Future Present: TD Store Takes Your Tech and Turns It Old School

Technology now evolves so quickly that there are tech-savvy adults who don’t know the sound of a dial-up modem, never used a felt-tip to rewind a cassette tape nor flushed CDs in the toilet in an effort to clean them. Although it always feels that we should be a little closer to Jetsons-style robotic ayi or the targeted advertising of Minority Report, in some ways we’re exactly where we should be – maybe even a little further ahead. One of the things that Back to the Future II, set in 2015, accurately predicted was the advent of tablet computers. That’s where TD Store comes in.

The Sanlitun Soho shop specializes in making your iPad and iPhone do things that it really shouldn’t be able to do. They’ve got mini arcade cabinets for the square-eyed, mini DJ decks for the mixmasters, a mini piano so you can crowd around it for an old-fashioned knees-up, and full-size guitars for anyone who fancies themselves as Slash from Guns ‘N’ Roses.

Does the fun stop there? Of course not. You can examine photo printers that plug directly into your smartphone, remote-controlled video cameras and some basstacular Bluetooth speaker systems. The helpful staff will also let you test out a Lytro, the light field camera whose revolutionary technology allows you to refocus photographs after you take them.

TD Store also stocks rather more work-related items. Among the ultra-ergonomic laptop stands and the odd tablet stylus, there’s a nifty device that projects a laser keyboard onto any surface and uses an infrared sensor to track your typing.

Apart from delivering us the future, the store also wants to make sure you won’t be dehydrated while you’re learning to use your new toys. Half of the space is turned over to a cafe with a selection of hot and cold drinks, and – you’ve guessed it – free Wi-Fi.

Also try: Buy Now Computer Shopping Mall (Bainaohui)