10 Ridiculous Technologies That Will Actually Make Your Life Better

1) Self-cleaning windows

Sure, you can pay a guy to wash your windows every spring, but wouldn't it be great if they just cleaned themselves? With self-cleaning glass windows and windshields, they will. These fancy pieces of technology clean from both sides simultaneously to cut down on water use and make sure nothing is stuck on them for months at a time. It's also impressive to see in action. Self-cleaning glasses are an amazing upgrade for houses with small children or pets because these kinds of people tend to leave scuff marks everywhere. The only downside is that self-cleaning glass isn't cheap; expect to pay thousands for new windows that do all of their own cleaning.

2) Talking toilet paper

Many of us feel uncomfortable talking to an inanimate object, so wouldn't it be great if we could just tell our toilet paper what we need? The Cloud by Cidabrio is a voice-activated toilet paper dispenser that allows you to control your roll from anywhere in your home using any mobile device. Letting a roll run out can be frustrating, but with The Cloud, you never have to worry about being caught without enough TP again. You can even set it up to automatically reorder when your supply gets low. And since it works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, you don't even have to get off your throne.

3) Burping fish pillow

The fish tank pillow is a perfect gift for insomniacs and anyone who has trouble getting out of bed in the morning. As its name suggests, all you have to do is put your head on it, while your face gets gently tickled by artificial bubbles released from little holes underneath. Besides improving sleep quality, lying with a burping fish pillow also helps alleviate anxiety disorders, depression and headaches. It might not be funny at first sight but let me tell you, it's actually very soothing.

4) Zero distance coffee cups

A cup of joe on-the-go is a basic necessity for anyone looking to stay caffeinated. Unfortunately, regular coffee cups have some big flaws; they're often filled with bacteria and germs, and don't insulate heat well. If you're planning on staying productive throughout your workday, then it might be worth shelling out some cash for an insulated travel cup like Contigo AUTOSEAL West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug. It promises to keep beverages hot or cold up to 5 hours—and has a sleek design that will match your office décor. It comes in both 16oz and 20oz sizes ($25-$35).

5) Pillow chair

For a smooth night's sleep, try a pillow chair. The soft surface helps you fall asleep faster, and when you wake up in the morning, it's easier to move around because your spine isn't compressed by stiff pillows. When it comes to your health and well-being, every little thing helps. As soon as you get used to a pillow chair—and no matter how weird or unconventional it might look—you'll want to use one all of time. A study at Stony Brook University revealed that people experienced lower muscle tension, less anxiety and increased relaxation when lying on pillows versus traditional beds with mattresses—and for people who already suffer from chronic pain or insomnia, that can be life-changing.

6) Pancake printer

If you're in need of a lazy Sunday treat but don't have time to stand over a frying pan, consider whipping up a few pancakes with an automated pancake printer. How it works: You choose your pancake design from your phone and wait for these little printers to cook. When they're done, you cut them out and serve! This is just one example of how technology can help make life more convenient (in fact, there are quite a few other innovative kitchen tools that will come in handy if you love cooking).

7) Freezing flowers at the click of a button

It may seem gimmicky, but freezing flowers is becoming increasingly popular as a way to prolong freshness. Research has found that freezing fresh-cut roses in an open vase led to an increase in water content and a decrease in chloride concentration. Not only does it make your house smell like a greenhouse, but you can also experiment with different flower types and arrangements. Violets, for example, produce beautiful mini rosebuds when frozen whole and laid at an angle against ice cubes. They look stunning on a cake or as part of a vase arrangement for Valentine's Day or other special occasions. You could even try mixing different petals together—perhaps winter berries with tulips or lilies? There are more practical uses, too. When you're planning a dinner party, you can make up several ice cubes with different varieties of flowers—roses in one cube, hydrangeas in another and so on. Simply drop them into a jug of water, or individual glasses if you have time to be really precise, before popping them in your freezer until they're frozen solid. Then arrange them as desired on serving plates with slices of fruit and fresh herbs.

8) Luggage with built-in vacuum cleaner

Ok, so your suitcase is leaking. Your underpants are sodden and useless. You have to pack everything up and find a laundry in some foreign city before your interview or business meeting, and now you're late. You don't want that to happen again, do you? No? Then it might be time to invest in luggage with built-in vacuum cleaners.

9) Airbag jeans

These aren't quite Swiss Army knife jeans, but airbag jeans (otherwise known as smart jeans) have sensors embedded in them that can detect if someone is falling down. If you're on your way to becoming roadkill, a small explosion then sends an airbag straight into your behind. They might look goofy, but they actually make an impressive difference and could potentially save thousands of lives each year. Can we get these over here? I'm tired of tripping over my own feet!

10) Microphone socks

With microphone socks, you can wear headphones and still be able to take a call. Microphone socks are made out of conductive threads that are able to pick up a signal as sound waves travel through them. You can find cheap versions on sites like eBay but have also seen many developed for music professionals that cost hundreds of dollars. Either way, it's definitely a must-have for those who don't want to awkwardly hold their phone or pause their tunes during an important call.