4 Cool Products at CES

CES, the massive consumer tech trade show, kicked off in Las Vegas this week, and tech companies large and small were on hand to show off their most exciting innovations. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organization that hosts CES, predicts that tech spending in the U.S. will reach $398 billion this year. Among the biggest growth areas are streaming services, with $26 billion in revenue, a 25% year-over-year increase and smartwatches, clocking in at about $4.7 billion in revenue, a 19% year-over-year increase.

Some of the biggest trends at this year’s show is the continued integration of voice-activated digital assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, into just about everything and the expansion of digital health care, with more and more products launching to help remotely monitor patients and encourage behavioral change.

Check out some of the most intriguing products shown off at CES 2019 below. 

1. B’Safe from Helite

Helite introduced a smart airbag vest for cyclists. Thanks to a sensor in the vest and one attached to the bike’s saddle, the B’Safe detects accidents, triggering the airbag, which inflates in 80 milliseconds to help absorb the impact from a fall. The vest is also reusable, with a C02 cartridge that can be replaced after the airbag deploys.

2. ORBI Prime

ORBI showed off surprisingly sleek sunglasses that allow the wearer to record 360-degree videos, thanks to four 1080p HD cameras embedded in the eyewear. Users can edit their videos right on their phones, using ORBI’s mobile editing software. The second generation of the glasses is also water-proof, enhancing the product’s usefulness. ORBI has also embedded its camera technology into football helmets, which the company believes will change the way people watch the game, giving viewers an on-the-ground 360-degree perspective.

3. My Skin Track pH by La Roche-Posay

L’Oréal continues to explore the world of wearables, with disposable skin-sensing patches. Previously, the company introduced UV-tracking patches to help wearers keep an eye on their sun exposure. The company’s newest development, My Skin Track pH, uses microfluidic technology to capture trace amounts of sweat from skin pores through a network of micro-channels, providing an accurate pH reading within 15 minutes. According to the company, skin that isn’t pH-balanced can exacerbate conditions like dryness, eczema and atopic dermatitis. “Our goal is to use this advanced technology to empower consumers with meaningful information about their skin, so that they can find the products that are right for their individual needs,” says Guive Balooch, global vice president of the L’Oréal Technology Incubator.

4. Hüpnos

Hüpnos is a self-learning snore-reduction mask that analyzes and gently corrects snorting patterns. It includes a smartphone app that provides real-time data to help the wearer identify the factors contributing to snoring. The mask itself has a built-in accelerometer that monitors movement and delivers gentle vibrations to cue sleepers to change positions if they are on their back. If that doesn’t solve the snoring, the mask will increase expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), using the wearer’s own breath to open the airways and stop the snoring.