Do your remember Fido, the completely original autonomous suitcase concept? Samsung might, as they have announced FidoBag, a completely original autonomous suitcase concept... with fur and a wagging tail! Rather than using wireless sensors to track its owner, FidoBag relies solely on voice recognition, which is great because constantly screaming at your luggage is much easier than dragging it around by a handle. FidoBag does improve on the Fido concept by adding a barking security feature, which will emit barks at a vicious intensity of 197.5 decibels if it's disturbed by a stranger. With people screaming at their luggage and their luggage screaming at other people, trips to the airport are bound to get a lot less stressful.
Kohler is releasing shower system that should finally wash away all the shame and embarrassment you carry with you everyday. The Digital Thermostatic Valve (DTV) is a precision system that allows you to have complete reign over the temperature and pressure of your shower. Controlled via a touch screen interface, the DTV has the power to command up to eight separate showerheads and body sprayers. For $200, the DTV has the potential to save a lot of time in the morning routine of a select customer base. If Kohler could also release a product that would flip a light switch on and off sixteen times whenever someone enters a room, they'd have that market covered.
AlegRobot is selling a "research-quality" cat robot that can move at the speed of two body lengths per second. That's pretty quick, sure, but can the TomCat bark and do backflips? Probably not. The TomCat is made out of ABS plastic, and AlegRobot will customize the TomCat to your needs. It seems that the TomCat would need a lot of customizations before it could replace your feline friend. Customizations like fur... and maybe a face. Cats have faces, right?
Mitsubishi Electronic Research Laboratories is developing a new tabletop computer display that features a unique touch interface. Whenever someone touches the display, a very slight current travels through their body and into their chair, registering the exact position that they touched. Using this process, the display keeps track of who touches what and allows people to touch multiple things at once. This display seems like it would lend itself well to board games. Although, I guess I wouldn't be able to flip the board over when I start losing at Hungry Hungry Hippos. Which is pretty much every time I play. I hate those damn hippos so much.
Euro Spyshop is selling a suitcase that should liven up your morning commute, boring staff meetings, and family gatherings. The lackluster apearance of this suitcase hides two security features that are activated by an included keychain remote. For minor scuffles, the suitcase can emit a 170db alarm. If deafening your attacker doesn't subdue him/her, the other switch on the remote control will activate an 80,000 volt electric shock. Make sure that you are no longer holding the suitcase when you hit that switch, as it's a lot harder to defend yourself when you're unconscious and twitching on the ground.
European scientists have managed to combine living brain cells and silicon circuits, finally allowing me to add "electric brain monsters" to my list of reasonable fears. The Neurochip uses special proteins that bind to neurons and create successful channels for communication. Although this technology is in its early stages, the researchers are hoping to use it for treating neurological disorders, screening drugs, and creating "living computers." I think I speak for everyone when I say that I'm really looking forward to having a giant oozing mass of tissue on my desk right next to my monitor.