When Tej Lalvani was young, he wanted to be a film director. Today he runs the Vitabiotics Group, the largest UK-based nutritional and food supplement company. Between making plans to launch his over-the-counter products in India, Lalvani finds time to mix music at his personal music studio and pine for a wristwatch-controlled Aston Martin DBS convertible.
What is the most expensive gadget that you wish to buy?
I guess the coolest gadget to have would be the new Aston Martin DBS convertible and the £25,000 watch that goes with it, so you can open and unlock the doors just by pressing the face of the watch.
Do you have a gadget quirk?
It’s always about my mobile phones. So I get my manager to get hold of a pre-release version of all BlackBerry devices. This way I get to flaunt a yet-to-be-released BlackBerry almost two months before its public release.
What’s next on your gizmo shopping list?
It is an ultra-slim wide-angle digital camera that shoots high definition video. It should have a touch screen on the back.
Have you ever bought a gadget that could not justify its worth?
I once bought a gadget that projects an image of a keyboard using laser beams onto any surface and communicates with your mobile phone. This way, one just has to type on this keyboard image and the result gets transferred to your phone. It was a very cool piece of technology, but never really used.
What was your first gadget purchase? Do you still have it around?
My first true gadget was a Sinclair ZX81 computer with 1 KB memory. I bought it 25 years ago when it was launched. But I certainly can’t possibly use it today.
What is the geekiest thing you have ever done?
It would be probably writing a code to create a simple game on the stock market in Basic (a computer programming language).
Is there a gadget that you are particularly proud to show off to people?
By all standards, it would be my Apple Mac Mini, connected to my home entertainment system. That in turn is controlled by my iPod Touch via Wi-Fi.
If you could, what kind of dream gadget would you build?
I would like to couple an Apple iPhone with a BlackBerry messenger, and add a slide-out keyboard and dual SIM cards to the contraption.
What ultra-expensive gadget have you bought?
It would be my music studio equipment, including the mixing desk that has faders, remotely controlled.
