Mind-Blowing and Quirky Gadgets That Redefined the 21st Century at CES

The colossal electronic extravaganza known as CES 2025 commences tomorrow, and just like in 2024, I am confident it will not fail to deliver some exceptionally peculiar gadgets. As I eagerly await, it’s time to revisit the most notorious gadgets of the 21st century.

Throughout the past quarter-century, I’ve encountered gadgets so astonishing that they often appear to exist solely because reporters like me will cover them. It’s that moment to highlight the most astonishing contraptions from the last 25 years: the oddest and the most abysmal. Vacuum shoes, toilet paper robots, MP3 weapon holsters, now is your moment to shine!

The most fascinating aspect of this subsequent rogues’ gallery is that several of these items — the Pepe pet dryer, the HapiFork, and the Hushme, to name a few — are still available for purchase today. Indeed: You destroyed it, you maniacs.

Read more: The Oddest Products of CES 2024

Dyson Zone Air-Purifying Headphones

Not officially a CES item, as this was unveiled back in 2022, but Dyson showcased the Zone headphones in Las Vegas during CES 2023. Although the Zone appears as if it should function as a COVID mask, regrettably, it does not serve that purpose. According to Dyson’s website, development on the Zone started as far back as 2016 as a personal air filtering device — primarily for pollution — and was never intended to safeguard against illness. Moreover, one reviewer has claimed the gadget’s force-driven fans could even aid in increasing your risk of contracting coronavirus. CNET’s Katie Collins, who tested the headphones at Dyson’s headquarters in the UK, described them as “too brilliant and bizarre to overlook.”

Read more: Dyson Zone Air Filtering Headphones Available in January for $949

Charmin Rollbot

Computer peripheral maker Razer typically reigns supreme in devising “look at me” items specifically for CES, but toilet tissue brand Charmin gained infamy for its contribution in 2020. Indeed, in the year marked by the widespread panic purchasing of toilet paper, a robot emerged to provide even more! Coincidence? Yes… likely. The Rollbot was never intended as a genuine product, yet we couldn’t help but be captivated/revulsed by it.

Read more: These Charmin Robots Leave Us Questioning: Is Pooping the Next Technological Frontier?

Kolibree Smart Toothbrush

Do you recall when washing our hands for 20 seconds involved singing to ourselves? The same principle applies to brushing your teeth, but why exert your own intelligence and effort like a fool? Numerous smart toothbrushes have surfaced over the years, but today I’m spotlighting the Kolibree. Everything was just acceptable until “the world’s first connected electric toothbrush” arrived. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…

Read more: Kolibree’s Connected Toothbrush Aims for Enhanced Dental Hygiene

Taser MP3 Holster

During the 2000s, the iPod emerged as a significant cultural phenomenon, prompting every company to rush in and create their own MP3 player. This culminated in one of the most absurd CES inventions in recent history: the Taser MP3 holster. Can you imagine the effort of not merely charging your holster but also linking it via USB to your computer to load it with 1GB of music?

Read more: What Every Taser Requires: A Music-Playing Holster

Pepe Pet Dryer

Looking for a novel way to ensure your small dog or cat despises you forever? Confine them in a cube prison for 25 minutes (!) and expose them to blasts of hot air. This torture device/dryer combo would have cost you $660, or you could simply drape a towel over your wet pooch like a sensible person.

Read more: At CES 2019, a $660 Sauna Will Deliver Your Dog the Ultimate Blow Dry

HapiFork

Across the ages, numerous devices have been invented to regulate typical human conduct, yet this one truly takes the (pan)cake. The HapiFork is yet another vibrating tool that signals you to savor your meals more gradually (over 20 minutes), with the concept being that you are less inclined to overindulge. Personally, I devour my own meals as if I’m in prison, so bring it on, HapiFork. I’ll eat with my bare hands if that’s necessary! You’re not the commander of me!

Discover more: Bolting Your Food? Slow Down With HapiFork

Belty

The initial Belty was a prototype intelligent belt outfitted with a motor that readjusted according to whether you had just eaten or were seated. Practically unfeasible, yet somewhat impressive? Although a newer version exists, also named Belty, this one is even stranger—it lacks automatic resizing, but it boasts a power bank charger embedded in the buckle. Great, not only do I not want a potentially hazardous object near my private parts, I definitely don’t want a bunch of devices linked there too.

Discover more: Meet Belty, the Absurd yet Surprisingly Popular Scene-Stealer of CES Unveiled

Xybernaut Poma

First unveiled at CES 1998, the Hitachi Xybernaut wearable computer was a dreadful concept long before Google Glass was even a thought in Babak Parviz’s vision. The Windows CE-driven Xybernaut Poma presented a — hold on — 128MHz RISC processor and 32MB of RAM. All this for the bargain price of $1,499 — and it strapped to your arm, face, and belt! 

Discover more: Hitachi Designing Wearable PCs

Denso Vacuum Shoes

Shoes. You don them. They wear down, and you purchase more. But that’s not thrilling now, is it? They need elements inside them — phones, rockets, rollers, and… vacuums? There are countless puns I could create just about the nomenclature of the Denso Vacuum Shoes, but the simple fact that they even existed was the biggest punchline of them all.

Discover more: Vacuum Cleaner Shoes Appear at CES Because Why Not

Hushme

The Hushme is essentially a “dumb” device — it’s constructed to render its user silent to other individuals in the nearby area. It was promoted as being advantageous in office environments, but… if a colleague gifted me one of these, they’d better be wearing vacuum shoes to tidy up all the joyfully crushed bits.

Discover more: Hushme May Be the Most Strange, Yet Most Functional Wireless Headphones Ever Invented