Surge protectors have long been among the most important electronic accessories to own. They not only provide consumers with the ability to power multiple devices at the same time, but also ensure those devices aren’t damaged if there’s a power surge.
One common problem with them, however, is that it’s often hard to get devices of different sizes to reach the same power strip, at least without causing an unsightly mess of cables. Voltower is a patented and vertically-oriented, height-adjustable power strip that makes the task easier. It can be adjusted to stand from 25 to 36 inches tall and has the capacity to plug in up to 10 devices, with six 110-volt standard power outlets and four USB ports. The grounded and surge-protected strip also offers multiple mounting options.
Voltower ships in November at $129 in black, silver and black-on-silver SKUs. But early bird Kickstarter backers can get one for a pledge starting at $69. Its makers are looking to raise $188,888 by April 3. The device is clearly a handy one to have in a home or office. But it lacks the portability of typical power strips and surge protectors. It also lacks the original, eye-catching design of the similar TwistVolt.
Distracted driving remains a major problem that causes many needless accidents. Dashboard mounts for smartphones don’t really resolve the issue because they still require drivers to take their eyes off the road to look at their devices. Heads-up displays, meanwhile, tend to be costly, typically focus only on driving-specific information, and have raised their own set of safety concerns.