Cool products that are available in real life, all thanks to their on-screen counterparts.

Major brands pay big money to have their products showcased in movies, but every so often the tables turn and a little thing called “defictionalization” happens: Cool products from movieland become products in real life – and personally, I couldn’t be happier. Here are 8 cool products from movies and TV to call your own:

1. Dunder Mifflin paper (“The Office”)

As a fan of both “The Office” and stationary supplies, I ended up all verklempt when I found out that Dunder Mifflin paper was an actual thing. The packages even feature their hilarious slogans like “Get Your Scrant On” and “Our motto is, Quabity First.”

2. Nikki Heat books (“Castle”)

I have to say, out of all the TV-inspired cool products that have been created, the Nikki Heat book series written by Richard Castle is effing genius. Although we know Richard Castle isn’t really the writer behind the series, there was nothing cooler than watching him pump out the prose during the first season of “Castle”, and later learn his first book, “Heat Wave”, became a New York Times bestseller IRL. Even the dedication and acknowledgments are written in the character of Castle.

3. Gobstoppers (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”)

The best way to feel like a kid again is to buy a box of Everlasting Gobstoppers, which are only the best candy ever. Based on the fictional candy in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, it was introduced in 1976 by Chicago candy company Breaker Confections (and is now owned by Nestlé). Unfortunately, they’re not everlasting like the ones in the book and subsequent movie, but they still hit the spot.

4. Fingerprint scanner (“Diamonds Are Forever”)

Tiffany Case’s biometric scanner in “Diamonds Are Forever” may have been fooled by James Bond’s fake fingerprint, but don’t expect your iPad to be. First available on the iPhone 5S, and coming soon on the iPad Air 2, you’ll use your fingerprint instead of a pin number to unlock your precious cargo. I’m sure there will be kinks to iron out in the system, but I’m looking forward to the day I won’t have to keep track of thousands of passwords anymore.

5. Sex Panther cologne (“Anchorman”)

Sixty percent of the time it works, every time… whatever that means. Sex Panther cologne is an officially licensed product inspired by “Anchorman” – and yes, it even growls when you open it!

6. Personalized billboards (“Minority Report”)

In “Minority Report”, there are mall billboards that recognize people individually and offer them products they might enjoy. In 2010, Japan’s NEC Corp. created a digital billboard that recognizes your age and gender and offers custom shopping suggestions. In the meantime, we’ve got Google ads casually suggesting ways to empty our wallets.

7. Shoes with self-tying laces (“Back to the Future”)

Word on the street (or rather, in the New York Post) is these babies are coming in 2015, courtesy of Nike – eeek!

8. Robot vacuum cleaner (“The Jetsons”)

Okay, so the Roomba and other robot-style vacuums have been around for about a decade, but in 2015 Dyson will be joining in on the action. While it’ll be a while before we have an adorable robot named Rosie who cooks our meals, folds our laundry, and keeps our floors clean a la “The Jetsons”, with what Dyson’s brought to the table in the industry so far I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re the ones to make our dreams come true.

What cool products do you want to see defictionalized?

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Hey ladies, check out EcoSalon’s collection of cool gadgets that will simplify your life.

Here in the Information Age, we’ve got a lot of advanced technology at our disposal. Tasks that used to require a computer the size of a small house can now be done by a mobile phone.

Cool gadgets are everywhere–the office, the kitchen, even the garden! But how many of these devices do you really need? More importantly, how many of them will actually help you get through the day with less stress, instead of just adding another cord to your life?

At EcoSalon, we couldn’t care less about impressing the geeks at the coffee shop. We want cool gadgets that make our lives easier. That’s why we’ve rounded up seven technologies designed with busy women in mind. Enjoy!

7 Cool Gadgets Every Woman Wants (and Probably Needs)

1. thingCharger – Going somewhere? Don’t forget all the power cords. There’s one for your phone, one for your tablet, one for your laptop. Now multiply that by the number of family members traveling with you. Oy vey. With thingCharger, you only have to remember one thing. Just plug it into any outlet and you’ll have a neat charging station — free of ugly wires. And yes, it really does work for ALL your cool gadgets.

2. Bag2Go –  The only thing worse than realizing you’ve forgotten something, is realizing the airline lost the bag in which you packed it. That’s why Airbus teamed up with the T-Systems global IT services company and luggage manufacturer Rimowa to create Bag2Go. This specially-designed luggage integrates electronic tagging for paperless check-in, along with a scale to weigh contents.  Additionally, it is equipped for real-time tracking so you can check the location of your suitcase at any time, regardless of where in the world it happens to be (except when it is in flight). Bag2Go also looks after the contents: you’ll get an immediate notification whenever the  suitcase is opened.

3. MyDx – Want to know the truth about chemicals in your food, water, air, and even marijuana? MyDx (My Diagnostic) is the worlds first portable analyzer for everyone. It’s a simple and affordable device that can detect the chemicals we cannot see.  Test samples of solids, liquids and gases, and get an in-depth analysis of your sample within a matter of seconds.

4. SticknFind – Constantly losing your keys? Kids always forgetting where they left their favorite toy? Save time (and your sanity) by tagging valuable items with StickNFind. This quarter-sized sticker is a homing beacon for your every day life. Can’t find something? Just fire up the app and the Radar Screen will display all marked devices within range. Start walking, and see if you’re getting closer or further from the blue dot on your Radar Screen. StickNFind Stickers also have a buzzer and light, so you can even find your tagged items in the dark.

5. Cobra Tag – This device is very similar to StickNFind but slightly more sophisticated. And unlike the previous entry in our list of cool gadgets, it works both ways. “Sync the Cobra Electronics Tag to your smartphone (there’s an app for that) and attach it to your keys. Next time you’re on the hunt, use the app to make the tag ring. It works the other way too: Press the tag to call your misplaced phone,” explains Women’s Health Mag.

6. BioLite Stove – Like to venture into the back country but feel more comfortable knowing civilization is only a phone call away? Just be sure to bring along the BioLite Stove. Heat from the camp fire generates electricity via a thermoelectric generator to power a fan creating airflow for improved combustion. Surplus electricity is sent to the USB port for charging devices.

7. Everpurse – This stylish clutch has a special charging pocket into which you place your smartphone. The patent-pending docking system guides your phone smoothly onto a dock connector at the bottom — so you don’t have to fish for a cord! To charge your phone itself, simply place Everpurse on its charging mat. Easy peasy.

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Doing laundry entails so much. From lugging the clothes to the machine (or worse, to the Laundromat!), to sorting, checking pockets for ink pens and loose change, to pouring in the big goopy laundry liquid. It’s enough to make you dream of living in the future where everyone seems to have the same uniform on day in and day out. Surely they must still do laundry too, though. But I bet it’s a lot easier.

In fact, doing laundry today just got a little futuristic with SmartKlean–the revolutionary Laundry Ball technology that eliminates the need for laundry detergent. They sent us a few to try out here at EcoSalon, and we were pretty impressed. I was particularly wowed at how they handled my most favorite delicate eco-clothes—from Reuse brand skinny jeans to my super light Stewart + Brown tops.

What’s so unique about SmartKlean is that it doesn’t use soap or detergents to clean clothes. How then do they get clean?

We were shocked to find out that laundry detergents don’t use soap either. According to SmartKlean, it’s a common misconception. Detergents use petrochemicals to help boost the water’s cleaning power. And even eco-friendly detergents can contain harsh chemicals. So, what if cleaning laundry could be done another way? SmartKlean uses the principles of bioelectricity and hydrodynamics to do the same thing—but without all the mess and waste of laundry detergent.

SmartKlean uses four types of ceramic beads and magnetic center in the Laundry Ball. Infrared balls radiate negative ions that help the water remove dirt. Alkali balls increase the pH levels to help lift dirt and oil. Antimicrobial balls contain nano-structured silver to kill and remove bacteria. Chlorine removal balls eliminate the chlorine compound in the water to protect the fabrics from oxidation. And magnets make the water molecule clusters smaller, increasing dissolved oxygen and eliminating odors.

And the outer shell also agitates clothes to make them cleaner. The plastic exterior of the laundry ball is composed of environmentally-friendly thermoplastic elastomer free of BPA and PVC. Its shape and weight are designed for agitation in order to beat dirt and grime off clothing during the wash cycle, somewhat similar to the old way of cleaning laundry before washing machines were invented!

I have to admit, we were a bit skeptical at my house, especially for delicate clothes and fabrics…some of which aren’t easily replaced, either. I know it’s probably a bit of an obsession, but I simply could not live without a certain pair of argyle socks and a super comfy pair of yoga pants. But SmartKlean says that this technology can actually extend the life of clothes and offer protection from damage detergents often cause. And wouldn’t you know it, all of our clothes came out completely clean. They even felt lighter and fluffier than with a normal detergent. They smelled fresh—and not in a detergent kind of way like the clothes were being scented. No, they actually smelled fresh. We also put the Laundry Ball to the ultimate test: dirty diapers (with a stain pretreatment). Clean as a baby’s bottom—you know, after.

And speaking of babies, SmartKlean’s Laundry Ball offers another advantage over detergents—no chemicals, no fragrances—and that means no risk for sensitive or allergy-prone skin. That’s a big plus for us. And while we used a non-chlorine bleach for the diapers, we used the SmartKlean non-toxic stain remover to get out some spit-up on a shirt. It worked wonders and with little effort on our part.

The Laundry Ball is also really economical. I was shocked to find out I could do a load of laundry every day of the year using the same SmartKlean ball. Did I mention I have a baby? We do laundry around here almost as often as we change those diapers. SmartKlean says the Laundry Ball will replace 20 to 40 laundry products in one year. And it will help reduce water use, too. Because there are no detergents to rinse off, you can completely eliminate the rinse cycle (if your machine offers that setting) when doing laundry, saving you money on water. You can also shorten your wash cycles as well, which also saves money. You can expect to save 2,400 to 8,000 gallons of water during the lifespan of the Laundry Ball. I didn’t even know I used that much to clean my clothes in the first place! And saving water in general is a really good thing for the planet these days, too.

I also really loved how gentle it was on all of our clothes. We don’t believe in fast fashion in this house, so we invest in high quality clothes that we hope will last a long time. Reducing the exposure to detergents (natural or otherwise) and eliminating the extra rinse cycle really adds life to garments. I have a hunch that fashion designers will start recommending SmartKlean Laundry Balls to extend the life of their clothes.

Some technologies can be hard to grasp. I imagine that just 50 years ago, being told we’d someday all be communicating through smart phones linked to an invisible web of information, there would have been plenty of skeptics out there—myself included. And the Laundry Ball concept feels a little similar to me. The only difference here is that I’ve tried it and I know it works. In that sense, it’s not only a miracle laundry product, it’s also kind of a time machine. So, in the future, whether or not we all wear the same uniforms day in and day out, you can bet we’ll be doing laundry a lot differently.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Check out this selection of cool gadgets meant to make our homes more safe and comfortable.

Cool gadgets are everywhere. If you followed the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, you know that everyone from startups to global brands are falling all over themselves to create the next revolutionary device. Some of these things, like curved OLED televisions or an app to organize all your other apps (really?!) are either pointless or super expensive or both.

However, some cool gadgets are less conceptual and more practical, and better yet, already headed to open market. At EcoSalon, we have our ear to the ground, watching the internet for news of cool gadgets (and some bigger devices too) that really could lead to more efficient, healthier homes. Here are some of our favorites.

7 Cool Gadgets For A Smarter, Healthier Home

1. x12 Smart Bed from Sleep Number

Sleep Number recently unveiled the x12 smart bed, which contains sensors that monitor your sleeping habits, movement, heart rate and breathing rate. Thanks to a smartphone app that collects all the data (pictured, top) the bed actually learns your sleeping habits and suggests adjustments that could deliver higher quality sleep. And–best of all– it includes a Partner Snore feature that allows you to gently raise your partner’s headrest to help ease snoring.

2. Power Flower from Parrot

Love the green, air-cleaning quality of indoor house plants, but find yourself doomed to kill them? The Power Flower from Parrot is a Bluetooth-enabled device that’s designed to monitor your potted plants, then communicate what you’re doing wrong via a smartphone app. It also works on lawns!

 3. Softbrew by Sowden

If, like me, the first task of your day is brewing a pot of coffee, than this will likely be your favorite from this list of cool gadgets. The Softbrew by Snowden is a simple and eco-friendly brewing system that will make you wonder why you ever bothered with electric pots and paper filters. It’s all thanks to the Softbrew’s stainless steel filter which is etched with thousands of holes, small enough to keep the coffee grounds out of your cup. The porcelain pot also stays hot longer than glass or steel, and the filter and packaging is all recyclable.

4. The Power Pillow

On the weekends, I love to snuggle up on the couch with my laptop for some non-work surfing. The only problem is my laptop’s battery often runs out, forcing me to plug in the power cord, creating a dangerous trip wire across the living room. The Power Pillow, one of the many cool gadgets now gathering funding on Kickstarter, is an innovative answer to this problem. The company claims the pillow will be available in a range of different designs. Inside each will be two two–12000mAh slim form batteries capable of charging just about any USB-powered device. Juice the batteries using a solar charger like the WakaWaka and it’s a stylish and sustainable solution.

5. WeMo Insight Switch by Belkin

Take your home energy conservation efforts a step further with the WeMo Insight Switch. This innovative device allows users “to control and manage the energy usage and costs of home electronics from anywhere through their iOS or Android device.” It’s also possible to put appliances plugged into this switch on a schedule and receive notifications when the appliance is turned on or off.

6. Breath Humidifier by Roolen

Do sinus issues or super dry air require you to sleep with a humidifier? Most are fairly clunky, and feature scant ability to customize for individual needs. Not so with the Breath Humidifier by Roolen. Breath features sensors and settings that automatically adjusts the device to a humidity level best fit your surroundings, ensuring that you don’t waste water or energy.

7. Mr. Postman by Simple Elements

Tired of checking the mail when there’s nothing there? Or worse, worrying about someone stealing your mail when you can’t get to the box right away? Mr. Postman is a solar-powered smart mailbox that brings snail mail and package delivery up to the 21st century. Along with additional security such as a keyless locking system and tampering alert, Mr. Postman makes your life smarter by letting you know what packages have arrived.

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Images via Sleep Number, Parrot, Sowden, Power Pillow, Belkin, Roolen, Simple Elements

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A recently-funded device aims to be the world’s first mind reader for pets.

My cat Runa comes when I call her name, responds with a “mew” when I ask if she’s hungry, and always hides under the dining room table when my partner fires up the vacuum.

Although we “communicate” it always makes me sad to realize that my cat and I will never have a conversation. I’m no mind reader, and though I infer many things from her purrs and meows, she’ll never be able to tell me what she’s thinking in a way I can understand. Or will she?

A small Scandinavian research lab called the Nordic Society for Invention and Discovery (NSID) recently unveiled the world’s first mind reader device for pets. Called “No More Woof” the gadget uses the latest in micro computing and electroencephalography (EEG) technology to analyze animal thought patterns. The idea is that when worn on your pet’s head, the mind reader gadget could translate animal thoughts into human language, projecting them through a speaker attached to the pet’s collar.

While two way communication is the ultimate goal, the early No More Woof mind reader will allow our pets to verbalize simple thoughts, like “I’m tired,” “I’m excited,” or “Who are you?” NSID developers say that for now, the mind reader device speaks only English, but Mandarin, French and Spanish versions are coming soon. Likewise, future iterations may include options for different dog voices/personalities, as well as new phrases like “Why are you leaving?” and “Leave me alone.”

Yes, the NSID’s pet mind reader is very much in the conceptual stages, and no there’s no guarantee that it will work. But if I said I wasn’t completely thrilled at the possibility, I’d be lying. Apparently, there are lots of pet owners like me out there, because No More Woof recently blasted through its fundraising $10,000 fundraising goal with 44 days to spare. Although the concept itself is unproven, NSID has a well-documented reputation for developing potentially world-changing technologies (see the iRock, a power-generating rocking chair, and the Nebula 12, a light fixture that can bring outdoor weather into your home or office).

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Image: No More Woof

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Tired of buying your energy from the man? Here are some cool gadgets that make it possible to generate your own electricity and shrink your utility bills.

When someone says “power plant” what do you envision? Most of us might think of the traditional coal fired power plant, with its smoke stacks and transmission wires. Others might see a massive array of solar panels or a vast wind farm full of slowly rotating turbines. One think you probably don’t think of is your own body–but you should!

Our bodies are their own energy-generating factories. We turn food (calories) into energy that powers every system in our body. What many people don’t realize is that the by-products of that energy (heat and movement) can be captured and recycled into energy for the cool gadgets we just can’t seem to live without.

Electricity is a relatively new innovation, and before it was readily available, humans used their natural energy to power many low-tech technologies, like the bicycle or the hand-crank drill. It’s only been recently that we’ve come up with cool gadgets that allow us to turn our store up calories into electricity for more sophisticated stuff, like the human-powered gym or pedal-powered HVAC systems.

I know what you’re thinking. Those human powered solutions are big, pretty expensive, and probably not going to land in your living room any time soon. Well, if you’re looking for more manageable ideas for saving energy and creating your own electricity, just scroll through the infographic below. It lists five cool gadgets that are just waiting to help you become a super efficient power plant, even when on the go!

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Infographic: Save On Energy

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