How many times have you been walking your dog and said to yourself, I wish I had a companion that would share the walk with me. If you then entertained the notion that failing an actual human, a dismembered hand would do just fine, then this is for you. And it will identify you easily so the rest of us can stay the hell away.

It’s the Hand-Shaped Dog Leash designed by Alice Wang. So that you can sway your hand and pretend that you have a special someone as you walk your dog.(Who must be intelligent enough to be scared of you and your corpse hand.)

Humanity has accomplished some amazing things by combining virtual reality with plain ole reality. This is not one of those things. This is something designed to give randy nerds a few cheap thrills. The idea is that if you can’t find a girlfriend, Alice will take a shot at being the object of your affections.

It’s called “Dennou Figure ARis”, or “Cyber Figure Alice” in plain English. Buyers get the AR software, 2 cybersticks and 2 cybercubes. Place one of the cubes in front of the computer, point your webcam at it and the screen will display a 3D image of Alice standing on top of the cube. Here’s where your cybersticks come in handy. You’ll use them to touch, caress, fondle and peep at your new lady. Fear not, you can of course even undress Alice and change her clothes.

Apparently all the good and handsome men are taken in Japan. I guess that’s why Japan’s women are finding romance with this virtual man called the “Handsome Man Bank”.

It comes in girl-friendly pink or white, with an LCD display that will show 5 handsome men. It costs about $50 and he’s a player alright. A real smooth guy with lines like “Can I kiss you?” or “May I rub your shoulders?” But at the end of the day he’s all talk, leaving some longing and needful Japanese women all hot and bothered. Should have come with another accessory for this phase I guess.

It can be lonely being a geek. So it’s easy to understand why Drew Burrows created INBED, which is essentially an interactive virtual girlfriend. Just climb into bed with her, and she’ll snuggle up against you. If you lie on your side, she’ll even spoon. Sad thing is, she sleeps fully dressed and she’s only two dimensional, existing only because she is projected from the ceiling.

Infrared sensors watch you in the bed, altering the projection accordingly. She can even react to kisses buy burying her virtual face in a virtual pillow. Cute. But will this satisfy the geek or make him long even more for a real live woman? I don’t know, but your Star Wars toys in the corner aren’t helping.