2005 Gadget Freak of the Year

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE GADGET FREAK! With the publication of the February 6 issue, Design News celebrates the third anniversary of the Gadget Freak files. This popular column, sponsored by Allied Electronics, profiles the sometimes useful and always entertaining inventions that Design News readers come up with in their spare time. Help us recognize the Gadget Freaks we profiled over the past year by voting for your favority Gadget Freak of 2005. Click here to vote!
Case #98 Mark Liked His Tree Straight Up With a Twist Project: Electronic X-mas Tree Watering System Inventor: Mark McCuller Issue Date: 01.10.05		Case #77 Clive Emitted That Youthful Glow Project: LED Charm Lights Inventor: Clive Mitchell Issue Date: 02.21.05		Case #32 Clive Dabbled in the Performing Arts Project: Low-Tech Techno Art Inventor: Clive Mitchell Issue Date: 03.07.05
Case #63 Luckily Dimitri Never Inhaled Project: Automatic Ping Pong Ball Dispenser Inventor: Dimitri Merrill Issue Date: 04.04.05		Case #29 Give My Mascot LIFE! Project: Robotic Mascot Inventor: Richard Downing (and friends) Issue Date: 04.18.05		Case #57 Richard and Jen Ace Stochastics Project: Desktop Slot Machine Inventor: Richard Hopkins & Jen Harmel Issue Date: 05.16.05
Case #24 Ryan Demonstrated the Basics of Torsion Mechanics Project: Electronic Twister Inventor: Ryan Shannon Issue Date: 06.06.05		Case #89 Guido Had a Strong Aversion to Overbrewed Oolong Project: Tea Timer Inventor: Guido Vollmar Issue Date: 06.27.05		Case #50 Greg is Chillin' With 50 Cent on His Tricked-Out Keyboard Project: Tricked-Out Keyboard Inventor: Greg Ruhlander Issue Date: 07.18.05
Case #41 Gadget Freaks, We Have a Problem! Project: Two-Stage Model Rocket Inventor: Joe Peck & Brad Bruce Issue Date: 08.15.05		Case #97 Got Hot Milk? Project: "The Pacifier" Baby Bottle Warmer Inventor: Michael Ricci Issue Date: 09.05.05		Case #10 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Project: Remote Control Dog Door Opener Inventor: Les Kelly Issue Date: 09.26.05
Case #47 Kanceruk the Magnificent Strikes Again Project: Nifty 4-Wire Cable Tester Inventor: David Kanceruk Issue Date: 10.10.05		Case #02 Donald Had a Serious Case of Red Eye Project: Inexpensive Laser Modulator Inventor: Donald Marzewski Issue Date: 10.24.05		Case #14 Jared's Ride Isn't Fly, but the Steering's Perfect Project: Perfect Steering Mechanism Inventor: Jared Cummings Issue Date: 11.07.05
Case #81 Christina and the Dangerous Duck Slalom Project: Smart Bike Lights Inventor: Christina Black Issue Date: 11.21.05		Case #33 You Can Get Scrooged Opening a Trap Door Project: Open Sesame Inventor: Larry Tincher Issue Date: 12.05.05		Case #53 Craig Was a Diehard Dashboard DIYer Project: DIY Indicator Light Reset Inventor: Craig Condon Issue Date: 01.09.06