James Dyson has a fetish for making unusual products: everything from vacuums that suck (in a good way) to hand dryers that blow (also in a good way), each use a clever combo of eye-catching design along with innovative methods of compressing and dispensing air. But even we in the Lab weren't prepared for the WTF moment when we pulled Dyson's blade-less Air Multiplier fan from its packaging.

The thing should not work. A gust of air should not be coming form this giant blue Froot Loop. But upon closer inspection, all that's at work here is some clever engineering tricks. The unit is essentially one of Dyson's vacuum cleaners working in reverse. The gray base station sucks up air and forces it through the circular blue thing that sits atop the rig. When the air jets through the front of the circle, it creates a suction behind and to the sides that draws more air through the loop and makes the fan more powerful. Dyson claims the Multiplier increases pressure15-fold and spews 118 gallons of air every minute. To get a better idea of how it works, checkout this bullshit artist rendering:

The fan's operation is really quite amazing. Not only is it eye catching — everyone at the Wired office today was slack jawed by its striking build and apparent miraculous tempest — but the thing runs quiet too. There's virtually no operating noise aside from the light hum of the engine and whoosh of the blowing gas. And it's especially safe for worrisome parents who fret about junior getting his precious digits mangled by a high RPM spinning plastic blade.

The only thing we don't like about the fan? (Aside from the ridiculously high price tag.) There's no emulating Darth Vader's voice with this thing. I mean, how would it work in a Tommy Boy remake?

The Air Multiplier will go on sale on this fall and will cost $300 - $330.

See Also:

Photo by Jim Merithew for Wired.com