When it was developed almost 11 years ago, the USB port, which stands for Universal Serial Bus; creators envisioned it as a way to make it easy for users to attach devices to their PC’s. By simplifying things for product developers and users, this new and simple format gave way for not only these developers, but for budding designers to have a new medium to come up with any kind of wacky device they pleased. An increasing number of oddball peripherals have appeared in recent years, and with that some corporate cadavers have taken on to collecting these strange USB gadgets. Chances are, one of them works in your office, showing off his collection of eyesores valiantly on his desk.
The time has come to stop forcing yourself to drink tepid Pepsi while forgetting yourself in the mountains of work at your desk! Plug the USB Fridge into your computer while you are working, place a beverage inside and get ready to enjoy your choice of tasty liquid at a cool 47 degrees Fahrenheit.
As useful and compliant as your PC may be, at some point you probably just want to clobber it into a million tiny pieces. Here we introduce the device that will save you thousands of dollars and hours of cleanup time. The ScreenSmasher is a foam mallet that comes with a USB sensor. Take the stress relieving smack at your screen and your Windows Desktop will automatically display the image of shattered glass – also with a realistic crash sound effect.
True, the flash drive is a far cry from a bizarre USB device – but it is the price tag of this attractive accessory that puts it on this list. Introduced at the CeBIT show in Hannover, Germany, this exclusive USB key seems to be marketed mainly for its exquisite exterior – as its memory capacity wasn’t even mentioned at its premiere. It was later released that capacities will include 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1024MB. This gold-plated, diamond-encrusted USB memory stick is also adorned with a hefty price tag of 2,950-euro or $3,500!
Tired of your monotonous office work day after day, caught up in the rat race of the working world? Ready for the perfect way to lift your spirits and send laughter tearing through the office? Introducing the USB Hampster Wheel! Just plug it into your USB port, load the software provided and watch your furry friend as you type: the hampster gets running and spins the wheel around in the process, spinning even faster as your typing speed increases!
You’ve got to do something with your unused USB ports, so why not fill it up with something totally useless like these USB dogs? A more family-friendly version then its “humping dog” predecessor, you can watch the USB Exercising Dog as he works his washboard abs to perfection!
For the multitasking, facebook-addicted Ghostbuster, here is the USB device you’ve been searching for. The USB Ghost Radar supposedly does just as it says, detect ghosts. This gadget is actually quite complex. Using sensors and alert lights, and an algorithm it detects any paranormal activity – all the while factoring in biometric feedback from your skin, along with many other features. Plug in the USB Ghost Radar and it will beep in rhythm with specific light patterns depending on the paranormal activity around you. The volume and intensity of the beeps supposedly indicates how close your ghost is. The lights help you figure out the ghost’s position, movement, and the risk possibilities.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little buddy that could just sit right next to your computer and make stupid faces? Plug Mr. Tengu into your USB port and he will sit contently at your desk making weird faces with changes in sound, and will take naps when his daily face making routine becomes too exhausting.
Now I know what you’re thinking…. “Besides the high ‘coffee-spilling-all-over-the-desk’ chances, isn’t that going to be tough to use?” In fact, the MugMouse was created with the deliberate intention by SLOWEB Peripherals “to provide an alternative to the fast global flow of information”. This infrared mouse follows your movements and the mouse button at the bottom of the mug is clicked by pushing the whole mug towards the table; And as an added bonus, this handy mug not only holds 150mL of your favourite hot drink, but keeps it steamy with the built-in heater. So for those who are looking for a speed reduced computer mouse that doubles as a coffee mug – this little diddy is for you!
Though this “heavy duty” memory stick is not yet patented and ready to sell to the public – I can’t help but applaud this device’s creator Chris Spurgeon for attempting to find the solution to our age’s miniature flash drives going missing. Converting his 16 pound bowling ball into a memory stick he asks himself “Let’s see if I send that through the laundry by mistake!” On the practical side though, I hope when using it he doesn’t attach it directly to his laptop…
Ever wonder what it would feel like to see your face on a 5 dollar bill? A postage stamp? How about a piece of toast? A finalist in the 2008 Electrolux Design Lap competition, the USB Scan toaster uses hot wires that rotate within a 30° radius to “burn” anything you want onto your piece of toast; the news, weather or snapshots – the delicious possibilities are endless!
here’s the million-dollar idea of the day…
USB vibrator
for the lady who likes to play while she surfs
copperdragon (#60), it exists. See http://gadgets.fosfor.se/the-top-10-weirdest-usb-devices-ever/ (#1 on the list). Items 10 through 2 are pretty strange, too.
Funny list!
60. copperdragon: see my comment about the light up penis. (i was speechless when i saw it) but your comment aobut play with she surfs is hilarious!
They *are* all totally useless.
My computers are basically work machines, LV , facebook & Stumbleupon are my exclusions. Otherwise, I am working on my photography, writing, or researching. I work at a big, antique drafting table, a relic from Lockheed WWI, and though it is spacious enough for both machines and all necessary extras, I don’t want the clutter of unnecessary extras.
47. BZ – Yes the USB Rocket Launcher should have definitely made the list.
The USB fridge sounds cool too even though I know it’s a complete waste.
I wonder if they have that fridge thing in plastic bottle size… They don´t sell cans here in Peru……
I need to send this link to my brother… He would probably buy all of these!
Oh, and copperdragon (60): LOL!
The new homepage reminds me of the original design. Not that that’s a bad thing
.
That toaster is amazing.
Travis: I didn’t ban you nor did Cyn I’m sure. It is not our policy or preference. Comments get kicked into moderation for a variety of reasons; curse words, words that look like curse words, and sometimes for no reason I can figure out. I slept in is all – no conspiracy, no hate on you, and no censorship. Just exhaustion.
oh my!
i love this geek gadgets lol.
specially nº 1 is not useless at all… great list!
Oh my god these are must have gadgets!!!! I so need a USB toaster where can you purchase such a fine item???
I’m sorry but I do want that ghost one…does it come with that cute little ghost figure too?
Travis -
when enough people complain about a commentor..especially a newb…acting the asshat. i will pull their info. into moderation. to keep track of their nonsense. in this list you’ve stated you’d do better. yet you’ve got asshat comments elsewhere. your info. is out of moderation now. so behave. your previous comments had no bearing on the list at hand. just immature rantings. this is my way of handling things. i want this part of the site to run smoothly as possible for the sake of the community and be welcoming to new folks w/ more on their minds than just causing trouble. spirited debate is one thing. acting like an asshat is something totally different and i do not welcome that here. you take issue w/ how i admin. take it up w/ J. better yet go someplace like 4chan or cracked where they revel in stupidity and obscenity.
These do not seem pointless at all. I think they are rather clever. Ok the Dog one is pretty much pointless but a cute stupid gift.
That toaster actually looks pretty sick
im truely sorry if i offened anyone but this list looks like people spend to much time in the computer and really have nothing good to do come on a thing that makes faces at you when your on the net yea like ur going to pay attention to that i understand the coke deal that works but bread come on we need to get our lazy @ss of the damn computer and run or something.
O yea great list by the way never dissapoints.
# 48 Travis we are all a lot of easy going guys on this site – but you went overboard on the last list.
My saying goes you make your bed – you lay in it.
# 73 Cyn well explained
smurff -
is it bad that I want every single one of these?
excuse my but number one is completely badass.
i meant me :]
I don’t know about you guys, but I would love number 1. I’d put something really strange on it and leave it about the house.
What about the USB rocket launcher? Although it sounds absolutely fantastic, its poorly made and has no where near enough power in it.
Hampster – the cross between a hamster and #10 on this list.
Keep your food fresh in this rodent shaped hamper. Also runs in a wheel to heat up your hot stuff with its tiny hamster sweat glands.
Enjoy.
The USB fridge would be a sweet addition to the list of crap I need to buy for my dorm room.
Wow till now i just assumed the options with the USB started and ended with mouse/flash drive. Makes me wonder how much gloriously impractical junk billy mays and shamwowspence are missing out on raving about.
I remember in ’99 they came out with a barcode scanner USB which would directly take you to the manufacturers’s website. I could just never think of making any use of it.
I would totally buy number 1 hahaha it’s no usefull but its kind of funny you have to admint. For God’s sake you can burn ANYTHING in a slice of bread
yo oddee.com is 1000 times better then listverse
heyyooo: No No stupid outsider. You are very much mistaken.
took a few minutes to check out oddee, now im going to spend the next hour scrubbing the stench of mental ***** from my body.
90. heyyooo….sorry if you feel that way. I checked out that site. What a mess! So, if you like it there…stay there. Thanks!
obviously listverse is the best, i thought the people at listverse would be a little more classy and know they are better, interesting how people get so worked up over nothing.
heyyooo – oddee is probably 10000 times better at sucking all of the happiness out of my eternal soul. I wanted to tear my eyes out and offer them to Satan after I saw that steaming pile of goose squirt.
How’s that for a classy reply.
I think that oddee, in the past, has ripped off some of our lists too. Don’t quote me though. I may just be biased.
yup, just a filthy steaming pile of etiquette over here. avoiding slight contradictions of yourself is a plus as well – “oddee.com is 1000 times better”, “obviously listverse is the best”
boom. suck on that classiness heyyo.
I want them all
I want the USB fridge. There’s nothing worse than warm pop.
no other site for me other then LV!!!
LV!! LV!! LV!!
Most of these are dumb but I would buy the hamster wheel; it would be fun to watch it roll when I’m writing! The ghost detector was funny and I like the little ghost. I also liked the Monitor Smasher – I could use it when my Internet goes down!
#10 could be very useful!
The toast thing is cool! Does it really work? Can I toast funny messages on my brother’s toast every time?
With the new USB scan toaster, Jesus and the Virgin Mary will be able to make appearances on breakfast pasteries more easily than ever before.
Like some of the other posters have said.
#1 seems pretty awesome. And I want one!
the super-mini USB fridge is piontless, an the toaster and ScreenSmasher are a lil’ dumb, but i want ‘em all!!
I NEED that toaster.
HAMSTER!!! not HAMPSTER! How can we trust you ever again???
Okay, I kinda want the toaster. That’s kinda cool.
Gotta have my face on a piece of toast!!! EAT ME!
OK it burns the image on the toast, but does it make the toast in the first place, it seems rather vague on that point? Do you need a USB pop up toaster as well, and if so will the increase in current load slow down my gameplay while I sip on my USB mug of hot steaming java!
I agree–some of this stuff is genius–the toaster and fridge are awesome!
you can plug just about anything into a computer these days.
maybe the toaster one was how they got that picture of the virgin mary on that piece of toast!
the toaster and monitor smasher are totally awesome
Fantastic list.
then should be spelled than on #6
Hi,
And to plug all that stuff into:
http://www.cambrionix.com/CBRX49PH001A/49Port_USB-2_Hub_CBRX49PH001A_DocRev2-03.pdf
I suggest an array of foam dart launchers or 49x Mr Tengu’s
Here is 60+ Weirdest USB Flash Drive Designs Ever [Must Watch]
http://jaxov.com/2009/09/60-weirdest-usb-flash-drive-designs-ever-must-watch/
The music department at my school needs one of the monitor smasher ones – the computers are very slow, and always crash just when your composition is about to be saved, after writing in a hundred bars since last being saved (ok, slight exaggeration with the always there).
On Thursday I saw someone trying to strangle one of them – smashing it might be more satisfying.
Toaster!!! me want one!! and tha smasher! wicked!