CES is the world's gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years - the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers.
Technology can seemingly always surprise us, especially at CES 2023. One company that has developed a surprising piece of technology is Algorized, whose new product essentially allows product developers to allow their products to see through walls. While this might seem like a hack in Call of Duty, the technology is real, and it is spectacular.
We've all seen movies where someone smells something, and it transports them to another time or place. Whether it's the smell of freshly baked cookies that takes you back to your childhood or the smell of a summer rainstorm that reminds you of a romantic moment, scent can be a powerful trigger for memories. Now, thanks to OVR Technology's ION3, we can experience smell through our entertainment.
As we get older, it gets more difficult to live on our own. In addition to actual hazards, family concerns can make it even more difficult - for us and our families. Making sure our siblings and children are comfortable and safe can add stress to someone trying to live their lives as normally as possible. Fortunately, thanks to Sedimentum, we've now got technology that can take both of those stresses off of the aging population to allow them to live on their own longer than before.
If you've been in the electronics world for a while, you know that robotic pets have been a popular product category for a long time. However, they generally come with some problems. Generally, they are too expensive, don't do anything actually interesting, or both. One company has tried to tackle this problem for years and has hit upon a robotic companion that people will want - Dog-E from WowWee.
The way we interact with machines has not changed much over the years. We started with a keyboard and later added a mouse. The mouse was augmented by touch, but only for some purposes. All of this means that the way we use computers today is nearly identical to how we interacted with them 40 years ago. However, the types of machines we interact with have changed significantly, and so it is time that our interactions change too. This is the lofty goal that The Tactigon has in its gesture-based controls.
If you are trying to broadcast an event around the globe with multiple unrelated endpoints, the infrastructure can be difficult and expensive. Traditionally, this has required satellites and hard links on both the transmitter and receiver's side. This means that smaller production houses would be unable to take advantage of the ability to transmit to a global audience and also prevent them from being able to receive these feeds, as well. GlobalM has taken this concept and moved it off of satellites and onto the internet.
Playing a videogame is intended to extend the experience of entertainment into a more personal connection. With a movie or TV show or even a play, you watch what is happening and pretend to put yourself into the action. With a videogame, however, you are in control over the experience - sometimes in small ways and others in large ways. However, we're still generally separated from the game in a variety of ways, but Actronika wants to bring you directly into the game experience with Skinetic.
Computers and machinery have gained a lot of abilities over the past few years. Computers can think for themselves with artificial intelligence. Robots can see and hear thanks to cameras and microphones. Together they create the ability for machines to make decisions about their environment and adapt. But, one thing that's missing is the sense of smell. That's where Ball Wave technology comes in.
Children enjoy music and stories, but younger kids need help. Things like CDs or even streaming services require too much interaction and knowledge - plus they usually require a screen. This is where the Toniebox comes in, producing a smart speaker that allows kids to listen to music and stories on their own in a safe and easy way.
VersaWare is on a mission to help you get healthy and save time. They provide users with a culinary ecosystem that is tailored specifically to their health goals. Their recipe-AI and real-time nutrition breakdowns make it easy to create healthy meals quickly and efficiently. With VersaWare, you can finally achieve your health goals without sacrificing your time!
If you travel as often as our team does, you know there are a number of issues that pop up regularly. For example, one day you could be working in a hotel office and the next you're sitting at a table in a coffee bar. But, one thing always remains the same - how do you secure your computer? There are Kensington-style locks, but so many laptops today don't have a lock port (including the one I'm using to write this). This is the space that LapLok is looking to fill.
Too often these days, we are forced into places that are not conducive to conversation. This is exacerbated when you're on the phone or computer. This happens because microphones, in general, do not discriminate between sounds. These microphones pick up whatever sound they hear and push it to the other side of the call. In a loud area, this means it's nearly impossible for the person on the other side of the call to hear anything you say. This is the problem that Skyted is hoping to solve.
Over the past few years, we've seen a lot of companies implement platforms based on blockchain technology. However, these platforms are often not enhanced by the permanent and unalterable nature of the technology. But, there are a lot of places where blockchain technology can be of use, and Parisian company ATBHASH is implementing them for safety and security purposes.
If there is one truth in the fashion world, it is that there are two types of shows: comfortable and fashionable. It seems that no one has been able to combine the two categories into one. Either a woman wears sneakers or heels - and never the two shall cross. However, ALIA (Active Lift in Alignment), has a system that allows them to take incredibly accurate measurements and produce a shoe that is both fashionable and comfortable.
For many people, natural speech can be a challenge. Whether it be because of a stutter or throat cancer, speaking becomes an uncomfortable thing to do. But, through modern technology, there are solutions to help people overcome their speech limitations. Whispp has brought out a technology to help bring natural and normal volume speech capabilities to millions of users.
Since we first encountered BenjiLock in Eureka Park in 2017, the company has changed a lot. Those early days were at a tiny booth with a non-functioning prototype. Before we got to see them again, the company had been on Shark Tank and partnered with Mr. Wonderful Kevin O'Leary. O'Leary put together a partnership to help Founder Robbie Cabral bring the product to market with manufacturing, sales, and more. Today, the company is looking at its next phase in life, including helping to support other startups at CES.
When you work with audio hardware, you know that it can be fragile. This is especially the case when you take something like headphones and put them into a public space, like a school, library, or gaming center. When people don't have to pay for something, they don't have a lot of respect for it. This is known as the tragedy of the commons. However, sometimes a company comes along to tackle these common issues, like TWT Audio.
Digital picture frames are not a new product category. In fact, they've existed nearly as long as LCD screens have been affordable. However, as time has gone on, new features have been added to these products in order to make them easier to use for those to whom we really want to give them. The biggest issue has been giving a photo frame to an older member of the family and never being able to change the photos. The team at Familink looks to fix that with a truly connected device.
Have you ever lost your keys or wallet? Of course you have! And it always happens at just the wrong time. You're running late and headed out the door and your keys are nowhere to be found. Now you've got to spend time that you don't have looking for your keys, making you even later for wherever you're headed. Fortunately, there is an easy way to solve this problem thanks to the team at Chipolo.
For many people, there are medical conditions that require constant active monitoring. Others have needs that can progress in unexpected ways, and whose trajectory can be monitored easily. However, the technology to track these conditions has generally been limited to doctors' offices or companies like Lab Corp. However, in the past few years, the ability to monitor and track a person's health has been miniaturized to the point where we can now do it at home. One company that has been at the forefront of this medical democratization has been Withings.
Over the past decade, it seems that everything has become smart. From lightbulbs to refrigerators, to even glasses, everything is getting smarter. In some cases, the benefits have been obvious, such as being able to control lightbulbs without having to go to a particular place in the room or having special wiring. However, some items being smart have mostly been gimmicky, like glasses. That is until now - as Lighthouse Tech has a new take on the tech, making it a truly useful addition for many users.
These days, we have a lot of sensors in our homes. Nearly everyone has a fire alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm. In addition, we've got motion sensors, security cameras, smart speakers and thermostats with presence detection, and a lot more. But, one threat detection that appears to be missing for no known reason is natural gas detection. New Cosmos USA is looking to change this with the DeNova Detect natural gas detector.
In the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a major part of the tech industry. From rooting out inappropriate comments on social media to content creation, everything seems to be affected by AI - for better or worse. However, one of the spaces where AI is making a difference for a number of industries is text-to-speech capabilities. One company working to improve this technology is Acapela Group, which announced VoiceAI at CES 2023.
Healthy sleep can be a real challenge. For a lot of people, getting comfortable at night is nearly impossible. This is made even more problematic if you change positions throughout the night. Every time you move, your pillow is suddenly not supportive in the way you need it, especially if you do it while you are still asleep. Fortunately, there is a new pillow - AirCozy by DozzyCozy - that is designed to promote healthy sleeping no matter your position.
Anyone who has tried to do any baking or any kind of food preparation for that matter knows that it is a complicated process. Baking, especially, is a science, and everything has to be precise and well-timed or the results could be disastrous, costly, or even a mess. When Grandma was in the kitchen, she seemed like a professional, with all the skills and time to do what was needed to make a seemingly hard job look effortless. While our time today is much more limited, we are lucky that GE has released the GE Profile Smart Mixer to make our lives easier and time in the kitchen much more pleasant and productive.
Trying to stay in shape can be a real challenge. If you know what you're doing, you can have your own equipment. However, if you don't know what you're doing, you have to go to the gym and pay a membership fee, and possibly even a personal trainer. But, if you want to work out on your schedule at home and have the convenience of a trainer, LG has a new project called Hovergym.
It seems like every day we hear about another industry that AI, robotics, and automation are coming to improve. Fast food service has gotten better with more automation in the kitchen. Manufacturing has been helped immensely by robotics and automation, making the jobs in factories safer and less physically intensive. However, one place that we didn't expect to see robotics, at least not today, is security. However, ADT Commercial has a new robot security guard called Apollo.
Home security is a top focus for a lot of people. The problem is that creating a safe and secure home can be challenging. You can buy pre-fabbed kits with connected sensors, but you end up locked into their ecosystem, but you're required to monitor and respond to the alerts yourself. The other option is to go with an installed and monitored system, but you're usually locked into their proprietary hardware, so if you ever want to change, you're pretty much out of luck. Luckily, ADT has found an excellent middle-ground for consumers.
For the regular traveler, trying to find the right travel supplies can be a priority. Limiting the number of items, and finding the right travel bag is important. Luckily, STM Goods (short for Smarter Than Most) makes a line of bags and accessories for any traveler.
No one likes to find spoiled food in the fridge, especially when you are expecting to prepare a meal. Food waste these days is not something that should happen, especially for families with several children, as the price of groceries seems to be increasing on a daily basis. However, it can be a challenge to remember when you bought certain items, and certain to know how long each item lasts. This is where the Smarter FridgeCam and Smarter FoodCam come in.
If you own a pool, you know that maintaining the pool can be a pain. Between keeping the pH balance correct, a garage full of various chemicals, a constant fight against leaves, plus keeping the bottom clean, there is always something to do. There have been machines to help with the process, like filters and vacuums, but even that isn't perfect. However, Aiper has a line of underwater robots to make maintaining your pool easier.
We all know that there are many choices out there when it comes to the headphone market, but few companies try to be as customizable as possible or try to balance affordability with high-quality audio. You're usually going to get quality sound with a decent design and a high price tag, or an affordable price with stale audio and LED lights to distract you from its flaws. TWT Audio wants to change up the formula with their current line of headphones.
Modularized parts are one of the key focuses for this line. Detachable ear cups, not just the cousin mind you, are available across the board. They have different styles of earcups, different colors, and earcups made of materials designed to deal with moisture from working out. This can especially appeal to gamers and streamers who are also fitness buffs. You'd have the ability to move from your streaming rig right to your workout area and swap to your sweat-resistant ear cups for a worry-free workout stream.
The audio cable is also modularized. The input device is swappable: you can go from a USB-C connection to a USB-A connection to a 3.5mm connection or even a 1/4 inch connection into an amplifier if you wanted. Seems to be just a quick screw removal from under the ear cup, and simply swapping the part and you're good to go. TWT Audio is making sure that the customization aspect is as easy as possible.
Audio Quality is an aspect they want to emphasize in their gaming model, the Victory 250XG model. Not seen in the interview, I got a good demonstration with a Fortnite match. Projectile paths, sounds of vehicles, and footsteps were all coming from their precise directions. Along with that, the proper volume of sounds depending on their proximity to your character. Sounds were crisp and clear and it's hard to believe how close these headphones come to the higher-end, more expensive headphones on the market.
Comfort level is always important and these do not fall short of other quality headphones. The ear cups are cushioned as well as the band over your head. It's adjustable enough to fit over my large head and hair. Many headphones in the affordability classes cut costs in these areas in particular, so I think it's important to note that TWT Audio seems to have found a sweet spot with these products.
Notable aspects of each model: the Victory 250XG gaming headset has an omnidirectional "silicon flex" mic, come with mesh ear cups and the ear cups' angle can be adjusted for comfort options. The Revo headset has the boom-lift activated mute feature and stealth release changeable cable and ear customization options. Ultra Durable Pro doesn't have the customization options but it has the same functionality and audio quality that TWT Audio is becoming known for. Lastly, the Ultra Ergo is perfect for your work-at-home or office settings.
TWT Audio is taking the market by storm and with their plans for partnerships with educational programs and esports organizations, I'm sure this will be a brand for many to know and love. The 4 product names I mentioned above are all currently available on Amazon via the links below. Also, the Audiophile and Gaming Pro headsets should be available sometime in the near future.
The current line of headphones are available now: The Victory 250XG retail for $39.99, the Ultra Durable Pro retail for $31.99, and the Ultra Ergo retail for $20.99. There is also the REVO headsets run $36.99 and are available for volume purchase.
Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.
If you've ever worked in retail as a salesperson or clerk, you know that there are tricks to get the barcode scanners to read certain products. If you've ever used a self-checkout lane at a store, you likely don't know those tips and tricks, making the experience less than ideal. However, self-checkout is here and not going anywhere, so how do we make the process easier? Mashgin has a new system that allows clerks and customers alike to checkout without any hassle.