With technology evolving at an extremely rapid pace, highly-complex, futuristic and state-of-the-art gadgets are always within our immediate perimeter, an almost constant reminder of the digital epoch we are now thoroughly engaged in.

Whilst it is commonly perceived that contemporary gadgetry should be moving and evolving at a modern-day pace to represent the highly technical digital world we now live in, one does not as commonly associate furniture with being archetypal of the technological, computer-generated modern age.

Whilst the Coffee Table radiates sophistication and style, inviting those around it to delve into deep and meaningful conversation over a plate of olives and some delectably chilled quality white wine, the Phil Lamp’s geometric exterior strategically positions the light, casting soft symmetrical shadows to form on the walls, abetting an even greater atmosphere of panache and sophistication.

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You either love it or you hate it but you can’t deny that chess is a timeless classic possessing a unique and almost unachievable longevity.

The history of this classic game spans an amazing 1500 years, with its origins dating back to India in the 6^th century AD.Although since its ancient inception, the humble chessboard has not been radically transformed or altered.

Having said this, there are some ‘alternative’ and highly collectable chessboards out there.

If you happen to be a chess fanatic you may be interested in hearing about five of the most ‘unconventionally’ designed chessboards available.

PIKDA Chessboard

Designed by Franco Marino Cagnina, a designer from Argentina, the PIKDA chessboard is an edible board which features cookie-cutter-like chess pieces that can be filled with appetizers such as meats and cheese. Once the game is finished, the board can double up as a serving platter – the perfect accessory to spark stimulating conversation, not to mention fun, at a dinner party.

Electric Chess

This truly remarkable chess set was designed by chess player and American architect Brent Blake. The set features a white laminate base, a mirrored Plexiglass surface, as well as several components including sockets, bulbs and plugs. Instead of traditional chess pieces, the electric Chessboard uses coloured and transparent bulbs so players can differentiate their pieces.

The Pharmaceutical Chessboard

Using etched and transparent pill bottles and a surgical-inspired board with ‘biohazard’ signs, the English artist, entrepreneur and art collector, Damien Hirst aims to employ the concept of ‘mental Escapology’ with his pharmaceutical-inspired chessboard.

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With this year’s Grand Prix Championships in full swing, the world of motor racing is gathering in speed and enthusiasm, with an increasing number of ‘wannabie’ Formula One racers yearning to imitate their heroes on the race track.

Whilst, for most, the prospect of imitating the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton’s motoring skills were previously left to the imagination, now the prospect is a lot more attainable, thanks to Cruden, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of interactive, motion based racing simulators for motorsport.

For those less knowledgeable about the details of Formula One training, the world’s leading motorsport teams rely on simulators to execute a lot of their practise and training.

Simulators are used before drivers go out and test real cars, presumably because it proves much cheaper than writing off a car of which the wheel alone can cost £25,000!

The design company Cruden, who designs the technology for these professional motor racing simulators, in realising the commercial opportunities constructing a more inexpensive, down-sized version would bring to the entertainment industry, known as the Hexathrill.

Costing around £90,000, the Hexathill may be a fraction of the price of professional motor racing simulators and a fraction of the size, but is the likely to be the most ‘realistic’ Formula One imitator on the market, giving people who have never even sat in a racing car before, an authentic racing car experience.

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Although fridges may have come a long way since Oliver Evans invented the first ever refrigeration machine in 1805, which used poisonous ammonia gas as a coolant, fridges have not seemed to evolve with a similar velocity of say telephones or televisions.

Except recently that is with the arrival of the LG Smart Fridge – A tech-savvy device that is predicted to map the future of refrigerators.

In-keeping with most modern technology, the Smart Fridge’s design includes a touchscreen and various apps, including a notepad and weather tracker. This highly innovative and futuristic fridge logs and keeps track of what is being put into and taken out of its interior, and can even make recipe suggestions based on its current stock.

The LG Smart Fridge has three different power settings, which, like its inventory, can be powered and changed remotely via the internet. A price and release date of the LG Smart Fridge has yet to be announced; although we can safely assume a fridge this smart must be worth a pretty penny or two!

Although, as technologically-inspiring as it is, LG is not the only technology manufacturing company to be making its mark on the highly technical and futuristic fridge market.

The multinational technology corporation Samsung is also getting in on the act with the , which, similar to the LG model, is bursting with fun and practical apps.

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A trip to the moon is becoming within reach for everyday people, with a space tourism study suggesting that 140 private citizens could reach orbit by 2020.

A Virginia-based firm, Space Adventures, is promoting a 17-day excursion that includes orbiting the moon. There is just one seat left on this trip around the moon and back, but it will cost you $150 million.

The voyage is due to take place in 2015, and includes a stop at the International Space Station, before orbiting the moon and then travelling back to Earth. Space Adventures has emerged as the world’s first true space-travel agency and has been working with Russia’s Space Agency to devise this once in a life time opportunity.

The trip is an example of how Space Adventures expects space tourism to take off (literally!) in the next 10 years.

It’s been a decade since investment manager Dennis Tito travelled to the International Space Station in April 2001 for $20 million. Only 8 private citizens have made this trip before, but the firm expects that number to significantly increase by 2020.

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