Categories
Food and Beverage

Ican warms office grinch’s heart by keeping coffee warm or soda cold

While the product’s video doesn’t seem to have much of a point to it as it plays the Grinch song, the point of ican itself seems to be that it can function as a personal drink warmer or cooler. The hot coffee poured into one’s mug at the office can stay hot during that excruciatingly boring board meeting; or that cold can of soda can stay cool while crunching headache-inducing numbers.

The personal drink heating and cooling unit plugs into a standard outlet, and there are plans in the works for it to be able to plug into a car cigarette lighter and run off of the car battery for all of those road warriors out there.

Ican seems to be an interesting idea worth checking into further. Backers who like having their drinks delivered on demand might like to check out the Rover remote control cooler.This campaign seeks to raise $40,000 in funding. For $125, backers get one product with an expected delivery in July of this year.

Categories
Accents Tech Accessories

Portable Lap Desk offers space-challenged offices a small landing pad

It seems that the workplace is constantly requiring more mobility and interconnectedness. And when one is working on the road, or just works in an office space with limited seating, a portable desk can be great item to have around. Portable Lap Desk was invented with the space-challenged office in mind.

The bamboo plank balances on two metal brackets, which are attached to the wall. While the piece of wood is portable, the rest isn’t. The desk can be set up either at a standing height or sitting height.

It seems that a trip to a home supplies store or hardware store would offer the same materials and “freedom” that this product boasts. That being said, the Alden Lap Desk might prove to be even more convenient and be a better product. Interested backers might also like to check out ZestDesk, The BU Desk, and Lappito. This campaign seeks to raise £3,000 (~$4,600 USD) on Kickstarter. For £60 (~$91 USD), backers get one product with an expected delivery of June 2015.

Categories
Relaxation

Foot Hammock invites your weary feet and legs to hang out under the desk

Long days and late nights in front of the computer, whether work-related or game-related, can make for stiff legs and uncomfortable feet. And if it seems like the space under the desk is colder than the rest of the room during the winter months, that’s because it is.

That’s why Foot Hammock was created. The suspended foot rest hangs under a desk via straps on either side that get strung through a plastic holding device. The holder sticks to the underside of the desk so that no tools are required for installation. The straps appear to adjust easily so that it can be set to one’s preferred height. Foot Hammock comes in mesh, fleece and a heated version.

It would be especially interesting if that heated version had a built-in foot massager. As well as this campaign seems to be doing, maybe that will be considered for the future. As the warmer months approach, backers might be interested in Adventurers Hammock and Bungalow Beach Chair. In the meantime, this campaign seeks to raise $15,000 by February 8, 2015. For $20, backers get the mesh version with an expected delivery of July 2015.

Categories
Furniture

Stance Desk rises to challenge of the war on sitting

The war on sitting in is full swing as the new year has begun. Stance Desk is here to add some additional artillery to the armory. This particular standing desk works with a toggle and weight system. Release the toggle to adjust the desk up and down, and the weight on the back of the desk balances with the weight on the front of the desk. The idea is that when those tedious tasks that come with every desk job begin to make one’s eyelids feel heavy, there is the option to stand up rather than remain seated and risk falling asleep in front of the computer.

While Stance appears to be a quality product, it doesn’t really seem any better than other standing desks trying to make their way into the marketplace. Interested backers might also want to check out the BU Desk, and ReadyDesk, not to be confused with the RediDesk campaigns. Those who think laterally may also be interested in Wrap. This campaign seeks to raise £6,500 (~$10,000) on Kickstarter. For £200 (~$300), backers get one Stance Desk with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Furniture

Back to the Backers: Mükava ergonomic table

Backerjack covered the ergonomic table, Mükava, back in September. Although it was unsuccessful in reaching its goal on Kickstarter, the brains behind Mükava, Tom Keenan, decided to try another tactic. He set up a campaign on Indiegogo with a low goal, 1% of his original $50,000 campaign. Asking backers for only $500, Keenan found success on Indiegogo. Now, he’s moved back to Kickstarter with the same small goal.

Mükava is an ergonomic table aimed at making reading books, tablets, phones, magazines or whatever else easier. The table has an adjustable angle and height, making it easier to read in bed or wherever else. Devices stick to the surface made of a special material and it comes equipped with book holders for this old-fashioned medium. In addition, Mükava has USB ports for charging, an LED light and even Document Pebbles to attach documents.

Mükava is versatile to be sure, but looks a little bit like it belongs in a hospital. Still, its many uses span both the home and office. Keenan hasn’t changed the table at all since the original campaign. Backers can have their very own for a $225 donation for estimated delivery in April 2015. It’s clear that backers like this product because they’re still ordering it and if Keenan can keep those goals low, he’s certain to have success for Mükava. Don’t give up, Keenan!

Categories
Furniture

ReadyDesk stands up for large, two-level work surfaces

If it’s actually true that sitting is the new smoking, and that even an hour of exercise can’t burn off an entire day of sitting, one might consider cutting back on the chocolate and eating more fruits and veggies instead. But that hobby horse aside, ReadyDesk was designed as a part of the war on sitting that may have actually gotten its start in Corporate America right about the time the technological revolution began in the 20th century. Funny how no one is willing to study if it’s the computers that are the problem rather than remaining seated at them all day.

Anyway, for those who believe that standing will mean that they will get out of cutting back on all those candy bars at work, this desk is touted as being able to be ergonomically correct no matter what a person’s body build is because it is very adjustable. And since it’s made from recyclable Baltic birch, even those who are environmentally sensitive can feel good about standing at this particular desk. This campaign seeks to raise $18,900 by December 5, 2014. Backers get one desk for $189 with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Furniture

Wobbly Baron chair keeps moving around to keep you on your toes

Is it a chair or a toy? The wobbly effect is reminiscent of the children’s toy Weebles, but this is designed with adults in mind. Since working at a computer can get pretty boring, Baron can add some fun to your workday in the form of a unique chair. The gray cushion on top gives a bit of posterior comfort to the white, translucent plastic body. The rounded base is filled with several liters of concrete.

While this makes for a great wobble effect, shipping this baby is going to cost some bucks. Also, it may not be the best type of chair for those who have back issues since it doesn’t offer back support, or for those with osteoporosis issues since it will take some time to get used to sitting on it without tumbling over. But it does seem like a fun piece of furniture to own for the young and young at heart. This campaign seeks to raise $30,000 by December 9, 2014. For $300, backers get one chair with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Lifestyle

Cubicle wallpaper covers beige partitions, can’t conceal life of quiet desperation

It’s a sad thought that anyone should lead a life of quiet desperation and go to the grave with their dream still in them. Perhaps Change Your Outlook cubicle wallpaper can at least help those who don’t like what they see to imagine that they have achieved “corner office status.” The cubical art fixtures are touted as being able to spruce up any drab office environment with happy scenes from Wall Street, the Oval Office, the golf course, exotic overseas destinations, or even the option to make it more personal with home office scenes or favorite family photos.

While a pleasant scene to gaze at during those high stress moments over the course of one’s day can help a person to remain calm, savvy workers are secretly plotting their great escape into the wild blue yonder of dream realization and achievement. This campaign seeks to raise $24,2500 by November 29, 2014. Early bird backers get one medium-sized cubicle fixture for $20, with an expected delivery of February 2015.

Categories
Tech Accessories

Flio blends wood, magnets to raise your laptop’s screen

Traveling and working have become evermore intertwined in the 21st century. This means more instances in which laptops must be used in awkward positions. That’s why Flio was created. The wooden laptop stand is slim, trim and very transportable. It raises and angles the keyboard for easier typing, which, in turn, lifts the monitor to a more comfortable eye level. This helps to alleviate neck and back strain that can often come when in an improvised office or studio situation. There are small magnets that hold the pieces together during transport so that they are less likely to get lost. Laptops can come in various sizes from notebook to full sized keyboard. That being said, it’s not clear if this stand will fit all sizes of laptops out there, but it looks easy enough to assemble and disassemble, and it appears that it will fit nicely in even a standard laptop case. This campaign seeks to raise €19,000 (~$23,600) by December 7, 2014. Early bird backers get the base version for €20 (~$25), with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Organization Tech Accessories

Cablestop is a small cylindical weight to tame your cables

Desks are notorious for wires shooting out all over the place making a messy work environment. It’s hard to keep them all organized as we continue to add more devices to the mix. Cablestop is like a paperweight for your wires. It’s small and discreet, using little slots to slide the wires through. This product comes in several different colors. In addition, Cablestop doesn’t use any type of magnet or adhesive so it can be adjusted easily. To use, simply snake through one or two wires.

Each Cablestop only holds up to two wires, which is good from an organizational perspective, but not so great from a financial perspective. The typical backer with a cluttered desk will probably need at least two to tidy up. One will cost backers $21 AUD (~$18 USD) for delivery in April 2015 from Australia. This product is looking to raise $29,000 AUD (~$25,000 USD) on Kickstarter. Some backers may opt for a more do-it-yourself approach to the wire situation by using binder clips as wire holders. For the less creative, however, Cablestop is a nifty little solution to your clutter problems.