While USB connections and devices are primarily dedicated to essential operations, there are now a whole ream of fun and playful USB devices available.
This list is a guide to some of the more interesting and fun USB additions we’ve seen at USB Core:
USB Core News List of Top 10 Cool USB Gadgets
1. USB Plasma Ball
Plasma balls have great fun and novelty value at any time. Imagine how cool it would be to have one of these by your work station?
Spend time away from deadlines instead testing how different office stationary affects the plasma ball, and invite work colleagues to do the same.
Okay, it has to top the list - I want one. :)
2. USB Greenhouse
Okay, so a greenhouse is maybe not the fastest distraction, but it can only be fascinating to have a little USB-powered greenhouse sat beside your PC.
Of course, if you buy someone at work one as a gift, listen with amusement as they shout out “I’ve grown a seed” across the cubicles.
Alternatively, encourage your boss to buy everyone one to offset carbon targets, be environmentally friendly, and then drop a few hemp seeds in them all for extra fun.
3. USB Hamster Wheel
Hamsters running their little hearts out in their wheel are fun to watch at the best of times, so how can anyone resist this?
Of course, because the speed of the hamster wheel is based on your typing speed, this could lead to some very sore hands - but some great office competitions. :)
Fast and fun and very distracting…
4. USB Disco Ball
Easily the grooviest USB toy on the list - and probably one of the most relaxing ways to finish your day.
Simply turn off your monitor and let this thing flash its heart out.
Possibly good for stress, and for generating conversations about the 70’s: wacka-wocka TV police car chases, Star Wars, drugs, and maybe even The Osmonds (if you’re unlucky).
5. USB Coffee Warmer
Okay, so we had to add something practical - and what can be more frustrating than hitting a heavy workload on your desk, only to find your cuppa has gone cold?
Okay, so there are a lot more things which can be more frustrating - but a USB coffee warmer can only help making life easier for you, which is what really matters.
6. USB Harddrive
One more thing frustrating than cooling coffee is data loss. It’s not really that funny, especially when it’s your own data.
If any item on this list could be called essential it’s an external USB hard drive. I have one as part of my own backup solution and it’s simple and easy to use. And it gets used a lot. Just in case.
A little serious gadget to accompany the more fun ones.
7. USB Missile Launcher
Back to coolness - and whatever your stress, few things beat getting rid of it that hitting things.
Okay, so it’s no Newtons Cradle, but a USB missile launcher you can aim at annoying work-colleagues, family members, and malfunctioning printers can only be a good way to kill some stress.
Stick that on my Christmas list please…
8. USB Phone
Okay, so we’re back to practical - but there are few ways as easy to idle time with than a phone - especially if you can call people across the other side of the world for free using VoIP.
Skype, H.323 or SIP compliant, this gives you no excuse to keep working, when instead you could be “social networking” with “potential customers” (and that babe with the hot profile page you just found on FaceBook).
9. USB Drum Kit
Ba-dah-dum. Ba-dah-bing. Rat-a-tat-a-tat. Ting-tin-tin-ting. Boop bulee op ba bop bop ba doom.
Impress people in the regional library with your USB drum kit while connecting.
Alternatively, use drum rolls and fillers after every profound statement your work colleagues make, such as “My coffee has gone cold”, “I need to do my backups” and “Did you put my stapler in jelly?”.
10. USB Chameleon
Easily the most useless gadget on this list. Which is why it deserves pride of place as the final item.
What does a USB chameleon do? It simply rolls it’s eyes and flicks its tongue periodically. And whirs while it does it.
Guaranteed to be a suitably useless waste of time for those needing an excuse to waste time and avoid deadline, it may also be useful for annoying nearby colleagues by distracting them, too.
source
(via Web Research - December 10, 2008) The leading Japanese Manufacturer Ratoc Systems announced the release of the first Certified Wireless USB Starter Kit for the Japanese market for mid-December 2008. The system is designed for installation in the CardBus PC card slot and implements WUSB functionality to any notebook or laptop with such a slot. This is a great way to 
Based in Osaka, Japan, Ratoc Systems Inc. develops and sells a wide range of innovative peripherals for PCs. The company was founded in 1983 and employs 70 employees. The company has 25 years experience of PC Card (PCMCIA products) business, developing hardware and software, manufacturing, sales to both retail and OEM market in Japan. They design original ASIC for PC Card, hardware and develop device driver, utility and application software for Windows and MacOS market. The company is famous in Japan as a leading PC Card company. Ratoc Systems is a member company of PCMCIA Trade Association, JEIDA, PCI-SIG, USB-IF, CFA and SSFDC Forum, and all products are compliant these standards. More information is available at www.ratocsystems.com