Universal Serial Bus, or USB, connections make it deliriously simple to connect thousands of different kinds of peripheral devices to a computer. Whether you want storage on a flash drive, a connection to your printer, an interface with a mouse or controller or upload/download capability from a multimedia device, transfering your data is as easy as plugging in.

But as limitless as the connections are with USB, it provides another highly useful – and entertaining – tool: around 5 volts of electric power. This is how you can charge your iPod from your computer, or get a sound out of those mini speakers.

You can find all sorts of interesting items that can be powered through a USB port. Take a look:

• Heated gloves and slippers. If your extremities get cold while you’re working at your computer, and you don’t mind being tethered to it, warm your hands and feet with fuzzy USB-heated gloves and slippers from Japanese manufacturer Thanko.
• Air-conditioned shirt. On the other hand, if hot flashes or equatorial conditions are your problem, plug your shirt into your USB port to run two small sewn-in fans. You may experience some ballooning. From Kuchofuku.
• Mini-fridge. Don’t have room in your cubicle for an under-the-desk mini-fridge? Plug in this one-soda-can-capacity refrigerator sold by Dino Direct to your CPU and enjoy a cool one. Works with beer cans, too, depending on your workplace.
• Pencil sharpener. In a case of spaceman meets caveman, even the highest-tech of us still need to sharpen a pencil sometimes. This nifty little accessory lights up when you introduce a pencil. Sold by USB Geek.
• Roll-up piano. Keyboard players have always envied guitarists for being able to sling their instrument over their shoulder and play anywhere. Now pianists can make music anywhere there’s a computer. Unroll the flexible rubber 49-key mat by Brando, plug into your USB port and you can perform, record, compose and arrange to your heart’s content.