Pillows that shine a light in the night

While most people complain that their bedroom can get too light, some actually prefer it that way. As a result, they are benefitting right now from the following online gimmick - pillows that glow in the dark.

The pillows vary in function and style. Of the many different designs our favorite are those in the shape of hearts. We also really liked the ones of stars, since they reminded us of the universe stickers we had on our bedroom wall as kids.

In terms of how they glow, the pillows rely on LED lights in order to shine all night.

The idea is the brainchild of an anonymous user on Taobao, China's biggest online shopping portal. The person wanted to capitalize on lovestruck couples and teenagers in need of something to inject fun into their bedroom. Indeed, when the pillows entered the market just a few years ago, they soon became popular, especially in the lead up to Valentine's Day.

Some however might not see them as particularly romantic. However, for parents with kids who have trouble sleeping in dark rooms, they can prove quite useful. 

Zhang Xiaoran, an online vendor who first started selling the pillows last year for approximately 100 yuan (US$16), said they are among the most popular products for sale in her store. "They are quite popular, especially among school students and young couples," she said. "After all, around 100 yuan per pillow is not prohibitively expensive for most youngsters today." However, it must be noted that the price of the pillows actually vary online depending on their exact style and function.

People who buy these pillows often have lots of questions, more so than those who buy standard pillows, which is to be expected. "They have many questions about safety and what to do if the light breaks," said Zhang, who explained that the lights are not that likely to break since they are very small and buried deep in the fabric of the pillow. "The battery box also has space for plenty of batteries to ensure it runs for a really long time before needing to be recharged," she added. And of course, the lights and batteries can be removed as and when the pillow needs to be washed. The pillow might shine but the light isn't too bright. Moreover, when you tire of the light and want to sleep, you can simply switch it off.

Taking this idea one step further, some of these pillows perform other interesting functions. One range doubles up as speakers. By plugging your laptop, handset or MP3 player into the pillow, it suddenly turns into a music player.

So for all those who like a gadget, or those who are slightly lost for thought on what to get their loved one this Valentine's Day, this could be just the ticket. Alternatively you could just send a card, or go for a nice meal at a nice restaurant.