearing from my lawyer.

CyberGear's iChat Text Messenger/Chat Talkies give kids a way to interact wirelessly with their friends, but the devices sure look a lot like RIM's BlackBerry Curve smartphone, giving rise to CES show floor speculation that CyberGear could soon be hearing from RIM's legal teams. Still, these nifty devices show just how far we've come as a technological society from the days of two tin cans and a string.

If you're having trouble waking up in the morning, but don't want to resort to the heavy hammer of electro-shock waking methods, Sonic Alert's Sonic Boom clocks are worth taking a look at. In addition to a piercing alarm, Sonic Boom clocks come with a device that fits in the space underneath the mattress that vibrates with an intensity that could probably jolt Rip Van Winkle awake.

Korea-based Hanmac Nano Medical was demonstrating the foot-pleasing effects weary walkers can derive from its foot stimulation device, which uses tactile and electronic methods to relax weary walkers. It's an attractive product, but Hanmac Nano Medical appears to have higher aims than mere foot pleasure: the tagline on the company's logo reads "For The Health And Happiness Of Mankind".

Plantsense's EasyBloom takes the guesswork out of gardening by using the Internet to monitor the health and happiness of your plants. Aspiring 'Green Thumbs' can stick the $59.95 EasyBloom Plant Sensor into the dirt of their potted plant, and the sensor relays data on soil conditions, moisture and temperature back to Plantsense's Web site for analysis. Plantsense then crunches the data and offers suggestions for better plant care.

A humidifier that's shaped like a pig? What fun! Taiwan-based Sunpentown International showed off this and several other products that emphasize energy efficiency and improve air quality.

Oregon Scientific's wireless Grill-Right talking BBQ/oven thermometer monitors cooked meats to perfection while grilling or roasting. No word on whether it also yells at you and sulks in the event that things don't work out and the roast gets overcooked.

Interactive Toy Concepts' remote control beer cooler holds 12 frosty beverages and folds up to fit in the back of a knapsack, and is a perfect example of how technology can be used to make the beer-drinking experience even more enjoyable than it was in the days before technology.

At CES, the Taiwan-based firm AEE Wireless Technology launched a Mini-DV video camera billed as the world's smallest, and at about 55 millimeters, or roughly the size of a pack of chewing gum, it's hard to argue with this claim. The possible uses -- and misuses -- of this product are somewhat mind-boggling.

Times are tough, but Hello Kitty is coming to the rescue like only she can. This electronic piano on display at CES has 8 music selectors as well as 8 rhythm selectors. It's almost enough to make one forget about the precipitous economic decline that continues to shake global economies to their cores.

Brother, best known in the IT industry for its printers, at CES was proudly displaying its Innov-is 6000D sewing machine, which includes a scanner and LCD touch screen that infuses the trusty old sewing machine format with a jolt of high-tech goodness.

This user interface for the Dance Dance Party video game belies the serious economic problems the world faces. And perhaps that's part of its appeal. Instead of worrying about unemployment, the unstable political situation in certain parts of the world, our planet's rapidly dwindling pool of natural resources, or the possibility that a giant, uncharted meteor could annihilate the world at any moment, why not just dance, dance, dance?

The popularity of Panasonic's Toughbook line of ruggedized notebooks has spawned a whole generation of copycat PC makers, and several firms were offering their own Toughbook counterparts which cost a third of what Panasonic charges. It also gave them an opportunity to present the old 'spilling water on the keyboard' demonstration that Panasonic is so fond of.

WowWee Technologies wowed CES attendees with its SpyBall robotic spycam. This little gadget, which wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond movie, lets users stealthily sneak up on other folks and then take photos of them. It even works for the family pet, according to the product packaging, which includes this bizarre exhortation: "Chase the dog or spy on your siblings -- remotely!"

Representatives from Phoenix Technologies handed out free shots of espresso to CES attendees, and talked up the usefulness of the company's Phoenix HyperSpace product, which provides "instant-on" capability and lets users access the Web without having to wait for Windows to boot up.