If nothing else, CES provides a notable amount of eye candy. My prowling mandate is to spot and learn about developments in connected tech. For rural spaces, IoT-supported ag tech and healthcare usually take center stage. This year, the infusion of AI into these and other applications was highlighted, albeit sometimes more successfully than others. Devices that process visual facial cues to disclose a patient’s vital statistics without physical contact? Sold – this can be especially helpful for preliminary telehealth consults. The massage chair that adapts to body shape and mass before activating the internal rollers? Maybe not. Elevators have been maintaining consistent speeds regardless of passenger weight for decades; this might just be an instance of scales and rulers.
I’ll be back later this week with a final CES wrap-up, but for now, some photos from the floor:
AR eyeglasses were all the rage this year. Even Rayban modeled sunglasses that enable wearers to watch videos, record videos and take still pictures. Like the XREAL glasses seen here, the spectacles are extraordinarily lightweight and feature a translucent lens which enables users to shift their view from the mini-screen of the glasses to the world around them. Not as immersive as VR helmet, but also not as visually intrusive.
Sensors, sensors, everywhere. Sumitomo Tires move beyond TPMS and include sensors that measure tire wear, damage and remaining life. No more fiddling with pressure or tread depth gauges.
It is nearly impossible to be unhappy at CES.
Withing’s BeamO is a digital stethoscope that measures body temperature, blood oxygen levels, takes a medical-grade ECG and listens to your lungs. It can be a first step in a telehealth visit – with no waiting room delay.
CES is spread over several venues up and down the Las Vegas Strip. Shuttle buses run door-to-door, but the wait and surface travel times can be long. The Las Vegas Monorail is stunningly efficient, but with the exception of the Convention Center, there are no stops directly proximate to the venues. This bear is a perfect representation of how most people feel at the end of any CES day.
“Using technology meaningfully” might be the most important goal of CES, and these ear pods that provide real-time translation are a perfect representation.
3D printers were a hot new thing at CES a few years, and while the surprise has subsided, the quality has increased as prices decrease.
Drone Soccer! It’s a thing. A big thing. There is an international federation for the support, which involves flying orbital drones through a ring, all while avoiding and/or deflecting competitors’ orbs.
A very friendly hypo-allergenic dog. Does not shed. Performs tasks, including hazardous ones, without complaint.
Coming next: Wrap-Up and Impressions.