Imagine being able to sniff your Excel files. That’s what this device can do for you. Your computer by itself is not very interesting. It’s just a box with a power switch on it.
You need some extra devices to make it work — like a mouse, a keyboard, and a screen. And there are many other gadgets you can get as well, such as cameras, speakers, gaming controllers, and more.
You can also get a lot of totally pointless peripherals. Manufacturers have tried out some really bizarre devices over the years, hoping that someone would buy them.
Here are some of the strangest computer peripherals ever made — some of which are still available for purchase today.
The Keyboard That Keeps Your Wrists Safe
Ergonomic keyboards can be quite weird and wacky. But the SafeType is the wackiest of them all.
This strange masterpiece of ergonomic design divides the keyboard into three parts. Two of them, with the letter keys, are placed vertically at the edges of the horizontal space.
We’ve never used this keyboard so we can’t say if it’s actually ergonomic. Maybe it is. But how do you see the keys on the vertical parts?
Easy. Just glance at one of the two rear-view mirrors that come with the SafeType.
That might also help against coworkers who might be trying to sneak up on you. This thing is no longer in production, but you might still find one at a bargain sale somewhere.
The Stress Ball That Connects to Your Computer: Dream Cheeky
Stress balls are a common item on any office desk. But with the Dream Cheeky stress ball, you can e-squash your stress away.
The thing consists of a silicone (we guess) cover over some kind of a squishy mechanism. But what’s with the USB plug?
You can connect the “ball” to your computer and program it to eliminate your source of stress. It can erase emails, trash documents, or remove text, among other things.
Except not really. According to user feedback, the drivers are outdated and not compatible with modern operating systems.
But hey, it’s a cool novelty.
The Shirt That Keeps You Cool with Air-Conditioning: Kuchofuku K-200Y
Japan, the source of all weird gadgets. If there was any country in the world that would invent a USB-connected work shirt with air-conditioning, it’d be Japan.
This polyester/cotton shirt has two fans stitched into it. You can connect it to your computer on a warm day and enjoy the wind as you code or type.
You can also run the shirt with four AA batteries if you need to leave the office. Or you could, when this thing was still available.
The iGrip: A Keyboard and Mouse in One Handheld Device by AlphaGrip
It’s a gaming controller! No, it’s a keyboard!
Actually, it’s a weird combination of both. The iGrip is advertised as the ultimate all-in-one ergonomic keyboard, gaming controller, and trackball mouse.
In reality, it’s a horrible mix of dozens of buttons, rocker switches, and more. For goodness’ sake, there are six Shift keys!
Even the maker itself admits that it’ll probably take around 30 hours to learn how to use the iGrip properly. We can imagine a lot of more useful things to do with our time.
The ForceWear Vest by 3rd Space: A Gaming Vest That Lets You Feel the Action
Are you too hardcore of a gamer for the air-conditioned work shirt? Then maybe this FPS game vest is more your style.
The ForceWear vest was marketed to gamers who really wanted to immerse themselves in the first-person action. It has eight directional force feedback units that would shake based on the direction the player character was being shot from in the game.
It’s a cool idea, but the vest never supported many games. Although it had drivers for some of the most popular games of its time, gamers didn’t embrace the idea and the ForceWear faded away.
The iSmell by Digiscents: A Device That Lets You Smell the Internet
What smells? It’s the Digiscent iSmell, an adventurous little device that wanted to bring smell to the virtual world.
Using a mix of chemicals, the oddly shaped tower would release synthetic smells that mimicked whatever was on the screen. But did it work?
We don’t know. The iSmell never got past the prototype phase due to a lack of money.
Actually, that probably reveals everything you need to know about how well it worked.
The Ghost Radar by USB: A Device That Detects Paranormal Activity
Are you sure that your workspace or gaming setup is haunted? Well, you can confirm it with the USB ghost radar!
To be frank, we have no clue how this thing works. It apparently has a lot of sensors that monitor electromagnetic waves that could come from ghosts, while filtering out biometric signals from your skin and different moon phases.
If the gadget finds a ghost, it will beep and show the paranormal invader’s strength and position with a series of lights. That said, we’re pretty certain the thing just makes sounds occasionally and displays random lights.
The Neural Impulse Actuator by OCZ: A Device That Lets You Control Your PC with Your Mind
Finally, the ultimate peripheral to eliminate the gap between man and machine. The OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA) let you control a computer — with your mind.
Well, not really. The device consisted of a headband that tracked your facial muscle movements to execute commands.
For example, you could lift an eyebrow to open Google.
The most surprising thing is that the NIA actually worked pretty well. Sure, it couldn’t match a keyboard and mouse, but it was responsive and performed the assigned tasks with accuracy (after extensive calibration).
Yet, it wasn’t good enough. The NIA is discontinued, but you can still sometimes find it online. If you can get one for a fair price, it’s a cool little gadget.