Sneak wonders whether engineers at Sony have been paying too much attention to that episode of The Simpsons where Homer advises companies on new consumer products, with predictable results. ("Nuts and gum – together for the first time!!")

The latest product from the electronics giant is the Vaio VN-CX1, a lightweight and stylish optical mouse with an 800dpi resolution. But that's not all – when you touch a button at the side, the mouse flips open to become a clamshell-style voice-over-IP phone handset!

No, Sneak isn't making this up.

According to Sony, the idea is blissfully simple: "Why have two peripherals to deal with when you only need one?" Well, what happens if you need to use your computer to look up something during a phone call? Suddenly keeping your nuts and gum separate seems like a logical idea after all.

Besides, Sneak thinks building phones into everyday objects is a dangerous path to tread, and that Sony had best start preparing its legal team for damages claims. After all, if this practice catches on, hordes of tired and overworked office workers will develop a reflex to simply lift their hand to their ear whenever there is an incoming call. Fine in the office, but not so great when doing the ironing.

21 Feb 2006