Lauren McCarthy is the designer responsible for the Happiness Hat -- a hat that drives a painful spike into your head when you forget to smile. The Conversacube is one of her more recent projects. It's a little box that will prompt you on what to say during a first date when you're not sure what to talk about:
Each outward face of the box has a small screen and a microphone embedded just inside. As the conversation progresses, each person is personally prompted with directions or lines to keep the conversation running seamlessly with minimal awkward or uncomfortable moments. The microphones monitor audio levels of each participant and the cube responds accordingly, adjusting prompts to enliven, mediate conflict, or balance conversation as necessary.
Link via Make
"So, how do you feel about the Constitutionality of healthcare mandates from the Federal level?"
"You drive manual or auto?"
"Firefly: A great show, or the greatest show? (Explain)"
"How do you feel about the implications of unexplained proton emissions during sonoluminescence?"