Hands down, the Bell Nexus urban air taxi was the coolest item at CES 2019. It drew crowds throughout the week, with everyone anticipating a time when they can ride in this autonomous vehicle. The air taxi is scheduled to be ready for public use in 2025.
SEE: CES 2019: Bell debuts full-size hybrid electric model of the Nexus flying taxi
The CareOS smart bathroom mirror is an AI-enabled mirror that modifies lighting and displays depending on who is using the mirror at the time.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
The WELT wellness belt is one of those CES products that appears in a slightly refined version seemingly every year. It may look like an ordinary belt, but it’s actually hiding smart features. It uses Bluetooth technology to automatically sync to the companion app on the user’s smartphone, can last for 30+ days on a single charge, and offers comprehensive health insights, which include monitoring eating habits, waist circumference, and body state, and tracking the user’s steps vs. sitting time.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
The Hupnos Sleep Mask covers nearly your whole face. But it claims to stop snoring. It tracks sleep and snoring patterns through the companion iPhone app. When the mask detects snoring, it will gently vibrate to alert the sleeper to change positions, or apply light pressure as needed to open airways. No more need to kick your spouse to stop their snoring.
SEE: CES 2019: The Hupnos sleep mask claims to keep your snoring in check (CNET)
How about a smart diaper sensor from Monit that will let you know when your baby has dirtied a diaper? Yes, chalk it up as another piece of tech that’s probably not necessary.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
ForwardX teased with a prototype robotic lawnmower that isn’t available yet for sale.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
These creepy cool robotic children sang and danced their way through CES 2019 at the Avaya booth.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
The FoldiMate laundry-folding bot can fold a load of 25 items in under five minutes. It’s been around at CES in various forms and prototypes since 2017, and now there’s a working model. It sounds nice, but with a price tag of around $1,000 when it finally hits the market later this year, it’s still cheaper to hire a housekeeper.
SEE: I tried out Foldimate’s laundry-folding bot at CES 2019 (CNET)
This is one of the cooler items at CES 2019. Volta’s Mookkie is an AI-powered pet feeder that has facial recognition for your pets. It knows when your fat cat shows up versus your new kitten, and only opens when the right feline tries to eat.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Wilkinson Baking Company’s BreadBot makes fresh bread every six minutes.
SEE: Bread-making robot makes everyone at CES 2019 trash their no-carb New Year resolutions (CNET)
The Lume Cube is bright. If you want to startle your photo subjects with a bright light on your phone or tablet, then this is the product for you. Lume sells portable lights for photo and video devices. For specifics, go to the Lume Cube site.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
There’s something about SheerTex’s unbreakable pantyhose that makes you want to try to rip it. Good luck. You can’t. It’s made from the same stuff as bullet proof vests.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Sphero rolled out the multi-colored carpet to debut its Specdrums ring–a Bluetooth, motion-enabled, musical ring. The ring works when tapped against a color, which is sent to the paired smartphone app, and then translated into a sound. With its new Specdrums Mix app, there are more sound and color combinations available.
SEE: Sphero Specdrums let me turn CES carpets into sweet music (CNET)
Doesn’t everyone need a robotic suitcase? The Ovis is a smart carry-on that, thanks to complex algorithms, moves by your side autonomously. The algorithm that makes Ovis avoid obstacles is based on self-driving technology.
SEE: CES 2019: Robotic suitcases back (and … maybe better?) at this year’s show (ZDNet)
The beauty obsessed won’t consider this wacky. L’Or\u00e9al La Roche-Posay‘s My Skin Track pH is a wearable sensor that measures skin pH levels, perspiration rate, and skin health and then sends the information to the companion app, which helps the user create a customized skin care routine.
SEE: CES 2019 video: L’Or\u00e9al’s new wearable sensor tracks skin pH in real-time (ZDNet)
If you want your mirror to judge you, then you’ll be pleased to know that HiMirror launched two new products at CES 2019: The HiMirror Mini and the HiMirror Enterprise. The Mini version assesses the user’s skin condition and uses smart technology, local weather conditions, etc., to offer an effective skin care regimen.
SEE: HiMirror Mini smart mirror crosses the Atlantic to judge Europeans (CNET)
The Glow Charge is a wireless charger that glows in multiple colors and features various light modes and a super bass button. Because doesn’t everyone need a charger that glows?
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Okay, maybe not that wacky, but pretty cool. This is Sharp’s cat litter box and pet monitor.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Robotic vaccums are such the norm they’re hardly wacky anymore, but Ecovacs AI floor cleaning robot does incorporate artificial intelligence for an added “do you really need it” vibe.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
LavvieBot, from PurrSong, is an IoT cat litter box that automatically cleans itself and refills litter. All you need to add is a cat.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
The Dream Box is a recovery cocoon that immerses the occupant with chromotherapy and sophrology for 15 to 30 minutes. It targets an unusual trio in its advertising: collaborators, athletes and medical professionals.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
The Aurai cool and warm eye massager bills itself as “the world’s first” and we can see why. Because why do you need this?
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
The Philips SmartSleep snoring relief band fits around the user’s chest and it vibrates if you start snoring. It’s either brilliant or annoying.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Sleep tech was everywhere at CES, and Philips SmartSleep deep sleep headband was one of the options. Wear it to bed, and it claims to improve the quality of your deep sleep. That sounds great, but we can’t get over how dorky it looks.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
This definitely fits in the cool category. It’s Procter & Gamble’s innovative dispenser for feminine products from its Whisper, Always and Tampax brands and it accepts contactless payment so women can eliminate rooting in their purses for spare change.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Because why have a regular thermometer when you can have one shaped like a banana, right?
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
The BionicGym bills itself as a wearable exercise device that wraps around your core and triggers shivering so that you can burn calories while watching TV.
SEE: CES 2019 news, photos, videos, and more (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
\tThe $2,000 Scoocase is an electric suitcase that converts to a scooter. Enough said.
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Teena Maddox is a VP at Brodeur Partners. She is a former Associate Managing Editor at TechRepublic. Teena's lifelong journalism career has included writing on staff for publications including People magazine, W magazine and Women's Wear Daily.
