Ideas we like…
1. A giant-killing trainer
Euclid Chipchoge wore these shoes when he ran the world’s first sub-2-hour marathon, and they finally go on sale this month. Their release was delayed, as the World Athletics organisation wanted examine the design before deciding they were race-legal. The trainers rely on carbon fibre plates, foam and ‘airbags’ – Nike calls them Air Pods – to reduce the energy lost when a runner’s foot strikes the ground, quite literally putting a spring in their step. Running pundits believe the arrival of this shoe will see a series of records tumble at the next Olympics.
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, price TBC Nike.com
‹– 2. The lamp’s Second Coming
Dyson has a habit of making us reconsider the mundane. In this case, the Lightcycle Morph is a lamp that continually tailors it’s light to your age, atmospheric conditions, and the amount of ambient daylight. An infrared sensor turns the lamp on and off as you come and go, and the app offers a suite of usage settings (study, relax, precision etc). Our desk lamp doesn’t quite look the same anymore… Dyson Lightcycle Morph, £500 Dyson.co.uk
3. The return of the flip phone
Flexible screen tech has had a bumpy start. Samsung’s Fold 5G suffered durability issues and was promptly recalled and relaunched. Now, Samsung seems to have gotten over that hump with the Galaxy Z Flip. Early signs are promising, but there are concessions to be made – it’s not water or dust resistant. Ultimately though, it’s a hugely desirable glimpse at what the future of smartphones and tablets could look like. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, £1,300 Samsung.com
4. A space-saving screen
A big monitor can hog your desk real estate, especially if, like me, your workspace is so messy it would make Marie Kondo blush. There’s nothing particularly fancy about the Space Monitor, other than the stand which fastens to the edge of your table. It bends right down to the surface it’s attached to, freeing up space and helping you pretend you’re using a giant monitor aboard the Starship Enterprise.
Samsung Space Monitor, from £449 Samsung.com
5. Force Feedback Headphones
These headphones from gaming PC specialists Razer translates sound into, well, vibrations – the kind you feel, rather than hear. It sounds barmy because it is, but in a good way. Like a force feedback controller, the Nari headset hits your ears and face with pulses of vibrations, creating a more 4D experience. The tech is part of a growing field called haptics that has gained a lot of investment and attention as companies seek to create more immersive games and virtual reality experiences. And for the most part, it works.
Razer Nari Ultimate, £199.99 Razer.com
‹– 6. Weighted blankets
In some small-scale trials, weighted blankets have helped people struggling with anxiety disorders get to sleep. The idea is that applying light pressure, via a blanket that weighs 10 per cent of your body weight, can curb restlessness and feedback to your brain that it’s time to get some sleep. We’ve tried one out and, while a heavy blanket won’t appeal to some sleepers, it did seem effective on stressful nights when it felt hard to switch off. Simba’s Orbit has beads sewn into squares to distribute the weight evenly, so you don’t get trapped under a heavy corner. Instead, you’re sandwiched between breathable layers that will keep you warm.
Simba Orbit, £149 Simbasleep.com
8. An electric dirt bike crossover
This bike blurs the line between battery-assisted pedalling and full-on electric power. Designed for mountain trails, and not the roads, the bike weighs 60kg, which is heavy for a bicycle but light for an electric bike. The battery gives it a range of up to 62 miles, and can manage a max speed of 50mph. And, with 280Nm of torque, it will move like a lightning bolt from a standing start. Now we just have to find a mountain to blast up.
UBCO FRX1 trail bike, €8,999 (£7,527 approx), ubcobikes.com