Pleasant-sounding as music boxes can be, you have to admit they sure are repetitive. Adding a smidge of originality to the process, the SoniColumn is in essence a superhuge music box that lets you pick the notes it'll play. First you run your hands up and down the column, which will light up in response to your touch, each one chiming its specific musical note. Then you turn the hand crank off to the side, and the SoniColumn begins its musical spin, playing a tune based on the notes you chose/randomly slid your hand across. The look and sound of the thing is all very Logan's Run, and it's certainly much prettier than the Sonic Wire Sculptor. The SoniColumn is part of artist Jin-Yo Mok's MusicBox Project, his plot to take over the world with music box-inspired gadgets. Be sure to check out the videos on his site. — Peter Pachal

SoniColumn, via Gizmodo