# Office toy

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{{Short description|Novelty item typically placed on the desk of an office worker}}
[[Image:Newton's Cradle.jpg|thumb|right|A [Newton's cradle](/source/Newton's_cradle) executive toy]]
An '''office toy''' (also known as an '''executive toy''' or a '''desk toy''') is a [novelty item](/source/novelty_item) typically placed on the desk of a [corporate executive](/source/corporate_executive) or other [office worker](/source/office_worker). They have no work-related function, but are often intended to provide decoration or pleasure, [relieve stress](/source/relieve_stress) or inspire [creativity](/source/creativity).<ref name=Wang>Hsiang Cheng 'Sam' Wang (2007) The Investigation of Office Toy. National Central Library</ref><ref name=NYT/> The [Newton's cradle](/source/Newton's_cradle) is a classic example of an office toy.<ref name=NYT/><ref name=Cosmos/>

==Functions==
Different types of office toys fulfill different needs for their users. Although providing pleasure and being decorative could be the two major functions in office toys, there are still some differences between each types of office toys. For example, [puzzle](/source/puzzle)-type toys can also help inspire creativity. A [fidget spinner](/source/fidget_spinner) is an office toy that is used to reduce stress or boredom.<ref name=Fidget>James Plafke (2016) [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jplafke/2016/12/23/fidget-spinners-are-the-must-have-office-toy-for-2017/#48a6919618a4 Fidget Spinners Are The Must-Have Office Toy For 2017] ''[Forbes](/source/Forbes)'', 23 December 2016.</ref> Design curator Donald Albrecht described executive toys as "aspirational" objects, "less tools for provoking creativity than foghorns of identity and status in a sea of corporate homogeneity."<ref name=NYT/> Toys with corporate logos act as advertisements, such those distributed by [pharmaceutical sales representative](/source/pharmaceutical_sales_representative)s in doctors' offices.<ref name="DrugRush">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2000/0005.pomper.html|title=Drug Rush|last=Pomper|first=Stephen|date=May 2000|publisher=The Washington Monthly|access-date=3 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204040615/http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2000/0005.pomper.html|archive-date=4 February 2012}}</ref>

==Examples==
* [Drinking bird](/source/Drinking_bird)<ref name=NYT>Julie Lasky (2015) [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/garden/designing-distraction-executive-toys.html "Designing Distraction: Executive Toys"]. ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'', 4 February 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.</ref>
* [Fidget spinner](/source/Fidget_spinner)<ref name=Fidget/>
* [Kinetic sand](/source/Kinetic_sand)
* [Lava lamp](/source/Lava_lamp)
* [Magic 8 Ball](/source/Magic_8_Ball)<ref name=NYT/>
* [Newton's cradle](/source/Newton's_cradle)<ref name=NYT/><ref name=Cosmos>Jason England (2015) [https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/executive-desk-toys-explained "Executive desk toys explained"] ''[Cosmos](/source/Cosmos_Magazine)'', 20 July 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.</ref><ref name=CNN>Rose Hoare (2012) [https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/03/business/global-office-executive-desk-toy-madness/ "Toy story: Office playthings come of age"] [CNN](/source/CNN), 4 September 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2016.</ref>
* [Pin Art](/source/Pin_Art)<ref name=CNN/><ref>Chris Merriman (2013) [https://web.archive.org/web/20131224035457/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2307008/mit-demonstrates-a-morphing-computer-interface "MIT demonstrates a morphing computer interface"]. ''The Inquirer'', 14 November 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2016.</ref>
* [Stress ball](/source/Stress_ball)
* [Useless machine](/source/Useless_machine)
* [Plasma globe](/source/Plasma_globe)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

Category:Novelty items
Category:Office toys

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Office toy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_toy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_toy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.