INNOVATIONSDISCOVERIES
�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 didseem
effectiveon 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.
SimbaOrbit, £149
Simbasleep.com
�8.
Anelectric 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.
UBCOFRX1 trail bike, €8,999 (£7,527 approx),
ubcobikes.com
- 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
Ra zer.com
