What if a stroll through your local tech store felt like walking into the future? In Jeffrey Weinzweig’s Contraptions, that’s exactly what you get. The New York gadget shop run by inventors Derek and Ojo is packed with high-tech marvels that would make Silicon Valley blush—and readers drool.

While the novel delivers gripping espionage and dark conspiracies, it’s the playful yet brilliant inventions scattered throughout Contraptions that capture the imagination. These aren’t just plot devices—they’re the kind of gear tech-lovers would line up around the block to buy.

Let’s take a tour of the coolest fictional “toys” we’d love to see go viral—if they were real.

1. The Thermalyzer – A Camera That Sees the Past

Move over, thermal imaging. The Thermalyzer takes heat signatures and turns them into visual recreations of what happened in a room minutes—or even hours—earlier. Need to find out who touched your laptop? Or who ate the last cookie? The Thermalyzer is the ultimate detective device.

In real life, this could revolutionize forensics, history, even journalism. In the world of Contraptions, it’s the spark that ignites a thrilling conspiracy.

2. Arti – The Snarky Bot We All Need

If Amazon’s Alexa had a sense of humor and rolled around on wheels, it might look a lot like Arti, the store’s robotimatronic assistant. Arti isn’t just functional—he’s got attitude. He greets customers, makes sarcastic quips, and even critiques their shopping speed.

He’s not just a machine—he’s a character, and easily one of the book’s most lovable inventions.

3. Floatron Tunnels – Sci-Fi Commutes, Activated

Why walk when you can float? The Floatron tunnels are futuristic, frictionless passageways used in high-security facilities. Suspended and transparent, they guide characters like human hovercrafts through secret labs and bunkers.

In today’s world, they’d be the next leap in public transit, warehouse automation—or maybe just the world’s coolest amusement ride.

4. Hologram Shields – Disguise with a Flicker

Need to hide a secret entrance or disguise a dangerous object? In Contraptions, advanced hologram technology is used for both camouflage and illusion. Think smart mirrors meets stage magic—high-tech deception at its finest.

Perfect for security applications, luxury experiences, or immersive entertainment, this tech could redefine the boundaries of physical and digital reality.

5. QT7 – The Life-Saving Needle Tracker

Born from a surgical mistake, the QT7 is a genius device that alerts doctors if they accidentally leave surgical instruments inside a patient’s body. Triggered by body temperature and materials recognition, it’s a fusion of safety, simplicity, and innovation.

While less flashy than the Thermalyzer, the QT7 might be the most practically life-changing of them all.

6. Gadget Culture Reimagined

What’s most exciting about Contraptions isn’t just the inventions—it’s the idea that brilliance can emerge from a small shop, a friendship, or a late-night sketch on a napkin. The book celebrates the joy of creating, tinkering, and daring to imagine something different.

If you’re a fan of invention, humor, or high-stakes thrills, Contraptions is your next must-read.