gadgets

Babies supposedly remember and prefer the music they heard before they were born. So if you're pregnant you could spend nine months standing in front of the hi-fi, pumping out Mozart (if you want a genius), heavy metal (if you want a drug-addict rock star), or 'Advanced Chinese For Dummies' (if you want your kid to be prepared for their global takeover).

But that's just not practical.

Nor is strapping a boombox to your belly.

So here's the Ritmo. Essentially speakers that are embedded in an elasticised Spandex harness, they deliver sound directly from an iPod to the in-utero audience, regardless of how far-along mom-to-be is.

Plug an MP3 player into the Micro Audio Controller and set the level of surround sound. The two separate stereo speaker sets deliver the sound to the baby, with the volume and balance automatically adjusted to optimal levels, regardless of where the foetus is situated in the womb. Resonance cells further reduce sound leakage.

And it's all hands-free. Side pockets hold your iPod and the Audi Controller so there's no need for Ritmo to get in your way.

It's powered by a rechargeable battery that will give you and your baby roughly five hours of listening time.