power on technabob...

This new technology from Hitachi automatically detects when you’re actually watching your television, then shuts the display off whenever you’re not looking.

By using advanced facial recognition technology, the monitor can tell when your eyes are on the TV screen, and keeps it turned on only when you’re actually watching. Jump to the 45 second…

Designed by Joris Laarman, Artecnica’s Wire Pod manages to avoid the messy tangle of wires that we’ve come to expect from an extension cord while actually adding style to a space. This is one power cord that you won’t want to hide even if it’s not being used.

Wouldn’t it be neat to be able to have WiFi-like access to electricity? While wireless power is by no means a novel concept – Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla already explored the possibility of wireless power -  US-based company WiTricity claim that they have one of the most feasible methods of making the world a…

Sure, you can charge your USB gadgets with that boring old A/C adapter that the factory shipped with your electronics, but why would you want to do that if you could have one that looks like this?

These goofy looking Penguin chargers juice up any gadget that can plug into a USB connector.

You can…

If you look at the outlet strips behind my home theater setup, you’d understand why I think this idea is so cool.

The Outlet Wall is obviously a bit of creative Photoshop work, but I think the concept is fun. Imagine all your walls completely covered with outlets, so you’ll never need to look for…

And some people think junk is just, well, junk. But to the more visionary among us, that junk could be anything. Anything. Even a Tesla coil, if you’re innovative enough.

This DIY Tesla coil was built entirely from items found in the garbage. The project was conceived partially to prove just how many useful items…

Yes, whereas Neil Armstrong had to walk on the moon to get to say his famous quote, this robot only had to open doors and plug power cords and voila – Robot Armstrong. How unfair is that. Seriously though, robotics company Willow Garage are on to something here. No matter how fast they can think or…

I’ve been waiting a really long time to buy some sort of box for concealing all my gadget A/C adapters and cords, and I think I’ve finally found the one that I want sitting on my counter. This has to be the best looking electronic gadget charging station – ever.

The Grassy Lawn Charging Station…

Ever find yourself out in the middle of nowhere with not a single drop of power left in your digital gadgets? Then you might just have to grab the new Freeloader Pro, a compact device designed to charge up your portable electronics with the power of the sun.

The pocket-sized solar charger has a built…

These whimsical salt and pepper shakers get their inspiration from a couple of good old D-cell batteries.

The guys over at Antrepo Design Industry created these prototype battery-sized Salt & Pepper Cells out of stainless steel and glass. You can even tell how much salt and pepper you have remaining thanks to a see through…

This electrical dude has got to be my favorite power strip ever. All other power cords in the universe should immediately be destroyed and replaced with an army of Electric Men. Do your part and head over to Urban Outfitters start plugging them in everywhere.

Ever find yourself out and about when your cell phone runs out of juice? Did you know you can recharge your portable gadgets anywhere, even when there’s no available power source?

Just plug your gadgets into this handy hand crank charger and get to cranking. The SUPERBattery from Datexx lets you juice up your electronic…