What Kids Want (Be Careful What You Wish For)

"QUANTUM SHOT" #521
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Awesome gadgets and radical technology - from a mind of a child

"What would you like to get as a present?" - Russian magazine Bolshoi Gorod asked 3 to 9 year old children this simple question, and got a few surprising answers (here are some highlights, illustrated by Timur Akhmetov, and translated by DRB)

The Wish-Fulfillment Machine
by Anna Perrole, 9 year old

Definitely a product of "wishful thinking", this appliance would be painted yellow, have dinosaur bone ornamentation, and resemble a washing machine.
All you need to do is stick your head into the round opening, feel weightlessness, and make a wish.

Closest Match in Real Life:

"The Wish Machine" - a vending machine by Chrysanne Stathacos freely distributes wishes to those who lack quality wishes of their own. It's an art project, of course, but it does work in peculiar way: the machine distributes certain essential oils that help the participant to meditate on their wish.

(image credit: Chrysanne Stathacos)

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The Schmurgo-plane
by Anton Imaga, 3 year old

"I dream of a schmurgo-plane: it's a boat with miniature wheels and big butterfly-type wings. It will make lots of noise, flap its wings and transport me to countries far, far away."

Closest Match in Real Life:

"Volitan"- The Flying Fish - is a new concept sail-vessel that consumes no fuel, using alternative energy sources. It was a winner in Transportation Design category at IDA 2007. See the Volitan video here

(images via)

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A gun that kills bad thoughts
Artem Bulavin, 9, Yulia Romanova, 6

It would be a laser weapon that would kill all bad thoughts, intentions and all bad ideas.

This is a very radical kid's wish that we don't have in real life... except perhaps this Russian Psychotronic Pistol:

(image via)

You would think that this picture shows something similar to brainwashing, but it is, in fact, a hair-styling device from the 1950s:

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A hat that would make everyone to fall in love with you
Dima Rodionov, 7 year old

If you put this hat on, all girls would instantly fall in love with you. (that might actually turn into a nightmare, but Dima is not aware of the complications of this)

Nothing like that exists in reality, of course (if you discount "AXE" advertising campaigns, and every third spam email you get).

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I want an alien for a pet
Ilia Muntz, 8 year old

He would be 4,000 year old, immensely powerful (shoots with sound waves, flies faster than any jet, can instantly burrow deep underground, and pick up objects with his long nose). It has horns, eight eyes and bristling needles all over.

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Disposable Girlfriend
Egor Gortilin, 5 year old

I want a girl who would be like a Father Frost' daughter - if I get tired of her, I'll make her drink some hot tea, and she will melt away into nothing.

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Quantum-Portal High Chair
Nina Deniskina, 4 year old

A special booster / high chair:
when somebody feeds you cereal while you sit on it, all the food bites would disappear right at your mouth, and you would not need to actually eat it.

This guy would probably have the same problem, if he decides to eat anything - without quantum portals, etc:

(image credit: Rogiro)

A few more curiosities:
"A Hair Dryer That Shrinks Everything" and the "Bulldozer that Produces Candy" (at the other end) -

These kids apparently don't like going to school all that much:

"A Box with Your Clone Inside" (that would just go to school instead of you) and "A Bed with Human Feet" for easy transportation in the morning:

"Flashlight, doubling as a lie-detector" and "Remote-Controlled Air Balloons":

And finally, the "invention" that takes the cake in how awesomely weird it sounds:

Neuron Regeneration Tree
Yulia Sobolevskaya, 5.5 year old

"I want to plant a seed of the tree that grows brain cells. I will grow it in a pot and give to my grandma - she always says that brain cells don't regenerate."

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Want to know how to spur your child creativity and imagination when it comes to inventing new gadgets and technology? Try using this (your child will never forget it) -

Pramulator Baby Carriage

John Knott from Bent Fabrication made this futuristic carriage from hand-shaped aluminum panels and an antique baby stroller: