10 Weird and Wacky computer peripherals that manage to remain functional
Wild and wacky, yet functional. That is the enduring theme of the list we've put together for you featuring the top ten wild and wacky computer peripherals. Sit back and take your pick.
Datahand Pro II Keyboard
Keyboards come in plenty of shapes and sizes, but this one from Datahand combines the wacky form factor with a firm emphasis on functionality. Yes, apart from making people go bonkers at your keyboard, the Datahand Pro II is designed primarily to reduce muscular fatigue that conventional keyboards induce after extended periods of typing. For this, the Datahand Pro II features a unique design that houses 132 keys through the use of five key-switches clustered around the tips of each of the fingers. That said, the Datahand Pro II looks dramatically dissimilar to the conventional keyboards and will certainly take a little time getting used to.
Hand Grenade Mouse
Here is a contraption that avid gamers of Counterstrike or any other multiplayer game would give an arm or a leg for. Shaped like a grenade, the wacky computer mouse goes on to even use the Grenade's trigger as the left mouse button. Talk about attention to detail. The Grenade Mouse on the whole is a totally wild mod that will give it's users the pleasure of fragging away, the real way.
Steampunk Computer Mouse
Steampunkers, who go ahead and steampunk everything they set their sights on have done the same with the ubiquitous computer mouse too. Jake Hildebrandt, of Jake of all Trades has put this brassy looking steampunk mouse together. This steampunk computer mouse manages to look more mechanical than digital with a plethora of wheels, gears and leers working in tandem. And this steampunk contraption actually works as an optical mouse. This original steampunk form factor endows this Steampunk Computer Mouse with that all important character that so many steampunk designs fail to exude. We are definitely impressed.
Grippety Back Typing Keyboard
We have no clue as to why anyone would want to type on the backside of a keyboard, but for those of you who want to do just that, the Grippety Back Typing Keyboard might just be the keyboard you were looking for. The Grippety Keyboard is designed in a way to help people type away, with the only difference being that they do so with their fingers typing away furiously on the underside of the keyboard. Weird yes, but the Grippety Keyboard is a sure shot way to get noticed, especially with it's typewriter like design that might even grow on you in due time.
Minty Mouse
Someone who just couldn't get over his fetish for minty boxes went ahead and designed a Minty Box that in all probability will have a lifespan more than the average run of the mill minty box. Yeah, we are talking about a minty box that houses all the electronic components of a computer mouse to end up as an nice little optical mouse. You even have a scroll wheel peeping out of the Minty Box. Right now, there's no way to buy one of these as it is a custom one off build. However, you could build yourself one if you know your around basic electronics.
Snail Shaped Keyboard
If you thought that typing with one hand was downright slow, you must check out this weird but functional keyboard concept called the Snail Keyboard. This smart concept shaped like a snail actually consists of a rotating loop that contains all the keys. The loop has a 5:1 gearbox, which essentially means that you need to move just 1/5 the distance to touch the same key, as opposed to that in a conventional keyboard. Also, each key on the Snail Keyboard operates as three different keys depending on the direction it is pressed in. All this, results in you able to type with a single hand without compromising on speed. Though a little weird to look at, the Snail keyboard's concept is just terrific.
EzKey Keypad Mouse
Laptop users usually miss the bunch of extra numeric keys that the conventional full sized keyboards come with. To help you tide over this problem, here is a mouse that encloses all the extra numeric keys in a transparent shell. The EzKey Keypad Mouse's transparent shell can be flipped open whenever you need to use the numeric keys. Flip it back into place when you're done using the numeric keys. Simple but very effective. That just about sums up the weird but extremely functional EzKey Keypad Mouse.
Breast Mouse
Hugh Hefner would love to have one of these on his desktop. Yes, the Breast Computer Mouse is one of the wackiest looking computer mice that we've ever come across at Gizmowatch. We don't have much to say except for the fact that you need to press at couple of strategic points to use the mouse, just like a conventional computer mouse. Men will surely love this one. As for the women rights groups, we shudder to think about what they will have to say about this wacky computer mouse.
Zero Tension Mouse
Repetitie Stress Injury is an oft used term in offices lately and here is a weird looking contraption that aims to eliminate RSI. The Zero Tension Computer Mouse works to eliminate RSI by letting your hand rest fully on the unit itself in a more natural position. This prevents injuries due to stress while your fingers wrap around this contraption to make it work just like a conventional computer mouse. Of course, the trade off is that you'll look like a pimply teen unable to get out of the computer game rut with this joystick like computer mouse. At $79.95, you can't really argue as this device aims to keep your hands in ship shape.
Tablecloth Keyboard
Spilling coffee onto your keyboard and killing it will soon become a thing of the past if the Tiddy Tippist Tablecloth Keyboard concept makes it to the production floor. This keyboard concept is actually an ultra thin keyboard that sits just below an impervious table cloth. This makes the keyboard resistant to any accidental spillage that otherwise would have resulted in conventional keyboards packing up. Then again, anyone happening to look at your table will be more than a little shocked to see you typing away furiously on the table cloth. Nevertheless, the Tablecloth Keyboard by designer Tonia Welter packs in a smart idea if you can tolerate it's weird form.
