Created by London based Schulze & Webb, Availabot is a USB device that physically shows the availability of someone on your IM buddy list. When the assigned friend is available for chatting Availabot stands up; when said friend is no longer online Availabot falls down. Each unit is made to order and can be customized to your liking. I'd love to see a daisy chain-able version so that I could connect a bunch of these guys to people on my buddy list.
Ed Note: Yes, we know this went around the web last week but we only just caught it today and it's too good to pass up.