Remember the Marauder’s Map from Harry Potter? How cool would it be if we were able to keep apace with everyone we cared about at every step of the way or be sure to avoid a particular route when it came to people we didn’t want to meet? The worlds of literature and cinema have invented many such cool gadgets that make us long for them too.
Well, with the advent of GPS and Google Maps, we can track each other’s journeys and the magic of the Marauder’s Map has become a reality today. Technology is one such facet of the modern times which is constantly evolving, and the ingenuity of every new creation seems to surpass its predecessors. Here are 10 such cool gadgets which may seem too incredulous to be on our wish lists, but believe it or not, they actually exist.
1. This fluid-filled helmet mimics your body’s defense systems and protects your brain from fatal damages.
We’re all familiar with the warning that an injury to our head can prove to be fatal. Be it a road accident or a mishap during a sporting activity, any impact to the brain can have deadly consequences. Using extensive scientific research spanning over 25 years, Fluid Inside has developed a helmet which is lined on the inside with fluid-filled pods, containing a liquid which simulates the cerebrospinal fluids in our brains to activate our defense systems. The matrix of fluid-filled pods offers an additional layer of protection to our brains and absorbs the impact from a sudden injury before it reaches our skulls.
The fluid-filled pods are engineered in a way to act as the first line of defense and mitigate the severity of the damage in case of a crash or a collision. At the moment of impact, the foam compresses to provide added low, linear-impact protection. Scientists have affirmed that in order to mitigate an injury, both linear and rotational forces of the impact has to be tackled. Accordingly, the helmet’s materials respond to both types of shear to minimize the damage. Motorists, bikers, cyclists, and other athletes swear by this helmet since it promises a reduction of so many fatalities. (1)
2. These “smart glasses” adjust to your vision automatically. The glasses’ liquid lenses change shape according to the distance of objects, making having both reading glasses and bifocals unnecessary.
3. Smart rings that let you feel your loved one’s heartbeat irrespective of the physical distance between the two of you.
Since time immemorial, rings have symbolized the union of two hearts. This ingenious technology took this idea a step ahead and is a special kind of ring which is actually the repository of the heartbeat of your special one. These “HB Rings” are designed with sophisticated technology that captures the heartbeat of your loved one and saves it for you to carry with you wherever you go. Developed by The Touch, the HB Rings connect to an app via Bluetooth which lets the wearers sync their heartbeats to the ring without being physically next to each other. Upon syncing your heartbeats, activate the ring by simply tapping on it. The developers of this cool gadget have dedicated two and a half years of research to provide the rings with actual lighting that resonates the pulses of the wearer.
The HB Ring saves the heartbeat and therefore lets you feel your loved one’s heartbeat in real-time. All you need is the ring on your finger and a steady Internet connection. The HB Rings are exquisitely designed in durable, unibody, sapphire crystal. You might even want to go for the rose-gold option if the sleek stainless steel body of the rings doesn’t excite you. With the new HB Rings, you can literally carry your special one’s heart in your own heart, or finger for that matter. (1,2)
4. CUDA is a jetpack that propels you handsfree underwater within a few seconds.
Have the wonders of the underwater world ever caught your fancy, but the whole diving paraphernalia starting from the cylinders and the masks to the ridiculous fins made it look way too intimidating to give it a shot?
Archie O’Brien, a student from Loughborough University, developed a prototype of an underwater jetpack called “CUDA” that can transform your diving experience forever and spare you all the clumsy gear. Starting as a school project, Brien’s revolutionary idea developed into this thrilling jetpack which consists of 45 3-D printed parts, all assembled together.
This jetpack can propel you through waters at any depth within seconds, and the speed and direction can all be monitored by you through a control device. Unlike the traditional diving gear which requires physically steering through the water, this cool gadget offers an effortless underwater feel. What is even more exciting is this battery-powered jetpack comes in the form of a portable backpack which you can just slide on, and you’re all set for an adventure of a lifetime. CUDA is currently in its prototype format, but the commercial versions are soon expected to flood the markets. (1, 2)
5. This incredible charger juices up your phone while It floats in mid-air.
Tired of hunting a compatible plug point to get that much-needed juice for your phone?
OvRcharge promises to be a one-stop solution to all your phone charging troubles. OvRcharge not only provides a reliable and durable charging solution but also adds a tinge to magic to the process. Forget about plugs and wires. With OvRcharge, you can have your phone all juiced up while it floats in mid-air.
This sterling invention works on electromagnetic technology and uses a magnetic field to levitate the phone and hold it in position while charging it. OvRcharge is comprised of an ultra-thin case which has electronic receivers to charge a phone and a magnet to lift the phone up. All you need to do is to place the phone slightly above the case in the range of the magnetic field and let the magic unfold. OvRcharge charges your phone while it floats and spins slowly in mid-air. Currently, a kickstarter project, this cool gadget is compatible with iOs devices and most popular Android phones. (1, 2)
6. Levi/Google’s smart jacket, Jacquard, allows users to control their phone with gestures.
In a world deluged by smart tech, our lives are in many ways driven by our devices. Being able to roam around without having to clutch our phones is a rarity these days. Levis and Google together have come up with this cutting-edge technology which lets you wear your tech, instead of carrying it around.
The Jacquard project revolves around transformative fabric which facilitates all functions of a smartphone. Jacquard is a special jacket made of conductive fibers with touch sensors which enable you to control your phones by simply touching the cuffs of the jacket. The cuffs are endowed with a tag which packs in all the features of your phone and lets to take or make calls, listen to music, navigate your way around, get alerted when there is a new notification, all through a simple touch on your jacket.
No additional baggage, no fear of losing your cool gadgets with this stylish, comfortable jacket that weaves in all the wonders of your smart device. (1, 2)
7. This sun-chasing robot looks after the plant on its head.
Plants radically enhance the aesthetics of our homes and gardens, but tending to them can be quite a task. Vincross’s Hexa, an all-terrain, multifunctional robot, is uniquely programmed to cater to the watering and light requirements of any potted plants. Chinese roboticist, Sun Tianqi, the brains behind Hexa, was inspired by a dead sunflower at an exhibition and attempted to use technology to endow plants with a certain degree of freedom.
You simply need to place the plant on the head of this super-cool gadget. A six-legged agile robot, Hexa, will automatically crawl towards a more sunlit space in your home. It also has an amazing alert system to notify you to water your plants. If strategically positioned, Hexa can also be programmed to water your plants intermittently. Hexa is designed to respond to human touch and can walk, climb, fetch, play music, and even take photos. All it takes to bring Hexa to life is a steady WiFi connection. (1, 2)
8. Kitty Hawk’s Flyer is an all-electric, single-seat, personal, flying vehicle that literally gives you wings.
Many of us dream of flying and this seemingly impossible wish is all set to be a reality as Kitty Hawk’s launches its electric, personal, flying vehicle, the Flyer. It is a lithium battery-powered electric flying vehicle which has the ability to fly about 10 feet off the ground for short distances over water to give its passengers a feel of the ethereal experience of gliding over water through the air.
The best feature of this cool gadget is that is operated by software that collects data from multiple sensors and enables everyone to steer the vehicle themselves without any mandatory license or pilot training. A safety demonstration and close adherence to the instructions is all that is required to set off in the Flyer and have an unforgettable experience. (1, 2)
9. Chemical bike lock that causes vomiting to deter thieves.
While biking is hailed as the most eco-friendly and healthy mode of transportation, there is a serious concern that affects every bike owner – the safety of the bikes while parking them. Most of the available bike locks are easily breakable, and thefts of bikes have become a common phenomenon all over the world.
With the new Skunklock, bike owners across the world can heave a sigh of relief. This fascinating U-shaped lock may look like any other regular bike lock on the outside, but it is designed in a way to emit obnoxious gas if someone tries to cut the lock. The chemicals producing the gas can also cause blurred eyesight, dizziness, and vomiting. Developed to deter thieves from stealing bikes, this cool gadget promises to be a much-needed antidote to the raging problem of bike thefts. (1, 2)
10. A sleep mask that emits light from the inside to wake you up naturally.
If being unable to sleep at night and then oversleeping your alarms in the morning has become a constant struggle for you, then Dreamlight’s sleep mask could be your much-needed savior. This contoured eye mask is lined with comfort padding to spread out all pressure points on your forehead evenly, and the 3-D facial mapping technology of the mask adjusts itself to your facial dimensions perfectly. It is embedded with advanced technology that induces sleep and helps you relax through ambient music, soothing lights, and the blocking of any extra intervening lights.
It is also the perfect stress-relieving gadget if you’re trying to meditate. The eye mask also has optical heart rate monitors and infrared sensors that can keep your bodily parameters in check. One of the most amazing features of this cool gadget is that its accompanying app can be set to create a visual alarm where the eye mask floods your eyes with white light when it’s time for you to wake up. So, now you can no longer be bothered by lights from outside and wake up to a bouquet of brightness whenever you want to. (1, 2)