Book Chargers

Secret phone charger for the literary aficionado

The dummy book motif has appeared on accessories from handbags to desktop boxes, only partially satisfying true literary geeks because, after all, they’re only just replicating the covers. Book Chargers by Rich Neeley Designs, on the other hand, are made from actual vintage books outfitted with an impressively subtle power source for an iPhone or iPod. The USB-compatible hook-up tucks neatly behind the book’s binding, …

JMC Soundboard

Art object meets hi-fi home sound system encased in 350-year-old Swiss spruce

Designed by master guitar-builder Jeanmichel Capt with the exceptional creativity and skill he employs to sculpt musical instruments, the JMC Soundboard creates a beautifully encased sound system that blends seamlessly into most any environment. Built with time-honored techniques used in making JMC guitars, the speaker blurs the line between art object and home audio system. The Soundboard has been around for some time now, but …

Olly and Molly

Web-connected robots dispense custom scents and candy treats

When a creative brief tasked them to “make something connected to the Internet that doesn’t live on the screen,” Foundry, a small research team at Mint Digital, came up with Olly, a scent-based system rewarding social media activity or, as they describe it on their site, a “web-connected smelly robot.” Olly links up to web-based social applications and emits a fragrance—thankfully, one that you choose—when …