Americans have a reputation for being a nation of hard workers, but this month, Vanity Fair, wonders if all the products we invent to make our lives easier is just inducing laziness. The article highlights some hilarious gadgets that offer solutions to needs we never knew we had.

Some inventions might be practical, like the iRobot vacuums and lawnmowers, but other seem, in my opinion, more trouble then they’re worth.

At your next spaghetti dinner, would you bother with the self-twirling fork? Do we need a motorized cone to maximize enjoyment of ice cream – isn’t the licking part of the fun?

From food “innovations” like one-jar peanut butter and jelly, to convenience gadgets like the Clapper Plus (which is coming out this fall with a remote control), tell me what products you think have gone too far, and which are a helpful luxury.

Rachel