Cool Biz is not a principle that your average Japanese salaryman is going to embrace without a robust philosophical debate. A key impediment to his embracing of the green logic is the necktie. If he could have it surgically attached, I do believe that he would. Thanko is giving the poor guy an option with its NecktieUSB — an air-conditioned necktie, of all things. In essence it is an ordinary-enough looking piece of apparel with a small fan located in the knot. You simply connect it to your computer's USB port via a 140-cm cable, giving you a leash of some freedom. Since it relies on electricity it won't earn you too many greenie points, but at least you'll be cool, in a sense. Thanko has it available for ¥2,980 at www.thanko.jp/usbnecktie/
Light fingers: USB power has spawned an awful lot of gadgets low in utility but offering the fun factor. SolidAlliance adds another entry to the long list with its Dream Link USB-powered miniature desk lamp. The light changes color depending on how fast you type. When your fingers aren't dancing, it glows a warm yellow. Type slowly and it turns faint blue, glowing brighter and brighter as you pick up pace. A dark blue lamp signals fingers fit for a piano. The tester is available for ¥1,980 at item.rakuten.co.jp/sastore/dl-02
Spirit of creativity: Gadgets include those in their ranks that aren't content with performing a function. They have to do so with pizzazz. SolidAlliance is at it again, this time taking a standard webcam and dressed it up as a character from the popular manga "Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro." The personage in question is Medama no Oyaji, a ghost. Naturally, coming from the spirit world he looks a bit different. Hence the 3-megapixel Webcam that looks like a doll of an ordinary human but sports a giant white eyeball for head with a camera lens at the center of a big red dot. Charming for the fans. It costs ¥2,980, with details available at item.rakuten.co.jp/sastore/ge-pocam/