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I appreciate the originality of a chair that massages your back with the vibrations from harp music, but there are a couple glaring reasons why this thing isn't worth $US7000.
I'm in love with crazy, vaguely acupressure-related gadgets, so this Christmas I might actually drop some cash for the "Head Refresher." Much like the Head Kanzen, this insane-looking device lets you massage your own scalp, allegedly increasing blood circulation throughout your body, while making it look like an inverted sea urchin is trying to swallow your skull.
The Gadget: Microcomputer Massage Glasses. Available as a freebie if you get China-based company Babaka's posture harness (more on that later)... or about $US10 if you choose to buy one yourself.
The Head Kenzan is is inspired by a traditional Japanese tool called "kenzan" that is used in Japanese flower arranging to hold plants in place. But to westerners like myself, it looks like some sort of iron maiden for the scalp. However, the true purpose of the device is far from torture—in fact, it is designed to massage the scalp using 92 plastic bristles that are described as "not-too-hard and not-too-soft." As ridiculous as this thing looks, I can almost feel those plastic spikes running over my head—ensuring that I maintain my luxurious mane of hair well into old age. Available for $US47. [Japan Trend Shop via RGS]
At US$6,000, this OSIM uSpace full body massage chair better do what it says in addition to just looking all sci-fi and space Pac-Manish. According to the manufacturer, the chair fixes you using mood lighting, massage, and music. They say the uSpace has three different modes: "revitalize", "relax" or "balance" you.
Even the most crippling insomnia is surely no match for the Gentle Wave lounge. Using a handheld remote, users can control a rocking motion that is designed to simulate floating in a lake. It can also be used to manage the intensity of the sound wave massage emanating from its dual 50-watt transducers. Combine that with a supine posture and memory foam chair, and your problems with insomnia will be replaced by the fear of slipping into a coma. However, at US$7,000, I will be sticking to drinking a few beers and falling asleep in the pool on a US$15 SpongeBob raft. [Hammacher Schlemmer via Likecool]
I'll be the first to admit that having someone massage your hands is relaxing, especially after a long day of typing away on a computer. If you agree, a finger massage from this DanBall device may be just the thing to help melt away your stress. According to the manufacturer, it can give you up to 50 one minute shiatsu finger massages on a single charge, help grow your fingernails with infrared rays and keep you relaxed with a soothing melody and LED light show. Sounds like a great way to keep the typing fingers limbered up or keep you on your bowling game, but for US$2000 I'm pretty sure that I can find some better ways to unwind. [Japan Trend Shop via OhGizmo via Ubergizmo]
It looks like a prop from the latest Dr. Who series, it clamps down with the deliberateness of a Vulcan, and it feels... well... not too bad. The Powernic finger-pressure massager is a pretty serious apparatus, and in the wrong hands it could probably do quite a bit of damage. Good thing there's a touch-sensitive manual override on the side. The little vibrating LED capsule can be used by itself, if you're into that. As you can see in the vid, I favoured the full-on claw. [Semi Y&J]
This aired a few nights ago on Kinchan no Kasoh Taisho in Japan, a show apparently dedicated to the advancement of science, technology and the arts. We'd love to have one of these massage chairs in our own homes, because it looks super comfortable and not at all awkward. The only request we have? We want a female version. That'd be slightly softer and have more back support. [Japan Probe]
Remember the massage pants? Well, automated massage seems to have taken a step further on from those with the Dainichi Auto Healther Reiz DZ-270: it's a robo-table that can massage you from your head to to toe. You just select your program from the touchscreen, lie back, pull the hood over, switch on some music on the built-in audio system and let its robot kneaders wiggle around under the bed surface. It's even clever enough to adjust its speed and pressure to suit which bit of you its dealing with, and has heating too. If you prefer your relaxation delivered with robotic precision rather than the fingers of a trained person, then you'll have to fork out around US$13,500 for this. [Akihabaranews]
It looks like a prop from the latest Dr. Who series, it clamps down with the deliberateness of a Vulcan, and it feels... well... not too bad. The Powernic finger-pressure massager is a pretty serious apparatus, and in the wrong hands it could probably do quite a bit of damage. Good thing there's a touch-sensitive manual override on the side. The little vibrating LED capsule can be used by itself, if you're into that. As you can see in the vid, I favoured the full-on claw. [