Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
What do you think should be the next big ‘smart’ appliance?
The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show is set to kick off tomorrow in Las Vegas, and the big trend is smart everything.
Among the household items that are getting a computerized makeover:
an oven that tracks recipes with a window that doubles as a screen to show you where to perfectly position food.
a toilet that lifts its lid and flushes on voice command, and can also play music and read the news.
a fishing rod that tracks where you are, what you’ve caught and builds a map to show you where to fish next.
a toothbrush that lets you know where you need to brush more.
All of these smart technologies — and many more featured at CES 2019, which will feature some 4,400 exhibitors over four days — are meant to make life easier. Also, many of them they track users’ habits and send that information to their makers, where consumers’ profiles can be developed to maximize advertising potential.
Sure, it’s a little Orwellian, but the big sales of smart products show that many people are willing to let Big Brother into their homes in exchange for convenience.
All of which has led us to wonder — what could the consumer technology industry be missing out on? Are there any products around your home that you wish could help you out a bit more?
Let us know what you think should be the next great smart appliance by emailing dsweeney@SunSentinel.com or tweeting @Daniel_Sweeney. Your response could be used in a future story.