Dezeen's top 10 gadgets of 2014
Dezeen's design editor Dan Howarth picks 10 of his favourite gadgets from this year, including a fish that steers its own tank and a vaginal activity monitor.
This year's must-have gadget for vaginas was an activity tracker designed to help women monitor progress while strengthening their pelvic floor muscles.
When inserted and squeezed, the silicone grenade-shaped kGoal provides realtime data about frequency and intensity via an app and vibrates to give feedback about whether the exercise is being performed correctly. Find out more about kGoal »
Digital Calliper by Unfold, Kirschner3D and Penny Webb
Belgian studio Unfold, Dutch company Kirschner3D and British interaction designer Penny Webb have rethought traditional measuring tools for the digital age, adapting a calliper, a tape measure and a protractor so they can transfer physical measurements into computer files.
Adjusting the tools changes the digital files in real time on screen, allowing users to create 3D-printed add-ons that fit perfectly around the items they're designed for. Find out more about Digital Calliper »
After years of rumours and speculation, the eagerly anticipated Apple Watch was finally unveiled in September with features including a purely digital square face, interchangeable straps and a sapphire screen.
Reactions from the design community were varied. Karim Rashid said that Apple had "taken the minimal aesthetic too far", while Yves Behar suggested that it was "obvious" that Marc Newson was involved – following news that the Australian designer had joined the tech company just days before the launch.
The release of activity-tracking products for dogs by Fitbit designer Gadi Amit proved wearable tech wasn't just for humans.
Worn around the collar, the brushed stainless-steel devices by Amit's San Francisco agency New Deal Design allow owners to track if their dog is getting enough exercise and a healthy diet. Find out more about Whistle »
To entertain a less high-maintenance pet, Studio Diip added a robotic vehicle to the base of a fish tank so its inhabitant could "drive" its home to new locations.
Using a webcam positioned above the water, the fish's movements are tracked by sensors that direct the four-wheeled tank in the direction that the occupant swims. Find out more about Fish on Wheels »
Agency of Design created a new type of hospital door handle to tackle the spread of germs around medical facilities.
To encourage staff to keep their hands clean, the handle incorporates a sanitiser dispenser and a sensor that monitors how often it is used. Find out more about PullClean »
Graduate designer Jake Rich's redesign of the common household microwave features wheels, a domed removable lid and a light that changes intensity with the power.
Replacing the conventional metal box, Rich's dinner plate-sized translucent pod has just two controls and can be wheeled around the kitchen countertop. Find out more about Mediumwave »
This transparent acrylic glass headband passes music vibrations across its surface to the ears.
Student designer Renaud Defrancesco's unconventional headphones play tracks via Bluetooth and create sound using a pulsing electromagnet hidden in the opaque top. Find out more about Vibso »
The Seaboard by ROLI replaces traditional piano keys with squishy elements that allow musicians to manipulate the pitch, volume and timbre of individual notes as they play.
Made from moulded silicone, the innovative musical instrument topped the product category at the Designs of the Year awards. Find out more about Seaboard »
Finally, Lix is a anodised aluminium device allows user to "doodle in the air" and create 3D structures.
The pen-shaped implement dispenses a liquid plastic "ink" that cools and solidifies rapidly to give rigidity to a line as it is drawn in any direction. Find out more about Lix »