CBSE Textbook: Plugging Into Future | Main Course (Communicative English) Book Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
97
 
 
 
B. Plugging into future 
B1.  In this section you will read about the old gizmos, which your father or grand- 
father would have used. Try to compare these gizmos with the ones you have 
been using. Work in pairs and discuss the change.
 Sunday Times of India, New Delhi, January 02-2011
 (Article by B. Pradeep Nair)
 Yesterday's gizmo is today's junk
 More things have changed in the last few decades than in any other period of time. 
Many common-place utility gadgets have been dying off faster than one would 
have imagined. In fact, in the past few decades, a number of technologies have 
become so obsolete that it is difficult to even imagine we were, once upon a time, so 
contended with them.
          Here are five of those which have vanished without a trace:
 Floppy disks: Computer CPUs had a slot where this could be inserted. Text and 
pictures could be copied on it and carried. It was notorious for its susceptibility to 
get infected by viruses that got passed on to PCs when it was inserted. The most 
common 3-1/2 disk had a storage capacity of 1.44MB. Now, these have been 
replaced by CDs DVDs and pen-drives that have higher capacity to carry. Of 
course, with cloud computing catching on at a fast pace, even these face 
extinction.
 Pager: The user had a number to which someone could send a short message via 
the paging company. It became very popular in the 1990s because it was the first 
portable communication device for the ordinary consumer. Typically the message 
sent on pagers were like. "call me on (some landline number )" or "reached home" 
etc. Pagers soon lost out to mobile phones once they became affordable.
 Valve radio: One 'got stations' by turning the tuning knobs. The concept of fine 
tuning never existed. Like a refrigerator, a radio had its place in a house; it was too 
Page 2


UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
97
 
 
 
B. Plugging into future 
B1.  In this section you will read about the old gizmos, which your father or grand- 
father would have used. Try to compare these gizmos with the ones you have 
been using. Work in pairs and discuss the change.
 Sunday Times of India, New Delhi, January 02-2011
 (Article by B. Pradeep Nair)
 Yesterday's gizmo is today's junk
 More things have changed in the last few decades than in any other period of time. 
Many common-place utility gadgets have been dying off faster than one would 
have imagined. In fact, in the past few decades, a number of technologies have 
become so obsolete that it is difficult to even imagine we were, once upon a time, so 
contended with them.
          Here are five of those which have vanished without a trace:
 Floppy disks: Computer CPUs had a slot where this could be inserted. Text and 
pictures could be copied on it and carried. It was notorious for its susceptibility to 
get infected by viruses that got passed on to PCs when it was inserted. The most 
common 3-1/2 disk had a storage capacity of 1.44MB. Now, these have been 
replaced by CDs DVDs and pen-drives that have higher capacity to carry. Of 
course, with cloud computing catching on at a fast pace, even these face 
extinction.
 Pager: The user had a number to which someone could send a short message via 
the paging company. It became very popular in the 1990s because it was the first 
portable communication device for the ordinary consumer. Typically the message 
sent on pagers were like. "call me on (some landline number )" or "reached home" 
etc. Pagers soon lost out to mobile phones once they became affordable.
 Valve radio: One 'got stations' by turning the tuning knobs. The concept of fine 
tuning never existed. Like a refrigerator, a radio had its place in a house; it was too 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
98
big to be portable. Often the radio used to be switched on right in the morning and 
switched off only when it was realized that no one was paying any attention to it. 
The radio also functioned as a clock - people timed their schedules with the 
beginning or end of popular programmes.
 Gramophone plate: There was a stick-like lever that one kept over the disk so that 
the tiny needle at the end of that lever made contact with the invisible grooves on 
the disk. It then produced the favourite Mohd. Raffi and Kishore Kumar numbers. 
There were different disks depending upon the speed of revolution (RPM for 
revolution per minute). The plates had their amusing offerings as well. One often 
heard singers mysteriously repeating the same line of a song many times, until 
someone realized that the needle had got stuck on the same track. So much for 
getting lost in a tune!
 TV antennas: They were also status symbols so much so that it didn't matter if 
you had a cheap black and white TV or an expensive colour one. You had 
graduated into the next rung of the social ladder if you had one of those antennae 
sticking out of your roof.  It was important to get its position right.  And there were 
no sophisticated ways to do that: there was one guy on the rooftop, and another 
monitoring the reception in the living room; and through a sequence of 'yes-no', 
the final position was arrived at.
B.2  Work in groups of four and give a one minute presentation on the latest 
gadgets that you have been using or your parents are using at home.  Write 
any two advantages and disadvantages the new gadget has over the old one.
B. 3  Here is a list of innovative inventions.  Read them and match them with the 
visuals by writing the correct numbers in the blanks given by the side of the 
visuals.
1.  If you're looking to uncover a hidden treasure, then put your conventional 
metal detector to the side, and replace it with this pair of metal detecting 
sandals. Not exactly a trend setter, but a lot more practical than carrying a 
large pole around with you. The sandals are attached to a small black box, 
which can be strapped around one of your legs, concealed under your trouser 
leg.
 The right sandal has an inbuilt copper coil, which is powered by the battery 
pack, which straps around your leg. Once the sandals approach within 
Page 3


UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
97
 
 
 
B. Plugging into future 
B1.  In this section you will read about the old gizmos, which your father or grand- 
father would have used. Try to compare these gizmos with the ones you have 
been using. Work in pairs and discuss the change.
 Sunday Times of India, New Delhi, January 02-2011
 (Article by B. Pradeep Nair)
 Yesterday's gizmo is today's junk
 More things have changed in the last few decades than in any other period of time. 
Many common-place utility gadgets have been dying off faster than one would 
have imagined. In fact, in the past few decades, a number of technologies have 
become so obsolete that it is difficult to even imagine we were, once upon a time, so 
contended with them.
          Here are five of those which have vanished without a trace:
 Floppy disks: Computer CPUs had a slot where this could be inserted. Text and 
pictures could be copied on it and carried. It was notorious for its susceptibility to 
get infected by viruses that got passed on to PCs when it was inserted. The most 
common 3-1/2 disk had a storage capacity of 1.44MB. Now, these have been 
replaced by CDs DVDs and pen-drives that have higher capacity to carry. Of 
course, with cloud computing catching on at a fast pace, even these face 
extinction.
 Pager: The user had a number to which someone could send a short message via 
the paging company. It became very popular in the 1990s because it was the first 
portable communication device for the ordinary consumer. Typically the message 
sent on pagers were like. "call me on (some landline number )" or "reached home" 
etc. Pagers soon lost out to mobile phones once they became affordable.
 Valve radio: One 'got stations' by turning the tuning knobs. The concept of fine 
tuning never existed. Like a refrigerator, a radio had its place in a house; it was too 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
98
big to be portable. Often the radio used to be switched on right in the morning and 
switched off only when it was realized that no one was paying any attention to it. 
The radio also functioned as a clock - people timed their schedules with the 
beginning or end of popular programmes.
 Gramophone plate: There was a stick-like lever that one kept over the disk so that 
the tiny needle at the end of that lever made contact with the invisible grooves on 
the disk. It then produced the favourite Mohd. Raffi and Kishore Kumar numbers. 
There were different disks depending upon the speed of revolution (RPM for 
revolution per minute). The plates had their amusing offerings as well. One often 
heard singers mysteriously repeating the same line of a song many times, until 
someone realized that the needle had got stuck on the same track. So much for 
getting lost in a tune!
 TV antennas: They were also status symbols so much so that it didn't matter if 
you had a cheap black and white TV or an expensive colour one. You had 
graduated into the next rung of the social ladder if you had one of those antennae 
sticking out of your roof.  It was important to get its position right.  And there were 
no sophisticated ways to do that: there was one guy on the rooftop, and another 
monitoring the reception in the living room; and through a sequence of 'yes-no', 
the final position was arrived at.
B.2  Work in groups of four and give a one minute presentation on the latest 
gadgets that you have been using or your parents are using at home.  Write 
any two advantages and disadvantages the new gadget has over the old one.
B. 3  Here is a list of innovative inventions.  Read them and match them with the 
visuals by writing the correct numbers in the blanks given by the side of the 
visuals.
1.  If you're looking to uncover a hidden treasure, then put your conventional 
metal detector to the side, and replace it with this pair of metal detecting 
sandals. Not exactly a trend setter, but a lot more practical than carrying a 
large pole around with you. The sandals are attached to a small black box, 
which can be strapped around one of your legs, concealed under your trouser 
leg.
 The right sandal has an inbuilt copper coil, which is powered by the battery 
pack, which straps around your leg. Once the sandals approach within 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
2 inches of a metal object, you will be alerted in one of two possible ways. A light 
is flashed, and then either a vibration or a buzzing noise is emitted. The metal 
detecting sandals require a 9V battery, which does not come included, but 
which will supply 6 hours of detecting time. The sandals come in different 
sizes, to fit both men and women 
2.  Occasionally a product comes along that simply blow our minds. We get to see 
a lot of crazy and sometimes brilliant inventions, but Laser Cosmos is without 
a doubt the most superb one we've seen. There is no product out there that 
comes even close to the sheer excellence of this galactic wonder - sorry to 
sound quite so effusive, but really, it's staggering.
 Imagine lying in your room, and having the ceiling whipped away to reveal the 
vast outreaches of the cosmos whirling overhead, complete with misty blue 
nebulae (which you can turn on and off!) and the occasional shooting star. 
Fully adjustable and requiring no set up, this super powerful space projector 
scatters a random panoply of sparkling green stars that will fill any room from 
the tiniest bedroom to the largest warehouse with a crystal clear animated star 
display. What's so clever about this (apart from everything of course) is that it 
seems so three-dimensional, that the varying brightness of different stars 
makes some seem closer and others appear as if from distant galaxies.
 Created from powerful green laser and holographic technology, such bright 
and clear display has never been available before. It's utterly mesmerising, and 
had us transfixed for hours (literally). Whether you're zoning out to music, 
throwing a party or just chilling, this stunning cosmic light show is like 
nothing we've ever seen before. Truly one of the most amazing light shows you 
will see anywhere.
3.  Power naps are fantastic, and also proven to rejuvenate a person during the day. 
We all long for these power naps, but unfortunately there is never a bed around at 
the time, especially in the work place that leaves you nodding off with your nose 
pressed hard down against the desk. Did you ever dream of a portable bed 
which you could quickly assemble and then catch up on some much needed 
sleep? Well, the solution to such problems has finally arrived.
 A German study which was undertaken in 2004 concluded that a daily power 
nap can be beneficial in the workplace as it would improving efficiency as well 
as the morale. Designed by four students to demonstrate these findings, the 
99
Page 4


UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
97
 
 
 
B. Plugging into future 
B1.  In this section you will read about the old gizmos, which your father or grand- 
father would have used. Try to compare these gizmos with the ones you have 
been using. Work in pairs and discuss the change.
 Sunday Times of India, New Delhi, January 02-2011
 (Article by B. Pradeep Nair)
 Yesterday's gizmo is today's junk
 More things have changed in the last few decades than in any other period of time. 
Many common-place utility gadgets have been dying off faster than one would 
have imagined. In fact, in the past few decades, a number of technologies have 
become so obsolete that it is difficult to even imagine we were, once upon a time, so 
contended with them.
          Here are five of those which have vanished without a trace:
 Floppy disks: Computer CPUs had a slot where this could be inserted. Text and 
pictures could be copied on it and carried. It was notorious for its susceptibility to 
get infected by viruses that got passed on to PCs when it was inserted. The most 
common 3-1/2 disk had a storage capacity of 1.44MB. Now, these have been 
replaced by CDs DVDs and pen-drives that have higher capacity to carry. Of 
course, with cloud computing catching on at a fast pace, even these face 
extinction.
 Pager: The user had a number to which someone could send a short message via 
the paging company. It became very popular in the 1990s because it was the first 
portable communication device for the ordinary consumer. Typically the message 
sent on pagers were like. "call me on (some landline number )" or "reached home" 
etc. Pagers soon lost out to mobile phones once they became affordable.
 Valve radio: One 'got stations' by turning the tuning knobs. The concept of fine 
tuning never existed. Like a refrigerator, a radio had its place in a house; it was too 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
98
big to be portable. Often the radio used to be switched on right in the morning and 
switched off only when it was realized that no one was paying any attention to it. 
The radio also functioned as a clock - people timed their schedules with the 
beginning or end of popular programmes.
 Gramophone plate: There was a stick-like lever that one kept over the disk so that 
the tiny needle at the end of that lever made contact with the invisible grooves on 
the disk. It then produced the favourite Mohd. Raffi and Kishore Kumar numbers. 
There were different disks depending upon the speed of revolution (RPM for 
revolution per minute). The plates had their amusing offerings as well. One often 
heard singers mysteriously repeating the same line of a song many times, until 
someone realized that the needle had got stuck on the same track. So much for 
getting lost in a tune!
 TV antennas: They were also status symbols so much so that it didn't matter if 
you had a cheap black and white TV or an expensive colour one. You had 
graduated into the next rung of the social ladder if you had one of those antennae 
sticking out of your roof.  It was important to get its position right.  And there were 
no sophisticated ways to do that: there was one guy on the rooftop, and another 
monitoring the reception in the living room; and through a sequence of 'yes-no', 
the final position was arrived at.
B.2  Work in groups of four and give a one minute presentation on the latest 
gadgets that you have been using or your parents are using at home.  Write 
any two advantages and disadvantages the new gadget has over the old one.
B. 3  Here is a list of innovative inventions.  Read them and match them with the 
visuals by writing the correct numbers in the blanks given by the side of the 
visuals.
1.  If you're looking to uncover a hidden treasure, then put your conventional 
metal detector to the side, and replace it with this pair of metal detecting 
sandals. Not exactly a trend setter, but a lot more practical than carrying a 
large pole around with you. The sandals are attached to a small black box, 
which can be strapped around one of your legs, concealed under your trouser 
leg.
 The right sandal has an inbuilt copper coil, which is powered by the battery 
pack, which straps around your leg. Once the sandals approach within 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
2 inches of a metal object, you will be alerted in one of two possible ways. A light 
is flashed, and then either a vibration or a buzzing noise is emitted. The metal 
detecting sandals require a 9V battery, which does not come included, but 
which will supply 6 hours of detecting time. The sandals come in different 
sizes, to fit both men and women 
2.  Occasionally a product comes along that simply blow our minds. We get to see 
a lot of crazy and sometimes brilliant inventions, but Laser Cosmos is without 
a doubt the most superb one we've seen. There is no product out there that 
comes even close to the sheer excellence of this galactic wonder - sorry to 
sound quite so effusive, but really, it's staggering.
 Imagine lying in your room, and having the ceiling whipped away to reveal the 
vast outreaches of the cosmos whirling overhead, complete with misty blue 
nebulae (which you can turn on and off!) and the occasional shooting star. 
Fully adjustable and requiring no set up, this super powerful space projector 
scatters a random panoply of sparkling green stars that will fill any room from 
the tiniest bedroom to the largest warehouse with a crystal clear animated star 
display. What's so clever about this (apart from everything of course) is that it 
seems so three-dimensional, that the varying brightness of different stars 
makes some seem closer and others appear as if from distant galaxies.
 Created from powerful green laser and holographic technology, such bright 
and clear display has never been available before. It's utterly mesmerising, and 
had us transfixed for hours (literally). Whether you're zoning out to music, 
throwing a party or just chilling, this stunning cosmic light show is like 
nothing we've ever seen before. Truly one of the most amazing light shows you 
will see anywhere.
3.  Power naps are fantastic, and also proven to rejuvenate a person during the day. 
We all long for these power naps, but unfortunately there is never a bed around at 
the time, especially in the work place that leaves you nodding off with your nose 
pressed hard down against the desk. Did you ever dream of a portable bed 
which you could quickly assemble and then catch up on some much needed 
sleep? Well, the solution to such problems has finally arrived.
 A German study which was undertaken in 2004 concluded that a daily power 
nap can be beneficial in the workplace as it would improving efficiency as well 
as the morale. Designed by four students to demonstrate these findings, the 
99
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
100
Nappak was invented. The Nappak is essentially an inflatable bed which comes 
complete with an air compressor and rollers, but it is at this moment merely a 
concept. 
 Adding such beds into the workplace will be rewarding for both the employees 
and employers, if these findings are correct - since efficiency and morale are 
the basis of any successful business organisation. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm 
off to take a power nap.
4.  Introducing the new LED umbrella. This new device comes equipped with a 
built in LED light which illuminates in the dark. At the touch of a button the 
light shines into action offering a safe and secure passage to your destination. 
The light is embedded inside the handle to lighten the area under the umbrella 
hood.
 Be it day or night, this gadget has got you covered despite looking like a Star 
Wars light saber.
 So for those of you who can't handle a long walk home in the dark, this LED 
umbrella is sure to make that walk a little bit brighter.
5.  This alarm clock will be sure to wake even the heaviest of sleepers. The idea is 
simple; when the alarm is triggered, part of the alarm will fly and land at some 
random location in your room. Only when the an object is placed back on the 
stationary alarm piece will the alarm cease.
 The flying piece takes to the air via rotating propeller blades which allows it to 
take off. The only way to silence the alarm is to physically find the propeller and 
position it back on the alarm, thus forcing the scope of bed.
 A strange concept, but one which might just prove helpful to those who find it 
difficult on those Monday mornings.
6.  Dragging your luggage around with you is a mundane and painful task, 
especially on the way back from an action-packed, or relaxing holiday. Well 
now you can stop pulling around your luggage and wheeling it back home, 
thanks to this new invention. This luggage bag is also a mini scooter, allowing 
you to scoot around with your luggage safely tucked away.
 Just imagine a scenario when everyone else is carrying around their luggage, 
whilst you just jump on your scooter and pass them by, shortening your trip 
back home, and also making it a lot more fun. It's a simple idea, but an 
Page 5


UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
97
 
 
 
B. Plugging into future 
B1.  In this section you will read about the old gizmos, which your father or grand- 
father would have used. Try to compare these gizmos with the ones you have 
been using. Work in pairs and discuss the change.
 Sunday Times of India, New Delhi, January 02-2011
 (Article by B. Pradeep Nair)
 Yesterday's gizmo is today's junk
 More things have changed in the last few decades than in any other period of time. 
Many common-place utility gadgets have been dying off faster than one would 
have imagined. In fact, in the past few decades, a number of technologies have 
become so obsolete that it is difficult to even imagine we were, once upon a time, so 
contended with them.
          Here are five of those which have vanished without a trace:
 Floppy disks: Computer CPUs had a slot where this could be inserted. Text and 
pictures could be copied on it and carried. It was notorious for its susceptibility to 
get infected by viruses that got passed on to PCs when it was inserted. The most 
common 3-1/2 disk had a storage capacity of 1.44MB. Now, these have been 
replaced by CDs DVDs and pen-drives that have higher capacity to carry. Of 
course, with cloud computing catching on at a fast pace, even these face 
extinction.
 Pager: The user had a number to which someone could send a short message via 
the paging company. It became very popular in the 1990s because it was the first 
portable communication device for the ordinary consumer. Typically the message 
sent on pagers were like. "call me on (some landline number )" or "reached home" 
etc. Pagers soon lost out to mobile phones once they became affordable.
 Valve radio: One 'got stations' by turning the tuning knobs. The concept of fine 
tuning never existed. Like a refrigerator, a radio had its place in a house; it was too 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
98
big to be portable. Often the radio used to be switched on right in the morning and 
switched off only when it was realized that no one was paying any attention to it. 
The radio also functioned as a clock - people timed their schedules with the 
beginning or end of popular programmes.
 Gramophone plate: There was a stick-like lever that one kept over the disk so that 
the tiny needle at the end of that lever made contact with the invisible grooves on 
the disk. It then produced the favourite Mohd. Raffi and Kishore Kumar numbers. 
There were different disks depending upon the speed of revolution (RPM for 
revolution per minute). The plates had their amusing offerings as well. One often 
heard singers mysteriously repeating the same line of a song many times, until 
someone realized that the needle had got stuck on the same track. So much for 
getting lost in a tune!
 TV antennas: They were also status symbols so much so that it didn't matter if 
you had a cheap black and white TV or an expensive colour one. You had 
graduated into the next rung of the social ladder if you had one of those antennae 
sticking out of your roof.  It was important to get its position right.  And there were 
no sophisticated ways to do that: there was one guy on the rooftop, and another 
monitoring the reception in the living room; and through a sequence of 'yes-no', 
the final position was arrived at.
B.2  Work in groups of four and give a one minute presentation on the latest 
gadgets that you have been using or your parents are using at home.  Write 
any two advantages and disadvantages the new gadget has over the old one.
B. 3  Here is a list of innovative inventions.  Read them and match them with the 
visuals by writing the correct numbers in the blanks given by the side of the 
visuals.
1.  If you're looking to uncover a hidden treasure, then put your conventional 
metal detector to the side, and replace it with this pair of metal detecting 
sandals. Not exactly a trend setter, but a lot more practical than carrying a 
large pole around with you. The sandals are attached to a small black box, 
which can be strapped around one of your legs, concealed under your trouser 
leg.
 The right sandal has an inbuilt copper coil, which is powered by the battery 
pack, which straps around your leg. Once the sandals approach within 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
2 inches of a metal object, you will be alerted in one of two possible ways. A light 
is flashed, and then either a vibration or a buzzing noise is emitted. The metal 
detecting sandals require a 9V battery, which does not come included, but 
which will supply 6 hours of detecting time. The sandals come in different 
sizes, to fit both men and women 
2.  Occasionally a product comes along that simply blow our minds. We get to see 
a lot of crazy and sometimes brilliant inventions, but Laser Cosmos is without 
a doubt the most superb one we've seen. There is no product out there that 
comes even close to the sheer excellence of this galactic wonder - sorry to 
sound quite so effusive, but really, it's staggering.
 Imagine lying in your room, and having the ceiling whipped away to reveal the 
vast outreaches of the cosmos whirling overhead, complete with misty blue 
nebulae (which you can turn on and off!) and the occasional shooting star. 
Fully adjustable and requiring no set up, this super powerful space projector 
scatters a random panoply of sparkling green stars that will fill any room from 
the tiniest bedroom to the largest warehouse with a crystal clear animated star 
display. What's so clever about this (apart from everything of course) is that it 
seems so three-dimensional, that the varying brightness of different stars 
makes some seem closer and others appear as if from distant galaxies.
 Created from powerful green laser and holographic technology, such bright 
and clear display has never been available before. It's utterly mesmerising, and 
had us transfixed for hours (literally). Whether you're zoning out to music, 
throwing a party or just chilling, this stunning cosmic light show is like 
nothing we've ever seen before. Truly one of the most amazing light shows you 
will see anywhere.
3.  Power naps are fantastic, and also proven to rejuvenate a person during the day. 
We all long for these power naps, but unfortunately there is never a bed around at 
the time, especially in the work place that leaves you nodding off with your nose 
pressed hard down against the desk. Did you ever dream of a portable bed 
which you could quickly assemble and then catch up on some much needed 
sleep? Well, the solution to such problems has finally arrived.
 A German study which was undertaken in 2004 concluded that a daily power 
nap can be beneficial in the workplace as it would improving efficiency as well 
as the morale. Designed by four students to demonstrate these findings, the 
99
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
100
Nappak was invented. The Nappak is essentially an inflatable bed which comes 
complete with an air compressor and rollers, but it is at this moment merely a 
concept. 
 Adding such beds into the workplace will be rewarding for both the employees 
and employers, if these findings are correct - since efficiency and morale are 
the basis of any successful business organisation. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm 
off to take a power nap.
4.  Introducing the new LED umbrella. This new device comes equipped with a 
built in LED light which illuminates in the dark. At the touch of a button the 
light shines into action offering a safe and secure passage to your destination. 
The light is embedded inside the handle to lighten the area under the umbrella 
hood.
 Be it day or night, this gadget has got you covered despite looking like a Star 
Wars light saber.
 So for those of you who can't handle a long walk home in the dark, this LED 
umbrella is sure to make that walk a little bit brighter.
5.  This alarm clock will be sure to wake even the heaviest of sleepers. The idea is 
simple; when the alarm is triggered, part of the alarm will fly and land at some 
random location in your room. Only when the an object is placed back on the 
stationary alarm piece will the alarm cease.
 The flying piece takes to the air via rotating propeller blades which allows it to 
take off. The only way to silence the alarm is to physically find the propeller and 
position it back on the alarm, thus forcing the scope of bed.
 A strange concept, but one which might just prove helpful to those who find it 
difficult on those Monday mornings.
6.  Dragging your luggage around with you is a mundane and painful task, 
especially on the way back from an action-packed, or relaxing holiday. Well 
now you can stop pulling around your luggage and wheeling it back home, 
thanks to this new invention. This luggage bag is also a mini scooter, allowing 
you to scoot around with your luggage safely tucked away.
 Just imagine a scenario when everyone else is carrying around their luggage, 
whilst you just jump on your scooter and pass them by, shortening your trip 
back home, and also making it a lot more fun. It's a simple idea, but an 
UNIT-3
MAIN COURSE BOOK
SCIENCE
101
extremely effective product, which we think will be immensely popular in the 
future, so look out in airports near you for scooters gliding past you from all 
directions.
 The scooter also folds up, allowing you to use it as a normal luggage carrier, but 
why minimise the fun? The bag itself is rather small, so you may very well be 
able to use this for your on-board luggage bag. 
 Details about where this product is available and how much is it going to cost 
are currently unknown, but expect them to hit the market pretty soon.