Tag Archives: oceania

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The weird and wacky gadgets that could be coming to your home

When almost 2000 companies turn up to exhibit at Europe's biggest trade show, you'd expect to see the very latest in innovation and technology, but you almost always end up seeing some fascinating and sometimes strange products too.

Here are four standout things that I never expected to see at IFA Berlin 2022.

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Trevor Long at IFA Berlin 2022

Shoe care

There's a vast array of laundry appliances on the market, from the many types of washers to the choices in clothes drying technology.

In recent years I've been converted to the electric wardrobe idea from Samsung and LG, Samsung call it the AirDresser, LG the Styler. These appliances can steam sanitise your clothes and dry them too. Made for the wardrobe but just as home in the laundry, they are expensive but very cool.

LG has announced the LG Styler ShoeCare, which is a small device that can fit a few pairs of shoes to clean and sanitise them, removing odours and prolonging their life. Most importantly, it removes that foot odour from the day's work or run.

Now this isn't for everyone, but there's a particular niche here for the shoe lover and collector, because not only can LG help take care of your shoes, it can also display them with the LG Styler ShoeCase. This case has a rotating base for the shoes to spin on display as well as lights inside. They can be stacked four high for all your shoes, too.

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A shoe care gadget at IFA Berlin

Samsung would say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, with their ShoeDresser product already available in some parts of the world.

No matter what the case actually is, this is another new appliance for your home.

Personal purifier

I'll be completely honest, I don't see this one taking off. But I don't suffer from allergies so perhaps the purpose of the Respiray is lost on me.

This personal purifier sits around your neck, purifying and filtering air that then blows up in front of your face, creating breathable air for the wearer.

Designed for indoor use, it's probably not going to help those suffering from pollen allergies.

Pet dryer

Have the pets just had a bath? Or been out in the rain? No need to towel them off, just escort them into the Petmiglia – this "bubble" circulates warm air to dry your furry friend off.

If you're worried about them in there, you can change the cover to have holes for your hands so you can pat your pet while they dry.

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A pet drying machine at IFA Berlin.

A strange concept, but one that has sold in the thousands in Korea and now hopes to find a market on the world stage.

I'm not sure it will take off with its $2000 price tag.

And I tried 3D-printed steak

Look, I'm the pickiest eater on the planet, and I don't try new things – at all. But when "3D Printed Steak" was on the side of a food truck, it was my job to check it out.

The "meat" is 3D-printed on what I was told is a "giant machine" in Israel, not a little 3D printer in the food truck.

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3D-printed steak

Sitting "raw" it looks convincing, then they make it sizzle on a hot plate, giving it a crisp, dark colour.

Sliced up, placed on mashed potato and lathered in a teriyaki sauce it wasn't too bad to look at.

The texture was steak-like, as was the taste. But there was something in my head that just said "no, no, no". And I couldn't fathom any more.

But, it's possible: steak can be 3D printed.

Trevor Long travelled to IFA Berlin with assistance from Samsung Australia.

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Mobile phones have no place in the classroom. Simple, right?

Opinion: There are some ideas that you think, why hasn't this happened earlier? It makes so much sense. Why isn't it happening now?

Allowing Aged Care and Disability Pensioners to work more hours without being penalised in the middle of a jobs crisis is one.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that change after the Jobs and Skills summit in Canberra.

If either party had introduced that plan during the federal election it would have guaranteed them more support. It's a guaranteed vote winner. It makes so much sense.

It's the same with banning mobile phones in schools.

NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns is taking this idea to next year's state election, and he'll have teachers and parents – anyone with kids in their lives – cheering him on.

It makes so much sense, so why isn't the NSW Government doing it already?

Mobile phones have no place in the classroom. There is plenty of other technology that students can use for their learning.

'Phones are constantly pinging and vibrating and alerting you to something new. Most ADULTS can't keep them out of their hands – I'm as guilty of that as anyone. So how can we expect kids to not be distracted by phones when they're meant to be learning at school?'

Most high schools have a bring your own device policy for laptops, and help for students who can't afford them, so the excuse that kids need their phones for their learning doesn't cut it.

And phones have no place in the playground either. If you've been past any school at lunchtime or recess where phones are allowed, the kids aren't kicking the ball around or chatting. They're on their phones. Guaranteed.

Phones are already banned in all NSW Primary schools, and parents have been calling on the NSW Government to do the same in all High Schools. So why haven't they?

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell argues the current policy of letting secondary schools set their own rules works. She says she trusts individual High School principals to get the balance right, with many having some sort of restriction on phones already.

But if that's the case, why not make it a blanket ban to take away any doubt?

And this argument that phones are part of kids' lives and they should learn to use them responsibly is all well and good, but phones are DESIGNED to get you to use them, and keep using them for hours and hours on end.

Phones are constantly pinging and vibrating and alerting you to something new. Most ADULTS can't keep them out of their hands – I'm as guilty of that as anyone. So how can we expect kids to not be distracted by phones when they're meant to be learning at school?

Labor leader Minns is on a winner with this idea, and it's something the NSW government should bring in as a matter of urgency.

2GB Afternoons with Deborah Knight is on from midday to 3pm from Monday to Friday. You can subscribe to the podcast here.

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Children rescued from ongoing child sexual abuse in WA

Three Australian children have been rescued from allegedly ongoing child sexual abuse following a police operation on child offences.

Officers from Western Australian and Australian Federal Police (AFP) executed more than 60 search warrants in metropolitan and regional locations of WA over the last week.

There were 45 people charged with 149 offences, while police said more than 35,000 images and videos of child exploitation material were seized.

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"It has to be remembered that child exploitation material is not pornography, it is direct evidence of children being abused," WA Police Sex Crime Division Detective Superintendent Gordon Fairman said.

Fairman said identifying, locating and rescuing children involved was the highest priority for WA Police.

"People who manufacture, distribute or possess child exploitation material may believe they are anonymous, hiding behind a computer," he said.

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"Let me tell you that they are not. As this operation shows, we can identify them, we can locate them and we can prosecute them."

This arrests come as National Child Protection Week begins across Australia, with the campaign highlighting the right of children to grow up safely.

The number of reports of child exploitation across Australia has doubled from the previous year.

More than 33,000 reports of child exploitation were received in 2021, police said.

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"These figures show the scale of the problem and how we need everyone in the community, parents, teachers, carers, to be alert," AFP Detective Superintendent Graeme Marshall said.

"Let this serve as a warning to anyone who produces or shares child abuse material – you will be caught."