Are you an early adopter of all things technology? This year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) introduced not only exciting new televisions and robot butlers but amazing products for making your home a genuinely tech-forward oasis. If you love learning about the latest gadgets, making discoveries for the home or buying the latest gear, read on for the details on some of the exciting new tech gadgets coming to market.
Samsung’s “The Wall” TV
We have all heard about the famous wall TVs, but until now they were largely concepts or custom creations for giants in the tech industry. Samsung got a step closer to this dream in 2018 when they created “The Wall” TV that is actually modular – you can change the size and shape of the TV so that it can be used for multiple purposes. At its largest, this gadget is a 146-inch TV, but it does not have to be watched that way in spaces with media rooms or living rooms without tiered seating. The experts at Time report that “[i]n a demo on the showroom floor, the TV displayed what looked like a smaller TV in the center of the screen, while the surrounding area was set to blend in with the wall the TV was mounted on.” If you want to run along with the football players during Super Bowl Sunday, you can expand the image. If you want to feel like you are wandering through the South of France during your favorite travel show, you will. However, you can also size the screen to show wide-screen movies without having the bottom of the image touching the floor.
Lenovo Smart Display
The Lenovo Smart Display made a lot of people’s gift wish lists this year. It goes beyond being a hub for smart home gadgets, although it does that well. The editors at Real Simple loved it because it “comes equipped with a Google Assistant built-in…” This device allows you to make hands-free requests for displays of information about your schedule, the weather and local shop and restaurant info and more. The tech pros over at Time raved about its capabilities over competing models, like the Amazon Echo Show. Why? They explain that “[i]t can play YouTube videos (unlike Amazon’s device), it includes a larger screen, and it has a more polished design that more easily blends into the home.”
Honda 3E Robotics Concept
More than just a fun new tech gadget, the Honda 3E Robotics Concept (aka Robot 3E-A18) is considered a social empathy robot. The editors at Time explain that this robot demonstrates “Honda’s vision of a society where robotics and AI can assist people in a multitude of situations, from disaster recovery and recreation to learning from human interaction to become more helpful and empathetic.” The robot’s face glows and changes as it encounters people in a way that makes it feel far more connected and responsive than in previous models.
Ubtech Walker
Ubtech also introduced a new robot this year, but their model is mainly for those in the home security market. This “walker” can patrol your yard, record anything programmed as being out of the ordinary with an integrated camera and acts as a roving motion detector. It can also take care of basic home needs, like setting the lights, altering the room temperature and managing the TV. This helpful “butler” gadget is set to be available for purchase in 2019.
Toto Floating Tub
How would you like your deep soaks to feel like you are floating in space? The Toto Floating Tub can get you there. Between the series of jets that will lift your feet from the floor of the marble tub to the LED surround lights, this new tech gadget will bring you to a nearly galactic experience for about $19,000.
Smart Refrigerators
New smart refrigerators are coming onto the U.S. market at the end of 2018 and 2019. Whirlpool is releasing a model will tell you how long that piece of meat you are marinating needs to cook and will even set a timer. It can keep track of groceries and assist you with energy savings while it is being cleaned. Meanwhile, Samsung’s newest model will recommend recipes based on the ingredients in your refrigerator, your family’s preferences and even warn you about allergies.
Philips SmartSleep
Are you looking for ways to get a better night’s sleep? Philips’ has created a headset/headband that sends out a tonal frequency that “improves slow wave sleep, the stage in the sleep cycle at which brain waves and breathing slow to their lowest levels,” according to the reporters at Time. It’s said to help with focus and alertness, which are critical in an often over-scheduled week.
Beddi Glow Alarm Clock
Is it harder for you to get up during certain times of the year? Do you wish you could rise with the sun instead of the incessant bleating of an alarm? Now, you can. Real Simple explains that the Beddi Glow Alarm Clock combines three different methods to get you off to a great start: “a sunrise-simulating light, gradually increasing alarm sound, and Bluetooth speaker.”
Bluetooth Tracking Tag
Are you prone to forgetting your phone or losing your keys? If so, you will love the Bluetooth Tracking Tag. This new tech gadget is an appealing wooden tag that can be attached to those often misplaced items. The editors at Real Simple explain that when “the item goes missing, you can use the free companion app (available with iPhones) to play a sound and a vibration to help you find it.”
L’Oréal UV Sense
L’Oréal UV Sense impressed the experts when it was showcased. What is it? It is a mini-sensor that is small enough to wear on one of your fingernails and is meant to detect ultraviolet exposure. The sensor essentially talks to a smartphone app when it is nearby and can store data for up to three months. Why is this a critical new tech gadget? According to Time, “[t]he app keeps track of your exposure levels and can provide tips for managing sun intake.” The piece currently looks like nail art, but the company is also working on additional accessories, including sunglasses, that incorporate this technology.
KOHLER DTV + Showering System and Moxie 1-Spray Showerhead
KOHLER is in the high-tech shower game in multiple ways this year. Their systems allow you to set your water to a specific temperature and flow (which is critical after an intense workout) and can even control the bathroom lighting. Do you love singing in the shower while listening to your favorite tunes? Once you get your temperature set, KOHLER also offers a new tech gadget that adds a clip-on, water-resistant speaker that will sync with your phone, tablet, laptop or other device using Bluetooth technology.
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