January 11, 2018
Sleep Robots and Time-Travel Cameras Among CES Finds
More than 4,000 exhibitors show off their big ideas and boldest innovations every year at CES, the consumer tech trade show in Las Vegas. The show floor spans multiple buildings, encompassing more than 2.6 million square feet. That means you’ll get your 10,000 steps in well before you sit down for lunch. Luckily, there’s always something to pique one’s interest – and distract from aching feet.
Here are a few more intriguing gadgets from CES 2018.
1. Somnox
The Somnox is a glowing bean-shaped robot pillow. Really. Would-be dreamers cuddle with the Dutch-built robot, which simulates human breathing to help accelerate the process of falling asleep. The soft, snuggly robot is packed with tech, including a CO2 sensor to measure breathing, an accelerometer to detect movement, a microphone to play audio, and an intelligent algorithm to soothe the user to sleep. The Somnox was one of many sleep-related items spotted at CES, including smart rings, headbands and sleep masks. Like Somnox, they’ve gone beyond mere sleep tracking, instead actively working to help wearers get 40 winks. Clearly, lack of sleep is keeping tech companies up at night.
2. Allergy Amulet
The Allergy Amulet is a sleek, stylish pendant – or convenient keychain – that enables the wearer to detect food allergens while out at a restaurant. Users take a sample of the suspect dish with a disposable test strip, then connect it to the amulet, which quickly determines whether the allergen is present. Brent Amberger, a chemist with the tech company, says Allergy Amulet plans to create test strips for the “big eight” food allergies, including peanuts, milk, soy and shellfish. The company is still finalizing the product and hopes to release it to the public sometime next year.
3. Wearable Translator 2
Chinese company Timekettle showed off the Wearable Translator 2, a set of capsule-shaped earbuds that provide real-time in-ear translations for eight languages. The idea is to give one of the earbuds to the person you’re speaking with, so that you both can understand each other. The company raised more than $276,000 on Kickstarter last year to help fund their idea.
4. Roader Time Machine Camera
The cheekily named Time Machine Camera is no TARDIS or DeLorean, but it does give you a pretty cool ability: to save video from 10 seconds in the past. The wearable camera is continuously buffering, but only saves video from 10 seconds before and after you hit record. You can then transfer the clip wirelessly via Bluetooth to the Roader mobile app to watch and share on social media. Sure, it looks kind of square to sport a clunky camera cube on your chest, but it may be worth it for the ability to capture special moments right after they happen.