With the CES Conference wrapping up recently, it’s clear we’re entering the robotic era. FIB breaks down some of the debut products and how to stay ahead of the trend.
The 2020 CES Conference introduced the present to the future, and while we may not have flying cars just yet, we might not be too far off. The CES Conference is an annual event that debuts new technologies and products to consumers in the electronic industry.
Stretching over January 7 to January 10, this years event debuted everything from new music products to something for the skaters.
Robotics
We’ve heard it over and over again. We’re a generation of lazy and entitled species, and while we’re always ready to rise up against the labels, the introduction of new robots isn’t a great look for us. Regardless, the constant evolution of A.I. is exciting to watch.
Rollbot
Probably my favourite robot that debut at this year’s conference, Rollbot is a bluetooth controlled robot developed by Procter & Gamble and Charmin’s GoLab. Displaying a cartoon bear on it’s screen, the robot sets off on it’s quest to hunt down toilet paper if you ever find yourself stuck on the seat without paper.
Placing the roll on top of it’s head, the Rollbot delivers a fresh roll of toilet paper to the safety of your hands – as any great companion would.
Botchef
If you’ve ever dreamed of having your own apprentice in the kitchen, Samsung may be your next investment. Developing the first pair of ‘extra hands in the kitchen’, the Botchef is here to help you find the lamb sauce.
An expert at slicing produce, opening cabinets and adapting to recipes, the Botchef can help just about anyone whip up something quick for dinner. And if you just watched I, Robot and have lost faith in everything binary, Botchef’s safety skill set was also put on show for consumers.
Now, if you’re working as a full-time chef and you’re losing hope as you read this, there’s no need to worry. Samsung has confirmed that the Botchef requires the assistance of a chef in the kitchen in order to function. As per the company, the product has not been designed to seek complete kitchen dominance, so put that garlic to the side – let the Botchef take care of it.
Samsung has not yet revealed the price range of their future product, however, they have ensured that the price will resemble “more like a kitchen appliance than a luxury car”.
Ballie
Described as a life companion, Ballie is a small ball-like robot that follows around it’s owner. Recognising your face and your voice, Ballie can be used for small errands such as noting down events, setting up reminders or taking care of spills. The companion can also be used to identify intruders while you sleep, although it does not come with built-in defence mechanisms.
Also developed by Samsung, Ballie could be the next addition to your family.
No price range has been revealed for Ballie.
Transportation
With the introduction of Uber, among other apps, transportation is undergoing a serious revamp. Switching to eco-friendly vehicles and churning out autonomous products, here are some of the products from CES 2020.
Onewheel Pint
No longer will you have to perfect your weight distribution when riding skateboards. The Onewheel Pint is a self balancing skateboard that features one giant spinning wheel. Fitted with multiple sensors, the Pint eliminates the learning curve that traditional skateboards offer, with Chief Evangelist, Jack Mudd saying beginners can learn the basics in five minutes.
Undercutting its predecessor, the Onewheel XR, the Pint starts at $950.
Toyota Land
Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, revealed at CES that the company is looking to create a ‘prototype’ city. Set to be built upon on the site of an old Toyota plant at the base of Mt. Fuji, the city will feature autonomous cars amongst artificially intelligent robots.
The project is slated to begin production in 2021.
Hyundai S-A1
Taking a step or few off the ground, Hyundai presented their Uber collaboration with their latest aircraft. The S-A1 is a 7,000 pound aircraft that can seat up to four passengers, all while reaching altitudes of 1,000 to 2,000 feet. The aircraft is also completely electric powered and will take off and land vertically.
Hyundai is aiming for a release in the next five years and looking to partner up with Uber Air, which is set to launch in 2023.
Entertainment
It’s becoming harder and harder to stay away from building a mancave with the influx of new entertainment that is flooding in. From music to TV to gaming, CES showed us that entertainment is in good hands.
JBL Classic Speakers
JBL is taking it back with their new speakers. No stranger to the audio game, the JBL L82 Classic is the next must-have for any audio junkie.
Measuring at just 8 inches (200mm) both ways, the L82 packs a punch for its compact size.
Set to go on sale in April 2020, the L82 will cost $2500 a pair.
Acer OLED Gaming Monitor
For those that enjoy to scrutinise every tiny pixel while gaming, Acer has you covered with their latest gaming monitor, measuring at 55 inches wide. Named the Predator, Acer’s latest monitor boasts a resolution of 3840 x 2160 – heavenly for all the gamers out there.
The Predator supports HDMI 2.1 VRR, VESA Adaptive Sync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatibility. The monitor also comes with in-built sensors to help it adjust the brightness of the screen according to the light in your room.
Available for purchase from August 2020, the Predator will set back consumers by $2999.
Kohler Moxie Showerhead
Entertainment meets productivity. Or if you enjoy singing in the shower then maybe entertainment meets entertainment. Either way Kohler is looking to revolutionise the way we take showers. Collaborating with audio brand, Harman Kardon, Kohler is bringing forward a new showerhead that has been fitted with Amazon’s Alexa.
A showerhead that can now play you music while you bathe. A dream come true. And if you’re not one for music then Alexa can help keep you on top of your day by giving you a quick run down or setting up reminders.
The speaker can be purchased on it’s own without Alexa for $99 or for $159 for the version with Alexa. The showerhead costs an additional $70.
Check out some of the other products that were featured at CES 2020.
The Trend?
Well, it’s safe to say that George Orwell wouldn’t exactly be as excited as we are to see the latest products at the CES Conferences. With that being said, we are moving towards an era of tech-dominance and staying on top of your data may be a good idea.
Personal information is becoming less and less personal and with Alexa in our showers now, it’s easy to forget that almost all of our information is being stored somewhere. Artificial intelligence and ‘clouds’ are almost everywhere now and while a lot of these products are great investments, taking some time to actually shut these devices off may be a healthy.
On the flipside, investing into brands that are leading the ‘revolution’, so to speak, may provide a good turnaround. These products feel like a product of imagination but its only 2020 – it’s only the start of a new era. I guess the key is balance.
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