The 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was held in Las Vegas from Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th January. Everybody and anybody from the consumer tech industry was there to either showcase their product or admire various innovations from their favorite brands.
CES has served as a melting pot for people who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. For 50 years, it has hosted the global stage for breakthrough technologies and served as the launching pad for next-generation innovation prior to market introduction. It is owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).
Now that the basics have been summed up, here’s the interesting part. If you are familiar with the charged atmosphere of CES product displays, you will know it’s a place for all kinds of technology.
From the revolutionary to the nifty, crazy and downright bizarre, there is always something guaranteed to wow the interested onlooker. Although this year’s event has come and gone, this article discusses 10 gadgets that caught everyone’s attention so far. Some of which you wouldn’t mind coveting for yourself.
Sony Aibo 2018
Last year, Sony wowed audiences with its groundbreaking robot dog, Aibo. This year, Aibo is back with a few new tricks up its sleeves. At a time when artificial intelligence is the new rave, the dog is fully equipped to keep the family entertained.
Aibo is now able to recognize and respond to multiple family members. It also has a wireless cloud connectivity that can store and process everything it learns from living with its users.
Well, we needn’t tell you the implications of such functions if Aibo falls into the wrong hands. Nevertheless, it’s a cool pet; one that is guaranteed to be your best friend. Price and availability not yet announced.
Aeolus
No doubt, the Aeolus at CES is a prototype, but it works. If you love robots, CES is the place to feed your imagination. The Aeolus is a robot that does all the cleaning up. So, if you leave the house in a hurry, you can count on the robot to pick up after you.
Need a beer from the fridge? Aeolus has been touted as that type of bot! However, it is bulky and less-practical than a traditional DIY smart-home system. Aeolus is also designed to act as a security robot with an in-built camera programmed to recognize your face.
It has Alexa, so you can converse with it. Ask simple questions and search the net. Simply put, Aeolus is awesome.
ChannelMaster Smartenna and Stream
If you can remember, it was a mouthful too when you first tried to pronounce it – and still is. But the function makes up for its long moniker.
Tired of your shoddy cable reception? Say goodbye to it and welcome the Smartenna. Given its sharp reception, the Smartenna can pick up signals within a 60-mile range and optimize your viewing automatically. It uses the new Stream+, which comes with features such as Android TV support, dual tuners and a free channel guide- and no need to subscribe.
Shipping begins from spring of 2018 and it costs $89 (£75). The Smartenna is currently available for pre-order.
The Intel Volocopter
While we are still trying to perfect self-driving cars, Intel has introduced a flying one. Brian Krzanich, the company’s CEO, used his CES keynote speech to introduce the Volocopter, an independent passenger drone which he described as “a flying car”.
The Volocopter has its origins from a German based company and made its first flight in 2013. The device was displayed at CES Park Theatre at the Monte Carlo Hotel. The drone flew without a pilot and was tethered down afterwards.
Unless you are Tom Thumb, don’t expect to hop into a flying car just yet. The Volocopter is the first of its kind and there will be subsequent models to come. It is not currently available for sale because of a pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Razer mamba Hyperflux
Gamers will relish this nifty-powered mouse. The Razer HyperFlux gets its fuel from a super mouse pad. These days, more people are on the lookout for wireless charging pads, thanks to Apple iPhones and some earlier versions of Android phones.
Razer, a PC and accessory-maker is hoping to widen the range even more with its novel battery-free wireless gaming mouse, powered by a special mouse pad. Mamba, which is already a longstanding player in the gaming industry, will be looking to break more ground in the market.
A digital marketing manager at umbrellar.com, a web hosting company, believes it will change the game for online gamers. “We currently have a number of gaming sites on our network. With the Razer, users will probably have increased engagement because of power consistency,” he says.
The company says its new technology allows the mouse mat to set up a magnetic field that efficiently transmits power straight to the corresponding mouse instead of needing to charge a heavy battery.
The HyperFlux series will be available before the end of the first quarter at $249 (£185).
Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf has revealed a new square-shaped version of its smart light panels. You can now turn the panels on and off, dim the up or down or switch color by simply tapping on of the tiles.
When it comes to smart-lighting for the home, the company is one of the leading providers in the industry. Nanoleaf LED lighting is not only energy-efficient, it brings a cosy look to your home interiors. They can be connected in various configurations. Installation is easy with each tile stuck in specific color patterns on the wall.
Sure, there is also a microphone for syncing music and inbuilt motion sensors that light up the room as you walk by. The price and availability of the product haven’t yet been announced.
Face unlocking car
A trendy electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) was presented by BYTON – a Chinese automobile manufacturing company. The SUV has the capacity to drive itself with the help of a computer – which also controls other parts of the vehicle. Doors are opened using facial recognition technology – making it one of the most outstanding smart cars ever made. There are also sensors which measure the blood pressure and heart rate of the driver continuously.
Roll-up TV
One of the most amazing revelations at the CES 2018 was the Roll-up TV. It stood out from other televisions on display due to how it folds like a newspaper. A 64-inch (more than 160cm long) model was made by LG Display. The OLED tech used in televisions is still the same tech used in this prototype.
Smart underwear
In the 90s, who would have ever thought that smart clothes would be developed? In the CES 2018, smart underclothes were presented by two companies. An underwear that can check the sleep history, number of steps taken daily, water intake, body fat, breathing, body temperature and heart rate of a person was launched by Skiin. Spartan – another manufacturer – presented smart underwear majorly for men. The cloth is said to be capable of blocking as much as 99% of radiation that is emitted from wireless computer devices. Other products that were displayed at CES include – siren smart socks that check the temperature of user’s feet, so as to warn the person of any injuries. There’s also the special socks made for men and women suffering from diabetes.
Self-driving travel bag
To the amazement of everyone in attendance, ForwardX Robotics demonstrated how a travel bag can follow its owner around. The Chinese manufacturers stated that the smart bag uses Artificial Intelligence and cameras (which are installed in them) to avoid crashing or bumping into an obstacle. The bag also sends a message to the owner when the battery is low or if the owner moves to far away from it.
For more interesting gadgets, visit the CES home page. Innovation is a major strategy for brands striving to win big in their respective markets. As the new year unfolds, expect to see more novel technologies in the consumer sector.
