CES 2015: The weird and the wacky

Quitbit

Put this one under the useless gadget category. If you're ready to quit smoking, this lighter is intended to help you. But it doesn't really do anything other than track how many times you light up each day. You can set it to not allow you to light a cigarette if you exceed your preset number. But then, that's what matches are for.

Image: Quitbit

DreamScience alarm clock

Consider this a fancy alarm clock. Oregon Scientific has developed a gadget, also known as an alarm clock, that claims to monitor your sleepwaves and raise and lower the volume of its "brainwave embedded sounds" to help you sleep better and wake up easier.

Image: Oregon Scientific

Smart dog collars

No gallery of CES 2015 weirdness would be complete without the Belty. Because, guess what? This motorized belt is intended to make you more active by vibrating if you've been sedentary too long. And if you indulge in a big meal, Belty will automatically loosen to make you more comfortable as your waistline expands. Think of it as an ugly virtual fitness coach that doesn't judge too harshly.

Image: Teena Hammond/TechRepublic

Muse brainwave sensing headband

Want to have your brainwaves monitored? (Who doesn't, right?) Buddha blended with Big Brother is the first thing that comes to mind with Muse, a brainwave sensing headband spotted at CES. While we have no idea whether this works or not, the concept is a bit far fetched. Muse advertises that it can train your brain to to give you a calmer, more composed mind

Image: Teena Hammond/TechRepublic

iDerma

The same folks from Aspira Science that brought you iGrow are also pitching iDerma, another device that uses low-level light therapy. This one claims to improve the skin's appearance. Not sure if that is because you're wearing a mask to cover your face, or if the device actually works. But either way, it's quirky and interesting.

Image: Teena Hammond/TechRepublic

Smart dog collars

Ever wanted to know what your dog sees when he's barking? Or talk to him when you're not at home? Sure, it's a bit wacky. But could have useful applications.

Motorola unveiled two new smart dog collars at CES. The Scout 5000 smart collar includes a GPS tracker, WiFi connectivity and a 720p camera that beams video to the pet owner's smartphone so that you can see what your dog is seeing when he barks outside, or if he runs off and you're desperately trying to find him. It also uses an app to track exercise and a speaker so that you can talk to your beastie through your phone while you're away.

The Scout 2500 is perfect for smaller dogs. It does everything that the bigger 5000 does, but without a video camera attached.

Image: Teena Hammond/TechRepublic

iGrow hair growth helmet

Medical marvel or a waste of money? It's hard to say without testing it, but Aspira Science has developed a hair growth helmet, called iGrow, and featured it at CES 2015. Users are supposed to wear the bulky device for 25 minutes four times a week and

Image: Teena Hammond/TechRepublic