When I visited Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium in Auckland last year, one of the most fascinating things I saw are the jellyfish. They were very pretty and captivating and looking at them gave me a certain sense of calm. I still don’t know much about them except for the fact that they don’t have the usual organs we see in animals like hearts, brains, and even eyes. It would be interesting to know more about these creatures and this project may just be something that can connect humans more to these “free-swimming marine coelentrata”.
Designer: Adonis Christodoulou
The aim of the project is to establish a sort of communication between humans and jellyfish, even if it’s not the actual animal but an interactive robot driven by machine learning. After going through several prototypes, they came up with something that has actuators with reels that are able to wrap around the “tentacles”. The sides also have holes that will keep the threads perpendicular to each of the reels. There are fours strings attached to a single level of the reels and the next tentacle is located above the previous one.
The software design is where things get really interesting. There are connected through communication channels among Wekinator, Processing, and Arduino. They teach the machine hand gestures that are then translated into “emotions” for the jellyfish robot. Raising the hand will induce a calm attitude while doing the finger heart will make the jellyfish happy. If you want to make it mad, do a fist and if you want to make it sad, do a thumbs down. Once the robot processes this emotion it triggers movements in the robot.
It’s a bit unclear how this will actually translate to understanding jellyfish more. But by the anthromorphization of the jellyfish through servos, LED, and robotic articulation, they are able to “give life” to this mysterious but interesting specie. It’s also cool to see different robotic transmutations, as long as they don’t someday overthrow humans.
The MagDisk is a device that really shows how far technology has come. It brings together a MagSafe-compatible SSD, a power bank, and a USB-C hub, making it more than just another gadget. It shows that technology is getting more integrated, packing storage, power, and connectivity into one sleek package.
The MagDisk stands out due to its storage capacity, ranging from 512GB to an impressive 4TB, making it suitable for everyday users and avid content creators. However, its real strength lies in its speed – it can read and write data at speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, courtesy of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 technology.
This feature is particularly beneficial for those who work with large files, such as video editors and photographers, as it significantly reduces data transfer times, allowing you to resume work sooner.
Pairing the MagDisk with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max ensures ample storage and extra battery life when needed. As an iPhone user for over a decade, I’ve witnessed its evolution into a powerful tool for content creators worldwide. The iPhone 15 series sets a new standard with its 48MP camera, marking a significant stride in mobile photography.
In addition to its impressive photo capabilities, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max stand out in video capture, thanks to Apple Log and ACES (Academy Color Encoding System). ACES, a global color standard used in major films, provides unrivaled color accuracy to smartphone videography, rivaling professional equipment. Apple Log further enhances this by capturing a broader color spectrum, producing videos with balanced High Dynamic Range (HDR) and rich details. However, high-quality recording requires ample storage, and that’s where the MagDisk comes in. It pairs seamlessly with the latest iPhones, allowing users to capture high-resolution photos and videos, supported by fast and reliable storage. The MagDisk offers sufficient storage space for large video files. This ensures users can fully utilize the iPhone’s advanced video features without worrying about storage, paving the way for new possibilities in mobile content creation.
The MagDisk offers varying recording times depending on the model: 34 minutes on the 512GB drive, 69 minutes on the 1TB, 138 minutes on the 2TB, and 278 minutes on the 4TB version. Personally, I would choose the 4TB version to prevent running out of storage during crucial projects. The design of the MagDisk is both stylish and practical. Made from a rugged aluminum alloy, it’s strong but not heavy and resists corrosion and UV damage. This means it’s built to last, whether you’re using it in a professional studio or out in the field.
The MagDisk is a versatile device that serves as a wireless power bank and is compatible with MagSafe. It has a 2400mAh capacity and Qi2 certification, making it faster and more efficient than traditional Qi wireless chargers. This feature significantly benefits anyone who relies on their devices all day, whether a busy parent or a professional videographer. The MagDisk is compatible with both Apple’s Find My and Android’s Find My Device networks. This allows users to track their devices using encrypted Bluetooth signals, ensuring that valuable data remains secure and accessible. This feature is handy for those who frequently travel for events and projects, where the risk of misplacing our devices is always present.
Another crucial feature of the MagDisk Pro is its Dynamic Thermal Guard technology. This feature maintains the device’s safe operating temperature, crucial for its high-speed performance and data-heavy tasks like 4K60 video recording. It protects the device and safeguards the stored data while keeping the surface temperature low. This adherence to the international safety standard IEC62368-1 ensures users won’t suffer from low-temperature burns during use.
It’s noteworthy that MagDisk also includes a genuine USB Type-C cable. This is significant because not all USB-C cables provide the same data transfer speed or charging rate. The company suggests using the provided cable to ensure the best performance and to prevent the device from being recognized.
In our technologically driven world, the integration of various tech advancements is key to making our lives easier. The MagDisk is a perfect example of this. Not only is it an excellent external hard drive, but it also seamlessly interfaces with other technologies like gaming consoles. Moreover, it offers interoperability between Android and iOS. The team recently announced that MagDisk now fully supports Android devices for external storage during filming. This is achieved through the use of apps like mcpro24, similar to the capabilities enjoyed by iPhone 15 Pro users.
In simple terms, the MagDisk is not just a new gadget on Kickstarter. It shows how technology is evolving and connecting us. It has various uses – storage, wireless charging, and easy tracking. As we keep adapting to new technology, devices like MagDisk will become standard in our daily lives, shaping our everyday use of technology.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that CDs have made a comeback the past years, thanks in part to the Japanese and Korean music industry. A lot of fans have been buying CDs (sometimes multiple copies) of their favorite artists and Gen Z in particular has a particular fondness for something they actually weren’t alive yet when it was popular. The older generations buy it for the nostalgia. Both are benefitting from the audio quality of uncompressed music. However, the quality of CD players are not on par with what we were used to back in the day.
Designer: Anthony Chupp
Most of the big name audio brands have not been producing CD players but what if someone like Bang & Olufsen comes up with one? A designer came up with a concept for the Beosound Compact after studying the design and quality principles of the brand. What he came up with is a sleek and minimalist portable CD player that seems worthy of the brand that he created this concept for. It also brings back nostalgia feels for those who brought their Sony Walkman CD player around, although this is much more classy and shiny.
To reduce the need for an LED display, the player uses turntable styles for its volume controls and actual touchable buttons for its play controls. It is also textured to highlight the touchpoints that you need to access various controls. But the player can also be connected to the Bang & Olufsen app on your smart device in case you’re away from the CD player. There is Bluetooth connection as well to your headphones or wireless earbuds of choice as well as analog and optical output.
As someone who owns several CDs but still don’t have a CD player, I wouldn’t mind having something like this if Bang & Olufsen eventually decides to produce one. Having a quality CD player is just as important as having quality music from these CDs. Hopefully brands will catch on to this “trend” as it may be here to stay, for at least a few more years.
Unlike the daytime, people are split on what they think of the night. Some find solace in the rest that it offers, while others are wary of the dangers that lurk in the corners. The latter is mostly due to the uncertainty that the unknown brings to our minds, which is often associated with the dark of night. But nighttime as well as dark places are just as filled with treasures to discover, adventures to be experienced, and discoveries to be made, as long as you’re not stumbling in the dark, literally. Being able to see at night is often painted as a superpower, but you can actually gain that ability quite easily with today’s technologies. Harnessing decades of experience in optics and photography, YASHICA is opening the doors to new and exciting experiences with a pair of binoculars that brings the night to life in full color and stunning 4K quality.
There have been cameras that can see in the dark of night for years now, but most of them fail to impress or captivate budding explorers. The majority can only see in green or monochrome hues, not to mention lack enough detail to really make you appreciate the wonderful world that the night holds. The YASHICA Vision easily sets itself apart from the crowd by breaking down these barriers to deliver a photography experience that’s truly out of this world, letting you see at night as if it were day.
YASHICA Vision reveals a radiant spectrum of colors, even under the most challenging lighting conditions.
With an impressive 0.0037lux sensitivity and F/1 wide lens aperture, the YASHICA Vision binoculars can take in as much light as they need to capture detailed, sharp, and high-resolution visuals. And thanks to advanced optics and a powerful CMOS sensor, these images won’t be stuck with a dozen shades of green or gray, painting the night in full color and creating a picture that you wouldn’t otherwise see with your naked eye. Best of all, you can record that picture or video in stunning 4K quality, leaving no detail unturned.
Clarity in complete darkness.
The YASHICA Vision further redefines night-time exploration with its remarkable aperture size of F/1. This feature is crucial as it allows for a higher light intake, especially under low-light conditions.
These qualities are more than enough for urban exploration, delving into creepy basements, or watching the coast in the dark of night, but the YASHICA Vision still has more to offer, especially for those who want to get close to nature in the dark. With the ability to see objects 600 meters away even in pitch darkness and a 3x optical zoom and 5x optical zoom, wildlife photography at night becomes not only possible but also safe and enjoyable. What’s even more impressive is that YASHICA Vision’s ability to see in full color is also made possible with the use of AI analyzing and understanding a vast amount of data to automatically improve the image by reducing noise, enhancing contrast, and compensating for light. This results in images with natural color reproduction and a higher dynamic range, even under low light and at low lux levels. There is almost literally nothing you can’t see in the dark, and the night becomes your playground rather than a source of fear and anxiety.
It might look like a pair of bulky binoculars, but the YASHICA Vision is a truly innovative photography device designed to accompany you on your nocturnal adventures. A 16-hour battery life and support for up to 512GB microSD cards promise very few downtimes as you go about your way in the dark. An intuitive and convenient binocular design allows users to have a comfortable and enjoyable time focusing on seeing instead of fumbling around the controls. Finally, a robust construction, an IP65 dust and water resistance rating, a built-in compass, and SOS guiding lights all mark the device as a reliable companion for your most daring exploits at night.
Whether you’re trying to discover what nature has to offer once the sun has set, trying to debunk urban legends and mysteries, or simply trying to enjoy the world after dark, the YASHICA Vision offers a ground-breaking tool that breaks wide open the doors to a whole new world filled with life, color, and wonders even in the dark of night.
As the tech world descended upon Las Vegas for CES 2024, BLUETTI, a name synonymous with portable power solutions, has once again set the gold standard with its latest offerings designed for recreation, emergencies, work, and overall energy independence. From the versatile SwapSolar system to the rugged AC240 power station, BLUETTI’s lineup this year is nothing short of a power-packed promise for both adventurers and home users. We visited the BLUETTI booth to speak to their Director of Portable Power Systems, Phillip Fischer. Phillip explained to us what BLUETTI’s been achieving in the past year, what are the new exciting products they’re debuting at CES, and why portable power stations should be on everyone’s wishlist for 2024.
If you’re still one of those power-station skeptics in the year 2024, Phillip has some rather sage advice to give you. Sure, the average power station user is the outdoorsy type, using it to provide energy to camping sites, RVs, and other outdoor excursions/activities… but what BLUETTI’s power stations also do is provide aid and assistance during emergency power cuts. Whether it’s one of their larger devices, or even the small portable ones, BLUETTI’s power stations can be potential life-savers when the power runs out. The same power station can play multiple roles, whether it’s necessity or leisure… with the added benefit of helping you do things like shift to a solar grid too to help reduce power bills.
Leading the power-station charge at CES this year is the BLUETTI SwapSolar, a dynamic duo comprising the AC180T portable generator and the MultiCooler portable fridge. The AC180T can easily be confused for its sibling, the AC180 – but what really sets it apart is its game-changing hot-swappable battery system. With 1,433Wh capacity, 1,800W output, and 2,700W lifting power, the AC180T features two detachable batteries that can either be used simultaneously, or in a scenario where one battery is removed from the AC180T and placed in the MultiCooler portable fridge. Imagine never running out of power because you can instantly replace depleted batteries with charged ones.
But that’s not all. The MultiCooler is the Swiss Army knife of portable fridges. Acting as a fridge, freezer, and, believe it or not, an ice maker, it redefines the concept of portable cooling. Featuring a 40-liter compartment with temperature control from -20°C to 20°C (-4°F to 68°F), the MultiCooler can chill a staggering 65 cans of soda (or any beverage of your choosing) or keep the sausages frozen for a picnic. It also boasts the ability to make ice from moving water, a feature that Phillip mentioned was “really cool” (pun intended!)
Next up, meet the AC240, BLUETTI’s rugged outdoor companion following the legacy of the AC60. Tailor-made for the wild, this power station is both water-resistant and dust-proof, boasting an impressive IP65 rating. Whether you’re facing a dust storm in the desert or a downpour in the mountains, the AC240 won’t let you down. With a robust 2400W of power output and a 1536Wh LFP battery, it’s built to last. And if you thought that was impressive, the AC240 can expand its capacity to a whopping 10kWh with four B210 expansion batteries. BLUETTI didn’t stop there. They also showcased their revamped portable generators and home storage products, including the AC60P, AC2P, and the modular AC500 and AC300 series.
In the midst of unveiling these technological marvels, BLUETTI also took a moment to highlight its Lighting an African Family (LAAF) program. This initiative underscores BLUETTI’s commitment to social responsibility, bringing sustainable solar energy to African families. With over 100,000 families already impacted, BLUETTI is powering more than devices; it’s powering dreams.
Animated by video studio RED SIDE, this is a 3D visualization comparing the size, speed, and range of various missiles used by multiple nations. Even the slowest missile is fast, but the quickest missile makes the slowest look like it’s standing still, and the slowest is traveling over 2,000MPH!
The video starts with a “drag race” comparing the missiles from slowest (the Mach 2.9 Novator Kalibr, ~2,225MPH) to fastest (the claimed Mach 27 of the Avangard, aka Objekt 4202, ~19,884MPH). It then provides an animation of how each missile is typically launched, its different stages, and what a flyby of the rocket at full speed looks like. The third part details each missile’s range; the last part is a size comparison, with all the rockets standing next to one another. I learned a lot by watching it. Mostly, I wouldn’t want to get hit with any of these, even without an explosive payload.
Which missile was your favorite? I found them all rather terrifying. Technologically impressive, sure, but scary to think about. And probably infinitely scarier to try to ride like a mechanical bull.
At CES 2024, Ugreen has made a significant statement in the world of data storage by introducing its new NASync series. This foray marks Ugreen’s expansion beyond its traditional scope of charging and accessories into the realm of Network Attached Storage (NAS), doing so with a flair for innovation and user engagement. The NASync device also targets regular consumers (rather than the enterprise-specific tech users that usually rely on network-attached storage) – this shift comes with its distinct benefits, as Ugreen highlighted in their keynote, talking about how the NASync could now become the iCloud or Google Drive alternative that you don’t have to pay monthly subscriptions for… or the Netflix or Disney Plus streaming service that lets you play movies/media you own on any connected device anywhere.
The collaboration with Intel is a cornerstone of the NASync series, empowering these devices with Intel® processors. This partnership brings together Ugreen’s expertise in HDD and SSD solutions and Intel’s robust capabilities in cloud computing and PC components, creating a product that stands out for its technical excellence and user-friendly approach.
The integration of AI is a key highlight of the NASync series. This is a core component that transforms the NASync into an intelligent hub for digital activities. The AI in these devices is designed to adapt to user behaviors, streamlining tasks and offering personalized experiences. The NASync device can automatically read text within an image or a document, allowing you to then search for text WITHIN a file (like finding all invoices with a certain client’s name). Ugreen’s Hernan Lopez also demonstrated the ability to create visual tags, with the AI autonomously learning what different objects (or even faces) look like. For instance, you could create a tag for “Drone” and then visually search through your entire database for drone images, with the AI automatically understanding the visual archetype of a drone’s design. It all happens locally, allowing you to build your own Google Image Search right within the comforts of your own home.
Ugreen has also placed a significant emphasis on the design of the NASync, ensuring it is approachable for a wide range of users. The focus on a user-friendly interface, both in the hardware’s physical design and the software interaction, makes NASync an accessible yet powerful tool for anyone, regardless of their technical expertise. Easy hot-swappable drives allow users to add new HDDs or SSDs on demand, and if a drive fails, they can simply swap the old one out for a new one while still maintaining all their data on the NAS.
The NASync series stands as a powerful example of Ugreen’s commitment to blending high-tech features with ease of use. It’s a product that respects the user’s need for simplicity without compromising on performance – ideal for managing large data sets, running AI algorithms, or effortlessly streaming 8K video.
Ugreen’s entrance into the NAS market with the NASync series is reflective of the brand’s evolution and its commitment to being at the forefront of technology. This series is a bold demonstration of Ugreen’s ability to infuse cutting-edge technology into consumer-friendly products.
As we look at Ugreen’s new venture at CES 2024, it’s evident that the NASync series is more than a set of NAS devices; it’s a harbinger of how integrated and intelligent technology can become a seamless part of our daily lives. The NASync isn’t just about data storage; it represents a smarter, more intuitive way of interacting with our digital world.
It’s no secret that I’m still afraid that in the far future, robots will rise up against humans when they gain their own intelligence and realize that we’ve been treating them unfairly all these years. That probably comes from watching too much science fiction movies and series where robot overlords rule over the earth. But for now, we’re seeing amazing (sometimes scary) advancements when it comes to robotics and how they will eventually be able to work alongside humans.
Designer: Brett Adcock
The Figure-01 Humanoid Robot has been designed to help you handle some of the simple daily chores, powered by artificial intelligence. Aside from being able to do automated tasks, it is trained to be able to think, learn, and interact within human environments. It is also able to improve on its capabilities by learning from the previous tasks it is able to perform.
The humanoid robot uses some pretty powerful graphic processing units (GPU) to drive the AI learning and system, letting it process some of the complex algorithms needed to train them. The idea is for these robots to eventually fill in the gap in the labor market when it comes to things like warehouses, transportation, and retail. Of course the aim is not to replace humans but to be able to work alongside people and work within an environment with both other robots and humans.
They were able to demonstrate the current capabilities of the Figure-01 Humanoid Robot by showing how it was able to make coffee after 10 hours of training using end-to-end neural networks. I wouldn’t mind having someone else get my coffee ready in the morning by the time I wake up although I’d probably have nightmares of this humanoid robot eventually taking over my life.
A quick search on Amazon for a robotic lawn mower will net countless results, but will I buy one right now? The short answer is no. Continue reading for the long answer and why I’m leaning towards the ultimate robotic mulch and lawn mower from Airseekers. To understand why, we need to break down key components: vision, wheels, blades, and the AI brain powering the Airseekers.
One of the biggest issues I’ve experienced with other robotic lawnmowers is how the mower has to be set up with an antenna base station that requires a direct line of sight to satellites orbiting above our planet. It depends on the brand, so each implements different technologies, allowing the robotic lawn mower to track its position. This pain point is a showstopper for me. My yard isn’t massive, but it’s big enough, and the complications compound with any robotic mowers I’ve tested – it has to do with the thirty-three oak trees spanning across a corner lot.
AI and cameras together solve the unreliable navigation systems used by others
So, how has Yue Hu, the founder of Airseekers, solved this problem? By eliminating the need for an antenna altogether. The unit is truly autonomous to move about thanks to the 5-camera Air Vision. The navigation system consists of three panoramic lenses and dual depth-perception cameras.
The three panoramic cameras function similarly to how we use our eyes to see. The left and right cameras allow Airseekers to see both sides, similar to how we turn our heads left and right. The system as a whole works together in conjunction with the AI engine to determine the current position and identify obstacles, people, and pets, which it will automatically navigate to avoid hitting.
Moreover, the Air Vision system captures extensive visual data from various angles for precise, centimeter-level positioning. This reduces errors from weak satellite signals and continuously processes environmental data, even in areas with dense foliage or under eaves. Its stability is maintained on uneven terrain and is resilient to lens obstruction caused by dirt or camera movement.
Smooth operator
My robotic vacuum cleaner remembers the precise location where it stopped cleaning when the battery runs low, runs back to the base to charge up and then resumes cleaning at the very spot it was in previously. That’s exactly what Airseekers is capable of, using the navigation system and countless images that it takes and stores in the memory bank. Speaking of images, you can even submit pictures of you, your pet, and anyone else to the system via the app on your phone. This is a significant feature, in my opinion, due to theft prevention. If the system identifies a person it doesn’t recognize, it notifies you via the app and automatically shuts down and locks up. This same safety feature also kicks in when it’s removed from the invisible geofence you set up during your initial setup.
There’s also the option to use your cellular SIM card to track the positioning if you want peace of mind. Otherwise, if your wifi signal is strong enough, it should also do the job, according to Hu. Note that using your cellular sim card is only an option, not a requirement, since many of us don’t have an extra active sim card lying around.
The AI has been fed with countless images of everything that it could potentially encounter. So, circling back to the cameras, it can identify the edge of your yard, preventing itself from veering off course and slamming into the pavement. Hu assured me that there shouldn’t be any training required at all when you first use Airseekers, but if it makes you feel better, you can walk it around the edge of the yard, around trees and bushes once, and it’ll commit the pattern to memory.
Airseekers’ AI self-mapping technology streamlines lawn care by eliminating the need for perimeter wires, manual controls, and RTK base stations. Utilizing panoramic perception and Vslam technology, it generates a detailed 3D map of your yard. The intelligent app automatically defines lawn boundaries and cutting zones, simplifying mowing.
For added security measures, there’s a sensor or “bumper” located in the front to sense objects with which it comes in contact.
The Airseekers comes equipped with a motor powerful enough to allow it to climb hills up to a 65% slope and effortlessly traverse uneven terrain. This feature is essential for maintaining a lawn with varying elevation degrees. Its high-torque motors and the 30-degree inward design of its omnidirectional wheels facilitate smooth turns and confident movement in any terrain, so there’s no need to worry about the mower getting stuck – now I wish I could say the same for my robotic vacuum cleaner.
The Airseekers have a special feature called the FlowCut Mowing System. This system ensures your grass has neat edges. It does this by sucking the grass up straight, then cutting it inside a U-shaped chamber. This incredible Vacuum-Cut-Mulch system and double mowing power chops up the grass clippings into tiny pieces. These pieces then go into the ground and act as fertilizer. This process keeps your lawn looking tidy and also helps the soil by adding natural nutrients.
Other notable features include Automated Lawn Maintenance, Rainfall Auto-Detecting, and Real-Time Monitoring and alerts. The Automated Lawn Maintenance ensures your lawn is consistently taken care of, whereas the Rainfall Auto-Detecting feature prevents the mower from operating under unfavorable weather conditions. I wouldn’t say I like to mow the grass when it’s wet; I do it more to protect the grass blades. The Real-Time Monitoring and alerts inform you about the mower’s operational status.
Lastly, Hu shared with Yanko Design that in the next near final prototype, Airseekers should have a user-replaceable battery which is located in the bottom rear. For someone with a larger yard, being able to replace the battery immediately is priceless. However, if you’re like me and just too lazy and want the Airseekers to do all the work, it’s smart enough to know when to return to the base station and charge up before running out of juice. After sufficient charge, it resumes for another three hours of mowing away.
I’m impressed with the design elements and advanced technology, especially the custom-shaped blades that allow a clean cut. I can’t wait to have this impressive machine roaming my yard.
2024 was kickstarted with CES, marking an exceptional and exciting start of the year for the electronics world. It’s the time of the year when the industry presents its most innovative products, concepts, and designs – showcasing the best of its work. And, this year CES 2024 was no disappointment, we came across groundbreaking products designed to improve and enhance our lives, as well as the lives of our pets, and the overall welfare of the planet! We also picked up quite a few exciting trends at CES that we believe may shape the path for the tech and electronics world in 2024, and the coming years. From an incredible use of AI to a rise in transparent screens – we’ve dived into some of the innovative and valuable trends we spotted at CES 2024.
1. Rise of Transparent Screens
At CES 2024, industry giants like LG and Samsung provided an innovative and refreshing take on screens! LG presented a TV that almost disappears into the background when you don’t want to see it, while Samsung showcased its latest transparent MicroLED tech. Transparent screens have been a major trend at CES, giving us an acute idea of what our television viewing experience could be in the years to come.
LG’s SIGNATURE OLED T is the world’s first wireless transparent 4K OLED TV. The screen gets entirely covered and lit up with vibrant pictures, fluid animations, and ecstatic images, completely concealing what’s behind those parts, while retaining transparency in the areas without images. Samsung’s MicroLED was kept beside Transparent OLEDs and LEDS, quite literally presenting the distinction between them. The MicroLEDS have much better illumination and colors, with almost no bezels on the side, creating an edge-to-edge experience.
2. Robotics
Robotics was a major recurring theme at CES 2024, and we saw some super cool ones with modern innovations. Robots are invading our homes, one step at a time, so it was no shocker to witness some at CES, and we must admit some of them looked pretty cute too, like Ogmen’s ORo – an intelligent home robot that was designed to be the ‘pawfect’ playmate, guardian, and caretaker for you canine best friend!
We also caught a glimpse of Beatb0t – the most advanced intelligent pool-cleaning robot for your ultimate convenience and peace of mind. It is equipped with 20 sensors, 9 motors, 4 brushes, and 2 filters, and emits not only immense power but also mindblowing smarts. Shift Robotics’ Moonwalker X was another fantastic catch – they’re redesigned robotic shoes with small wheels that are designed to give people advanced mobility and safety in their line of work.
3. Prevalence of AI in Laptops
At CES 2024 we saw companies such as Lenovo and Acer taking crucial steps to integrate AI into their line of products. The potential and scope for AI are slowly becoming undeniable, although it remains a frightening concept for some. Acer employed AI in its latest generation of lightweight laptop family, while Lenovo provided its own AI offering in the form of the Yoga Creator Zone.
The Acer PurifiedView AI-boosted conferencing features include Background Blur, Automatic Framing, and Eye Contact. On the other hand, Acer PurifiedVoic 2.0 makes use of AI to reduce background noise and offer crisp and clear voices in all meetings. They also feature a dedicated Windows Copilot key which allows AI-powered optimizations. With the Yoga Creator Zone, Lenovo offers a generative AI that comes built-in into its Yoga-series laptops that are running Microsoft Windows 11.
4. Reemergence Of Old-School Tech
We’ve all had (or most of us) had our BlackBerry days, where we would swiftly type out a long response using our QWERTY keyboard. There are benefits to having and using physical keys to type with, for example – muscle memory, accuracy, and sheer satisfaction. And Clicks is an iPhone case that you can snap onto your phone, and have a full yet tiny QWERTY keyboard for you to use.
Clicks is ingenious in the fact, that when most innovators are moving forward, Clicks has taken a smart step into the past. They’ve rejuvenated an old-school and nostalgic form of tech, that also has its benefits. Clicks is leaving behind the serious and business-like aesthetic of the Blackberry and instead has adopted circular keys, curves, and fun colors such as the yellow BumbleBee or the gray London Sky.
5. Focus on Sustainability
The focus on sustainability has been prevalent for a while, and we saw brands like Acer and Mosslab dive deeper into the sustainable tech game. Acer has been carrying the sustainability torch since 2021 with its Vero line of laptops, however this year they took it a step further with the Aspire Vero 16 which offers the most powerful carbon-neutral AI PC yet! Acer’s Aspire Vero 16 features a chassis made with 60% PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) and uses no volatile organic compounds, paint, or additives in its Cobblestone gray surface. It also uses an OceanGlass trackpad that is built using recycled ocean-bound plastic, and it is shipped in 100% recycled packaging.
Mosslab on the other hand offered the Moss Air, which is essentially a terrarium in a sleek and futuristic form. Moss Air makes use of the natural capabilities of moss to filter air, and produce clean oxygen for you! It is a desk accessory that combines an air purifier and humidifier in one body.
