There has always been the feeling among marketers and retailers that the public does not know they need something until they are told they need it. In today’s world this statement may seem to ring true more than ever. With so much technology available all of the time today it seems more and more that there are devices and gadgets that, while they may not be totally necessary for you to get through life, are gadgets you just have to have because they seem interesting, strange or fun. Many companies today rely on this factor in selling ideas and it has become quite evident by the number of odd devices that have received all sorts of crowd-sourced funding over the last year. Here are just a few of the weird gadgets you can expect to see sold in the near future.
- The Couchlet – This device is certainly one of those items that you may never have realized you needed to have until you were told about it. The Couchlet is a charging station for your mobile devices such as your smartphone, tablet, music player or other device that is designed to be wedged between the cushions of your couch or the frame of your bed. The device is a two-port charger on a six foot long USB cable so you no longer have to stretch to try to reach the charger on your nightstand or the end table and can have everything right near you with convenience.
- Mint – For those that take their oral hygiene seriously, Mint is the latest of oral care products designed by Breathometer. This device is small and compact and you breathe into it each morning or throughout the day. The device will let you know just how your breath is at that particular time through an app on your smartphone or tablet. You can find out if you just need a breath mint, some mouthwash, a glass of water, to brush your teeth or even if you need a new toothbrush.
- Bug-A-Salt – If you are tired of spending your time trying to swat flies and other pests the old fashioned way with a fly swatter or rolled up a newspaper, then this device may be perfect for you. This plastic gun allows you to take out your aggression on those flying pests by shooting them with pinches of sodium chloride (table salt). You can see the great appeal of this device already.
Each of the devices mentioned were all fully funded quickly through funding such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo.com or other crowd-sourcing outlets, so you can expect to see them rolled out and for sale, along with several other odd devices you never thought about but now need to have today. People are drawn to devices in this way much in the way the “As Seen on TV” devices and infomercials have always attracted people, giving new life to some odd gadgets that you may see catch on pretty quickly sometime soon.