Technology

Tech Spectator: Gadgets for small spaces

The Tech Spectator is a themed round-up of gadgets extracted from the web. We loathe to call it a curated list, but that’s kind of what it is.

There is nothing in this list that couldn’t fit in your small apartment or condo. That was the criteria, sort of, though we hope at least a couple of these gadgets will both fit and inspire your space.

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Foldable bike helmet from Overade

The bike helmet has long been the least attractive, most burdensome accessory. Remember: Helmet tethered to your backpack slamming against your leg every step of the way to work. This foldable, lightweight helmet, engineered by Patrick Jouffret of French design studio agency 360, offers a solution, potentially.

Price: $95.00

 

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Doc Sofa Bunk Bed by Bonbon

It’s innovative, yes, but so far only available to those willing to shell out $6,840.00, all for a couch that converts into a bunk bed. Though not fiscally practical, it’s a sure entry in the book of great design ideas. A couch is not a gadget, fyi, but this one and the other one further down the list come close enough, we feel.

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Sparse bike lights 

San Fransisco startup, Sparse, created these lights to offer the rider light, of course, but also the security of knowing even an accessory thief with tools would break a sweat and utter a few curses before walking away with your stuff (lights). They are designed to mount semi-permanently to the handlebar stem and below the seat.

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True, this gadget has little to do with space, but it is a product that doesn’t need to be stored anywhere but on your bike.

Check it out here

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EASTPAK back-pack couch 

Any description of what you are seeing below would only be stating the obvious: This couch, designed by a bag maker, has a lot of pockets, making it easy to store all those things you’ve always wanted access to from the comforts of a small couch. It kind of looks like a camping accessory; like a Coleman product available at Canadian Tire. It’s not.

Price: €2000

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iBam 2 bamboo speaker

iBam maker, Sustainable Living Lab, claims the speaker broadcasts clear, crisp sound. And, the hand-crafted device is compatible with more than just iPhones. Android users are starting to get cool stuff, too.

Price: $64

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Tuamotu cooking hub

This gas-powered cooktop, designed by Anderssen & Voll, has a marble base and cast iron details. The price is unknown but its advantage in a small space surely is.

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Grill in a bag

I’m not confident this should be used inside your small space, but this grill in a bag does gets small enough to stow pretty much anywhere. The bag X-Grill folds into looks pretty sharp, that is for sure. Is there room in there for a moleskine?

Price: $45.00

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Projecteo

It’s small, yes, perhaps the smallest on this list. Projecteo, a tiny Instagram projector, prints shots on a 35mm Kodak film slide. Then, the retro-looking contraption crimps the images into a circular film holder and broadcasts them on your wall.

From their Kickstarter campaign:

“Like all projectors, Projecteo works best in the dark. We’ve had great looking images up to two and a half feet wide in a pitch black room. Unlike screens, slide film doesn’t have pixels. This means you get beautiful looking images from a device the size of a matchbox.”

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Toban Dyck is a writer/editor/farmer. Follow him @tobandyck.

For more follow us @spectatortib.