Go Go Gadget: Exploring the First LA Gadget Expo
He inspired me. His resourcefulness mesmerized me.The one and only Inspector Gadget motivated me at an early age to discover all kinds of wacky gadgets for just about every purpose imaginable.When I got an email from Expert DOJO informing me about the inaugural LA Gadget Expo, I had flashbacks of watching Inspector Gadget. Without so much of a second thought, I was registered on Eventbrite faster than you can say “Go Go Gadget arm!”An expo dedicated to gadgets in Los Angeles? “It's about time,” I said out loud as I clicked to finalize my ticket for my press pass.Though tempted to try to find a Halloween store for a belated-costume to pay homage to the actual Inspector Gadget, I defaulted to a pair of jeans and trusty chucks, then made my way to The Reef (a convention center in downtown Los Angeles).Upon entering the parking lot at the Reef, I couldn't help but notice a five-story sculpture of a chair, which I actually had to drive under to get my parking spot. It was an ironic and artistic tribute to one of the most useful gadgets we use on a daily basis: the good, old chair.I met up with a fellow writer and friend of mine, Mr. Leonard Kim. Together, we explored the various booths, asked 101 questions, and tinkered with all of the gadgets. We explored the various booths, talking with passionate inventors and startup entrepreneurs.I was pleasantly surprised to see such a variety of gadgets at the LA Gadget Expo. We saw everything from mobility devices like electric scooters, skateboards, and foldable bike-scooter contraptions, to low-tech magnets that hold beers suspended in your fridge, to the butter crayon that pushes butter like it's a push-pop ice cream treat. There were also many 3D printed gadgets.Before I get to my top five gadget picks for the event, I wanted to share more information that I learned about the event when I spoke with the executive producer Sarelyn.To summarize my fact-finding conversation with her, here are the top 5 things I learned, from Sarelyn Radecke, Creative Director of the LA Gadget Expo, that I think everyone should know:1. This was the first LA Gadget Expo ever held here in Los Angeles.2. The LA Gadget Expo didn’t accept all submissions. They did not accept smartphone applications, with the reasoning that they were not truly gadgets.3. Many of the gadgets displayed have been featured on IndieGoGo (who was actually a sponsor this year), or other crowdfunding campaign sites.4. Many of the booths were interactive, where participants were able to actually either ride, test, or use the gadgets on display.5. The LA Gadget Expo was a two-day event, very reasonably priced, and showcased over 45 companies with various gadgets.During the two-and-a-half hours Leonard and I spent walking the expo floor, I came across many gadgets that were notable, and some with which I fell in love. For the sake of helping to share what I found the most impressive, here are my top five gadgets from this year’s show. In no particular order, my favorites are…1. Evolve Skateboards - As soon as I walked in, these electric skateboards caught my eye. Initially signing the waiver and wanting to ride, I got impatient waiting in line and headed to see other gadgets. I did however come back and ride the skateboards; officially carving on my first electricity board. I’m very passionate about skateboarding and have seen electronic boards, but it was a real treat to have full access for some test runs. The boards handle great, and the only downside is now trying to decide which of the boards I want for Christmas.2. Shark Wheels - Naturally I was drawn to the Shark Wheels booth, as they were displaying a large number of skateboards. There is something very funky about the wheels on the skateboards, and it almost stopped me in my tracks. After talking with the Shark Wheels founders, who ironically just landed a deal on Shark Tank, I was sold that they have discovered a problem that I needed solving. Namely, that existing skateboard wheels tend to not do so well with random rocks that they encounter. I’m proud to say that I bought a pair of Shark Wheels, and will report back once I’ve had a chance to try them in the real world.3. Q-Ball Microphone - Being up on stage a lot, I am very familiar with different types of microphones. But when I saw the Ball microphone, I can truly say that I had never seen anything like that before. The concept is simple, to solve the problem of passing the microphone in a crowd of people. The squishy ball has an integrated microphone, and can be thrown amongst audience members who are asking questions or making comments.4. Touchjet Pond Projector - This company has taken a projector and changed it to allow control via a wireless controller the size of a regular pen. It allows you to draw on the projected image, and allows you to manipulate attached. From a live presentation standpoint, this is one of the coolest things I have seen a long time.5. Slick GoPro Stabilizer - The slick stabilizer has a robotic arm that solves the problem of GoPro footage being shaky when the camera is worn on a person. If you’ve ever tried to film on a GoPro, you know the immensity of this issue. I truly have to say this is a crazy gadget that just made GoPros that much better.If you want to learn more about next year’s LA gadget Expo, visit: www.lagadgetexpo.com.If you want to apply to exhibit in next year’s LA Gadget Expo, visit: www.lagadgetexpo.com/exhibitwithusIf you know of any cool gadgets, please share in the comments.#lagadgetexpo