Device Of The Week (4)

Wearing a mask has been a source of liberation for many of us. Under the cloak of a piece of cloth we have been able to give vent to a wide range of facial expressions of which the object of our anger, disdain or frustration has been blissfully unaware. It will take a lot of readjustment if and when the wearing of masks is no longer de rigueur.

For others, though, the inability to display facial expressions to others has been a source of frustration. Where there is a discernible gap in the market, someone will seek to fill it and this is what the UK-based Tail Company is seeking to do.

They have been making creating lifelike, animated tails since 2005, but are shortly to move artificial tails into the 21st century by launching a Bluetooth-enabled animatronic tail which can be controlled by a phone app. miTail provides the wearer with settings to show that they are frustrated and tense or calm and relaxed. Other moves include the Short Wag, the Happy Wag and the Erect Tremble.

If that is not enough, miTail comes with USB-C fast charging, Powerbank support so that you can keep it going for up to ten hours, and it will sync with EarGear, the Tail Company’s animatronic ears system.

I cannot help thinking that it comes with a default setting, making the wearer look a bit of a prat.

It will be available in August, when facial expressions may be on view again. Timing is everything.

Thereby hangs a tale!