| Creativity knows no bounds. Let us take the | | | | about to sleep a little more discreet) |
| Japanese for example: the gadgets they come | | | | |
| up with are amazing. Some are useless but | | | | 3. Plunger Helmet |
| then again, it takes a lot to think of | | | | |
| something and then actually pull through with | | | | When the Nap Alarm fails, you can always use |
| it. Only the Japanese have the guts to | | | | the Plunger Helmet. Not when driving of |
| conceptualize strange gadgets like that and | | | | course. The Plunger Helmet is a gadget you |
| then actually produce it. For that reason, | | | | use when you fall asleep on the train. It |
| I'm putting the spotlight on several strange | | | | basically looks like a hard hat; the typical |
| gadgets. | | | | helmet construction workers use, but then it |
| | | | has a plunger attached to the back part of |
| Here are a couple of favorites: | | | | it. The plunger keeps your head in place. It |
| | | | is actually more helpful for your seatmates |
| 1. Noodle Eater's Hair Guard | | | | rather than yourself as this prevents you |
| | | | from swinging madly from side to side. |
| Do you have long hair? Does it annoy you when | | | | Perhaps if you're going to buy one, you'd |
| your hair suddenly falls and dips in your | | | | rather use it on a drowsy seatmate than |
| bowl of soup? Being primarily a country who | | | | yourself. |
| takes pride in their noodles, it's only | | | | |
| natural that the Japanese are starting to get | | | | 4. The Amazing Shoe Umbrella |
| annoyed at that experience. So what do they | | | | |
| do? They invent! Basically, the Noodle | | | | For people who buy designer shoes and |
| Eater's Hair Guard is a pink rubber gadget | | | | wouldn't dare have anything soil their |
| that fits snugly just around the face. It's | | | | footwear, the Japanese thought of something |
| similar to a dog cone actually, only it | | | | that would aid them. It doesn't matter if |
| doesn't cover the whole head but just the | | | | your whole body gets wet, as long as your |
| face. In any case, when you wear it, you'd | | | | shoes remain untouched. How this amazing |
| still look like you're wearing a dog cone. | | | | umbrella can fit into your shoes without |
| This peculiar gadget is not only strange, but | | | | destroying it is an unknown fact but as long |
| of all colors it just had to be pink. | | | | as it keeps water out of the shoes then the |
| | | | inventors are satisfied. |
| 2. Nap Alarm | | | | |
| | | | These are just four of a lot of Japanese |
| This is particularly interesting for me. The | | | | gizmos and gadgets that made its way to the |
| Nap Alarm is the perfect gadget if you find | | | | market. The conceptualization of these |
| yourself sleeping in between classes, | | | | gadgets seems to be logical. The addressing |
| lectures or even driving. You place the Nap | | | | of a simple need is what propelled the |
| Alarm just over your ear and through its | | | | invention of these weird gadgets. Isn't that |
| electronic motion sensing feature, it | | | | what consumerism is all about though? Isn't |
| calculates when you're about to nod your head | | | | it all about the creation of something that |
| off and then it sends a loud sound right in | | | | satisfies a simple need? If that's the case |
| your ear if it senses that you're about to | | | | then we can safely say that these gadgets |
| fall asleep therefore saving you from | | | | fulfill those needs. Perhaps what we should |
| embarrassment or even death. (Though I doubt | | | | laugh at is how absurd our needs are. Not the |
| that an alarm would make the fact that you're | | | | gadgets that are made to satisfy them. |