Technology
The Environ Personal Retreat
The Environ Personal Retreat, sold by the Environ Corporation in the early 1980s, was designed to be a stress-free, self-improvement chamber. It offered programs such as "Relax and Affirm," "You and Food: New Scenarios," and "Self-Motivation for Winners." It came with a hefty price tag, $9000, but it was marketed at businesses, with the idea that they could de-stress and motivate their employees. Details from the LA Times - Nov 17, 1982:Seated inside this exotic lounger, the user chooses one of 36 taped 20-minute human-potential programs, and the machine goes into action.
Ionized, filtered air is piped in, along with a pleasing natural scent. And while the taped verbal and music program plays, colored lights change in time with the text. If the user is listening to a business talk on self-motivation, for example, the capsule is bathed in stimulating orange and red lights. On the other hand, if the program deals with relaxation or stress reduction, the lighting is in soothing hues of green and blue.
White Plains Journal News - Jan 23, 1983
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 22, 2020 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Technology, 1980s
Making Mercury Thermometers
The COVID pandemic has certainly made thermometers part of everyday discourse. Once upon a time, the mercury-filled instrument was the only home-friendly device available. I was not even sure you could buy one these days, but Amazon sells several "liquid-filled" devices. Here is some info from the vendor at the Amazon link.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 15, 2020 -
Comments (9)
Category: Body, Diseases, Health, Technology, Twentieth Century
Fresh Air Vending Machine
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 14, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Technology, 1960s
Mystery Gadget 84
What does this machine do? Hint: it looks enormously overdesigned for its simple function.
The answer is here.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 18, 2020 -
Comments (4)
Category: Technology, 1930s
Baked by Electricity
The electricity adds that extra flavor!
Munsey's Magazine - vol 29, 1903
Posted By: Alex - Wed May 13, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Food, Technology, Advertising, 1900s
Photocopy Cha Cha
All of the film's images were created solely by using the photographic capabilities of a photocopying machine to generate sequential pictures of hands, faces, and other body parts. Directed, produced and edited by Chel White.
Posted By: Paul - Sat May 09, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Technology, Surrealism, Stop-motion Animation
Shower Curtain for Digital Devices
Get yours at the link below!
Posted By: Paul - Fri May 01, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Domestic, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Hygiene, Technology
An Artificial Sun
Read the whole piece here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 30, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Armageddon and Apocalypses, Death, Destruction, Disasters, Technology, Crackpots, 1920s
The Trouble Shooter
Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 28, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Technology, AI, Robots and Other Automatons, Outsider Art, Surrealism, Cartoons, 1950s
Mystery Gadget 83
What's it for? The answer is here.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 25, 2020 -
Comments (4)
Category: Technology
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |