This past January 2023, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES for short) boasted a boatload of new technologies that consumers like you can – or soon can – enjoy. With about 2,200 exhibitors, this glimpse into cutting-edge tech can provide a window for consumers as to what the trends will be for the upcoming year.
Sustainability
Virtually every company talked about how its products would be more sustainable. This is not surprising, as the Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to soon require publicly traded U.S. companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.
One company that stands out is Neoplants – founded by Lionel Mora – a former Google employee – which has bioengineered a houseplant to remove 30 times the amount of indoor air pollutants of a typical houseplant. Other notables include Austin-based Pivet, which showcased their biodegradable phone cases. Additionally, Melt Water Club – a Ukrainian start-up – presented a water purification method that uses freezing. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company – which currently has the largest market share for replacement consumer tires (U.S.) – also demoed new, sustainable tires on vehicles plastered in blue and yellow that rolled around Las Vegas. The Department of Energy even had a booth and the Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm spoke as a Keynote.
The Future of Cars
Although CES is not a car show, it surely highlights the automotive tech that’s around the bend. Notable companies include BMW, Honda, and Sony (Afeela), Ram, Volkswagen, and Volvo. First, BMW introduced a talking car named “Dee” which stands for Digital Emotional Experience. BMW says, “’ [it] will go far beyond the level of voice control and driver assistance systems we are familiar with today”.’ One of the most fun features of I Vision Dee is that it’s covered in 240 e-ink panels that allow it to shift colors. These models will come to market starting in 2025. Additionally, Honda and Sony are pairing up to create Afeela. At CES they showed off their electric midsize sedan which will be equipped with 45 cameras and sensors to give it automated driving features. Further, the Ram Revolution concept previewed an electric pickup, which is expected to go on sale in 2024. Volkswagen was also there to debut it’s first electric sedan. Last, Volvo showed off their EX90 (a seven-seat electric SUV) – particularly their Google HD map integration.
IoT in the Home
CES highlighted smart home technologies, that can provide you with ease and peace of mind. At the top of the list was Matter. “Matter will allow a wide range of smart devices – 550 certified products by the current count – to work with each other and with users’ favorite app, whether it is Google Home, Apple’s Home app” (4) or something else. Some other fun innovations include Twinkly’s smart lights, GE’s smart Profile Mixer, and LG’s indoor gardening appliance – LG Tiiun.
Home Health Monitoring
Last, but not least, there were some amazing medical technologies to note at the 2023 CES. Both Withings and Vivoo announced their innovations on the smart toilet scene. Withings’ U-Scan device attaches into your toilet bowl and can check various stats like pH, ketone, vitamin C levels, hormone/ovulation cycles, and more. Vivoo also attaches to the toilet seat and provides personalized well-being and nutritional advice. Beyond the bathroom, other health device standouts included Nuralogix, Valencell, Moto Watch 100, and Abys Medical. Nuralogix showed off its Anura Telehealth, a platform that performs continuous health and vital sign measurements during video telemedicine calls. Valencell showcased a cuffless blood pressure monitoring system to measure cardiovascular vitals. Although it’s pending FDA clearance, once approved, it will use your fingertip to measure blood pressure in less than a minute. Additionally, Motorola and eBuyNow Commerce combined to create their Moto Watch 100 – which has revolutionary fall detection as well as emergency alerts, heart rate monitoring, SPO2 oxygen saturation alerts and daily updates to help monitor vulnerable family members. Last, Abys Medical touted their Surgiverse surgical decision-making suite in the metaverse. The FDA 510(k) cleared the software suite to provide surgical teams with a true clinical decision support tool before and during operating room procedures.