World's smallest karaoke

By Phil Atkins

Sometimes inventions come along that leave you feeling numb - and not in a good way. Well the Japanese have just broken the sound barrier and they have people running for cover with their fingers in their ears.

A Japanese toy maker has just made the world a slightly less bearable place to live by inventing the world’s smallest karaoke machine, aimed specifically at children. The machine measures just 7cm and will be launched in the autumn.

Tomy Co. Ltd. claim that their invention will allow wannabe pop stars who are too young to enter traditional screeching establishments, to hone their skills anywhere they see fit. According to Japanese law, youngsters under 16 must leave karaoke lounges by 6 pm.

The machine, due to cost around $100, is a cube-shaped and comes complete with headphones so only the user hears the music.

Karaoke first originated in Japan in the early 1970s and the literal translation means empty orchestra. A new trend in Japan is "hitokara" - or "lone karaoke" - which means going out to sing karaoke alone. What is the point in that? Surely half the fun is displaying you genetic predisposition for being completely tone-deaf.

Just incase you are unaware how painful this can be on the ears, I give you the Tina Turner tribute band. You've been warned.