CES 2009: Weirdest and wildest gadgets

CES is decidedly smaller and tamer this year than I've ever seen it, but that doesn't mean some oddball technology hasn't crept its way out of the woodwork and onto the show floor. Some of these technologies are nifty but niche, some are downright bizarre. All of them make up the reason why I love heading to CES every year.

Without further ado, the strangest stuff I've seen so far!

Icephone - Clamshell phone? Boring. The curiously-named Icephone has three panes that fold out like one of those room dividers. The 3G handset includes all the usual bells and whistles but its big selling point is -- wait for it -- first-aid software pre-installed on the handset. The UK-based company is seeking a domestic carrier lest it be forced to sell the phone for $800 to $1000 unlocked. Plus it's called the Icephone, people!

Dakim BrainFitness - A standalone touchscreen device designed for senior citizens to help keep their minds sharp with a series of quizzes and puzzles they're supposed to complete every day. (Think Brain Age but the size of a small television.) Too bad about the price -- $2,499 -- but at least grandpa will be alert enough to tell you where your inheritance went.

Digital Cigarettes - 2009 seems to be the year of the electronic smoke, with not one, not two, but three different companies demonstrating smokeless gadgets that use batteries and nicotine cartridges to get you your fix, sans the flame. I'm not a smoker, but these things still intrigue me. (See pics at the link at the bottom of the page.)

Ozaki iMini Pets Animatronic Obama - Who wants a Muppet Barack Obama to sing and dance along with their favorite tunes? Hands higher, please! Higher!

CTA's Weapons for Wii - Sure, you can get Nintendo's little toy gun gizmo for Wii shooting games... or you can get the Sure Shot Rifle, which emulates everything from a full rifle, complete with stock, to a sawed-off shotgun. Take that, Mario.

PerCushion Bluetooth Pillow - Because who wants to have to plug their pillow in?

Therapeutic Paro Robot - This fuzzy robot seal is designed for psychological therapy in hospitals and nursing homes, so I'm not going to make fun of it... but how did they decide on a seal?

iRobi - What does iRobi do? What does iRobi not do? She provides news and recipes. Plays karaoke. Teaches your children with Montessori techniques. And vacuums the floor. Becoming self-aware any day now.

Robotic Lawn Mowers - No, these aren't new to the market, but I thought it was uncommonly mean of the CEA to put their two booths within 10 feet of one another.

Hunter Concert Breeze Fan & Sound System - Ceiling fan company Hunter put a speaker inside a ceiling fan. I guess you could use it for music, but it'd probably be way more fun to play creepy whispering voices through it to drive your spouse insane, just like in Gaslight.

More pictures of the oddities here...