While some tables come equipped with various evolved touch interfaces, or can play games with your children, there are certain pieces of furniture, which combine advanced technology, with stylish design and practicality, all at the same time. Like the Fletcher Capstan series of tables from DBfletcher Design that will change shape in order to fit more people in a very futuristic fashion.

Seen on Hackaday, these inventions come in both manual and automated versions. The manually shifted tables take less time to double their capacity from six to twelve persons and also seem quite easy to expand, retract, since I saw a woman doing this without any effort.

The automated models change form in a longer period of time, but don't imagine that you have to start the process in the morning of the day you'll have guests over for dinner. There is one aspect of using an automated table like these ones from the Fletcher Capstan family, which might bother some people out there. This aspect would be the noise generated by the mechanism working these fancy pieces of furniture.

They are only manufactured in Britain and only a few of them are built every year. One such table weighs about 220 kg (485 lbs); worry not, they are shipped worldwide. The adequate installation is guaranteed by a technician who personally takes care of this process. The whole lineup includes four different models built out of different materials and with different dimensions.

Starting from 69 inches (expandable up to 91 inches) all the way up to 90 inches (118 inches expanded), the Fletcher Capstan tables are designed to fit any type of room. In case there are people seriously interested in these devices, let me also tell you that they require regular maintenance.




We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .