From brainwave-controlled cat ears to a baby cage that hangs outside a window, human creativity has produced a range of inventions that defy logic and practicality. This article explores 15 of the strangest gadgets ever devised, many of which were created in Japan, a nation known for its love of quirky technology.
Among the highlights is the Necomimi, a headset with cat ears that respond to the user’s brainwaves, perking up when the wearer concentrates and drooping when relaxed. Still popular with cosplayers, it retails for around £90. Equally curious is the Dynasphere – a monowheel vehicle from the 1930s that could hit 48 km/h but was unsafe and impractical due to steering issues and a tendency to toss its driver around.
Japan also gave us Tomatan, a wearable robot that feeds tomatoes to marathon runners – though it was only a promotional prototype. In the 1960s, Goodyear tried glowing tyres illuminated from within, but they melted under heavy braking and were quickly abandoned.
Kenji Kawakami’s “Chindogu” movement brought us the Hayfever Hat, which dispenses toilet paper for constant nose-blowing, and the Cat Meow Machine, a mechanical cat that failed to scare rodents. Other oddities include bed glasses with mirrors for reading while lying down, the Ostrich Napping Pillow for desk naps, and the sQuba – a real submersible electric car that remains a prototype.
Historical oddities include the 19th-century Moustache Shield, designed to keep facial hair dry while eating, and Joseph Pilates’ V-shaped bed, intended to improve posture but never caught on. The Fliz bike suspends the rider from a frame without pedals, while the Crane Head Cereal Serving Device uses a milk-powered hydraulic arm to serve breakfast.
The infamous Pet Rock from the 1970s offered the joy of pet ownership without the responsibility, and the Baby Cage – proposed in 1930s London – aimed to give apartment-bound infants access to fresh air by suspending them in wire cages outside windows.
These inventions, though mostly impractical, highlight the boundless imagination of their creators and the fine line between innovation and absurdity.
