Art Lebedev's Vilcus dactyloadapter

Since the dawn of the electricity in the home, there's been one problem universal with power outlets the world over: they're just too damned hard to electrocute yourself with. Thankfully we have visionaries like Art Lebedev to help solve these vexing problems with innovative new products like the Vilcus dactyloadapter. Simply insert fingers into the receptacles, and insert the Vilkus into the electrical outlet of your choice for a few soothing, (heart) muscle-relaxing volts¹. Replaceable plugs for Euro an US slots mean you can take advantage of the grid at home or abroad, and when paired up with a Rozetkus or power splitter means circuit-breaking fun for gatherings of friends and family².

¹ What are you, stupid? Don't put your fingers in power outlets, please.
² Product is fake. Do not use.

Gallery: Art Lebedev's Vilcus dactyloadapter

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[kadajawi @ Apr 1st 2007 7:20AM]

Yeah the design is fantastic, very sleek, and never I have seen a better looking way to use something on holidays. They should try to do something useful with that design.

[Nate @ Apr 1st 2007 12:08AM]

Masochists UNITE!

[pomm @ Apr 1st 2007 12:13AM]

WIll cost $3,200.

[Devon @ Apr 1st 2007 12:21AM]

I could totally see that selling

[Bill Kline @ Apr 1st 2007 12:27AM]

For real fun, put one finger from each hand in the adaptor!

[aural @ Apr 1st 2007 12:30AM]

god i hate april 1.

[Daikon @ Apr 1st 2007 12:37AM]

Note to Engadget: April's Fool jokes just aren't the same if you put a "Product is fake. Do not use." disclaimer at the bottom of the article.

[Josh @ Apr 1st 2007 7:13AM]

Very true - but cmon, someone will be stupid enough to. And then the family will sue. (cf Hold your wee for a Wii...) Shame they have to, as this one's pretty damn easy to see through. But only in America...(let the flames commence).

[Ryan Block @ Apr 1st 2007 12:48PM]

Historically we've ignored all April Fool's gadget stuff, and "played it straight" so to speak. This year I wanted to try something different, but I can say that as someone who consumes tech media on April first, I've always hated how some sites / pubs take it too far, and actually get people riled up over jokes they didn't get.

So yeah, we wanted to be perfectly clear (albeit tongue-in-cheek) about what you can trust on the site, and what you can't. (Hence: "Real interview with Fake Steve Jobs", which is actually real.) Andrew's comment (http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/01/art-lebedevs-vilcus-dactyloadapter/comments/4237368/) is kind of exactly what I was trying to avoid. Well, that and lawsuits.

[Tom @ Apr 1st 2007 12:46AM]

in order for it to work you need to have the thumb from your other hand up your ass.

[Cory @ Apr 1st 2007 12:46AM]

ThinkGeek's write up on it is way better.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/lebedev.shtml

[Cory @ Apr 1st 2007 12:50AM]

And it actually includes a link to Art Lebedev's page for it...

[Dave @ Apr 1st 2007 12:57AM]

Maybe they should make 4/1 turn-off-your-computer day.

[Andrew H. @ Apr 1st 2007 1:01AM]

12:01am ... wow pretty good timing

[Andrew H. @ Apr 1st 2007 1:04AM]

btw im not going to believe anything Engadget posts btw between now and 11:59:59pm Apr 1st

[vakerrokero @ Apr 1st 2007 1:27AM]

Why would you need adapters if you are only going to use it once??

[Ellianth @ Apr 1st 2007 1:32AM]

Aren't they the same guys who make that Optimus keyboard thing? Wouldn't their vaporware keyboard be a better joke?

[Adam @ Apr 1st 2007 1:48AM]

This is almost as fun as Gmail Paper...
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/paper/more.html

*sarcastic tone*

[ScOObyDoo @ Apr 1st 2007 1:57AM]

Engadget must have really turned into a big corporate paid blog to actually feel the need to put a disclaimer under this product warning people not to stick their fucking fingers in a socket. :(

[Brian @ Apr 1st 2007 1:58AM]

finally, a product fully capable of killing off the idiot gene, hooray!

[Ninad Shah @ Apr 1st 2007 2:12AM]

You guys were just waiting for it to hit 12:01 before you posted that weren't you? Not bad though. I liked it!

[Deezee @ Apr 1st 2007 2:24AM]

I cant believe I fell for this lol. I really thought it was some type of home defibrillator.

Good one Engadget.

[Iced_Eagle @ Apr 1st 2007 2:33AM]

Well, that's gotta be at least $6,231.99! I mean look at the high-quality plastic they're using! Non-conductive edges so your cat doesn't get electrocuted with you.

[paul @ Apr 1st 2007 3:33AM]

"Engadget must have really turned into a big corporate paid blog to actually feel the need to put a disclaimer under this product warning people not to stick their f*cking fingers in a socket. :(" - ScOObyDoo

hmmm..yeah dude, that's called making it. you're just someone who posts here. don't hate, they are doing what they supposed to. you would do the same thing.

[Cosmos @ Apr 1st 2007 3:44AM]

Can anyone say NATURAL SELECTION?

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 1st 2007 7:05AM]

Wow what a great concept.

I can hardly wait for the development posts showing how they are making it work while the release date was when???

Why not just show the biggest 'fools joke of all, the Optimus Keyboard!

[Poom @ Apr 1st 2007 8:43AM]

Rofl. This is the most hilarious article I've seen here. Great April fools joke.

[jivetrky @ Apr 1st 2007 10:06AM]

.....Unfortunately the price of this product will be upwards of $1500 and be in development for 5 years.

[Don;t Panic! @ Apr 1st 2007 12:54PM]

You mean I can't actually buy one??? I guess I'll just have to keep using a fork. :(

[wrs @ Apr 1st 2007 4:44PM]

Since it the power outlet is likely to provide _alternating_ current, the one featured by engadget probably will just grill your two fingers.

Alternatively, using a fork, the power would run through your whole body to the ground.

Therefore, I think, the fork approach would be somewhat more knock-off but the two-fingers adaptor. -- Well, depending on how much your life hangs on these two fingers...

[a83 @ Apr 1st 2007 1:07PM]

The design is flawed since the VOLTAGE and AMPERAGE info is
printed on the non-removable part.
So when you do go to the US, and change the adapter, the info
will be incorrect since US outlets with the flat prongs supply
120V at 60Hz.

I hope the optimus doesn't have those flaws.

[Curtis @ Apr 1st 2007 2:28PM]

Oh... I want one these real bad! APRIL FOOLS!!!!

[PreGHz @ Apr 1st 2007 2:43PM]

I bet that this will be the price of a good phone, just like the Optimus.

[Stylze @ Apr 1st 2007 3:58PM]

I heard on the local news that some guy is threatening to sue engadget because he tried sticking his finger in the socket with his own version of the device... I guess he didn't see the disclaimer on the bottom.

[John @ Apr 1st 2007 10:01PM]

uhh am i the only one who notices that "Vilcus" is actually spelled "Vilkus" as it says on the (fake)product itself? look at this picture:

http://www.engadget.com/photos/art-lebedevs-vilcus-dactyloadapter/198279/