More of show’s hottest gadgets
TECH : RECOGNITION OF BEST INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS Picking 10 best technology in last of a two-part feature.
CES (formerly the Consumer Electronics Show), attracts more than 150b 000 people to Las Vegas in the second week of January every year. This year, it has brought together more than 4 000 exhibitors, including global brands and startups, industry professionals, media and government leaders.
The organisers recognise the year’s hottest products through the CES Innovation Awards, an annual competition that honours outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.
From several hundred honourees, we have narrowed the choice down to our 20 top picks of CES 2024. The next 10, in no specific order, are:
Best smartphone tech
NxtPaper 40, from TCL TCL claims line honours for the NxtPaper 40 as the world’s first smartphone to provide a “full-colour, monochrome paper-like visual experience”, and fills the gap between smartphones and e-readers.
“As screen time surges, so do concerns about eye health risks due to harmful blue light exposure,” says TCL.
“TCL’s affordable NxtPaper 40 addresses these concerns, offering industry-leading eye comfort with tactile paper-like experience that merges the convenience of modern technology into one seamless product.”
Best wearable gadget
Juno Snow Boot, from Kizik
The Iron Man vision of clothes that fit themselves to the wearer comes closer with “the world’s first hands-free snow boot”.
The wearer steps into the Juno boot, connecting with “External Cage technology” at the back of the heel, and slides their foot forward. The boot’s rigid back guides the foot forward, activating the heel technology.
Once the foot is fully inside, the External Cage springs back up to secure and lock it in. The Cage doubles as a pivot point for the ankle, promising a wider range of motion and a natural, comfortable experience.
Best kids robot
Loona companion robot, from Beijing KEYi Technology
This companion robot abandons the traditional robotic pets’ approach of attributing human qualities to an animal, blending technology and pet behaviour in the design. It is in effect a smart toy and companion, incorporating interactive games, a moveable home monitor, and a programming learning platform.
It is claimed to be the world’s first consumer robot equipped with the ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot, which gives it the capacity to have natural human conversations.
Best health robot
H-Flex, customisable wearable robot, from Hurotics
H-Flex offers personalised assistance based on users’ needs. Most standard assistive robotic systems tend to be too generic to meet the extensive requirements of users. Its modular actuation units use Edge AI – artificial intelligence built into devices – to allow users to tailor the robot to their specific needs.
Rehabilitation programs provided within the application combine with a usage log to enhance its effectiveness.
Best service robot
M3 delivery robot, from MOBINN
This robot promises delivery services “anywhere, anytime”, thanks to an independently developed wheel system that allows it to overcome obstacles, like stairs or bumps.
Its super power is the stability of the delivery item, as it is designed to keep the loading box horizontal regardless of its angle of movement.
That means the M3 can even deliver coffee without spilling a drop. It uses a LiDAR-based mapping system, usually found in cars, to operate, regardless of the outside environment.
Best integrated AI tech
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, from Qualcomm This is the first mobile platform designed for the era of generative AI. As Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip, it claims a variety of innovations that cover connectivity, sound, capture and gameplay. It is targeted at high-end smartphones, meaning it will offer generative AI capacity in handsets, most likely starting with the Samsung S24 range due to be launched today. Qualcomm is not shy of hype, promising to tackle complex productivity and creative tasks with “total privacy, monumental artistry, and unparalleled onthe-go proficiency”.
Best consumer AI tech
WHSP Ring, from Vtouch This is a wearable voice input ring for chatting with AI tools. One speaks to the device to activate voice chatting, which uses proximity-based speech recognition technology.
That means it doesn’t need a wake word, as with Siri or Google Assistant. Thanks to distance sensors, says Vtouch, it can also distinguish system input from everyday conversations, even in noisy environments. “Its exceptional precision can even recognize whispers, addressing privacy concerns,” says the company.
Best vehicle gadget
Interactive Transparent Window, from AUO
It promises “an amazing visual experience in cockpit by seamlessly integrating transparent displays into side windows and controllers”.
Why would one want such distractions in a car? AUO says it fulfils a range of needs, from basic entertainment functions and online meetings to interactive mixed reality experiences. More significantly, however, the window connects with side mirror cameras and issues warnings to passengers when they open the door without noticing approaching vehicles.
Best communications gadget
MT6825 chip, from MediaTek The mobile chipset supports two-way satellite communications in smartphones and other connected devices.
Users will be able send messages and share their location even when cellular coverage is unreliable or unavailable, and ask for help in emergency situations. It is built into the Motorola satellite link and Cat S75 smartphone.
Most visionary tech
Sound2Energy, from LV Energy
Sound2Energy offers a new method of generating electric energy, harvesting it from ambient sound sources – noise in one’s environment. LV calls it “a next major step in sustainable energy production to support the global energy transition goals”.
As it points out, in many situations, sound is available 24/7, and not intermittent like solar and wind power, making it a continuous energy source.