The recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas scored high on drones, e-vehicles, wearables, and some of the coolest television technology innovations. Other than the usual, the annual exhibition also witnessed some wacky and weird ideas on display.
From a suit that makes you feel 40 years older to a smartphone that you can smoke, the CES 2016 had it all. Here are our pick of top ten weirdest tech unveiled at the event:
1. Jupiter IO 3 : The world’s first smokable phone
Giving a completely new twist to the idea of e-cigarettes, a US-based company Vaporcade has unveiled what is touted as the world's first smartphone that you can smoke. The Jupiter IO 3 comes with a battery-powered vape and a button to regulate the heat and get a stronger pull. The quirky smartphone has an opening on the top where one could attach a flavoured liquid cartridge and a mouthpiece to that and smoke right from the device. The device not only functions as a way to quit smoking but is 3G-enabled and thus, lets you place calls, text,browse the web like any regular smartphone.
2. Panasonic transparent TV
Panasonic has unveiled a display that could never spoil the interiors of your drawing room. The Panasonic LCD display prototype is almost see-through and features a gesture-controlled app that lets you browse your digital music over half of the display as the remaining half continues to show you what is there behind the TV. The invisible TV is expected to hit the markets in 2018.
3. Electronic Tail
If you are headed for a Halloween event or an animal-themed party or just want to get the feel of having a tail, then this weird piece of technology might be just the right choice for you. The mechanical fuzzy tail comes with an audio sensor and dances to music and can mimic a cat or dog. Simply wear it like a belt and use your smartphone to control its movement. The vision for In-Tail - the company behind the animatronic tail is to eventually make the tail interact in games that might involve tailed creatures like dinosaurs.
4. Sensorwake alarm clock
Wake up to the smell of coffee! We all hate snoozing the annoying sound of the alarm clock. But what if the little clock on your bedside gently wakes you with your favourite fragrance - chocolate, lush jungle, coffee, or seaside? Sensorwake alarm clock combines various scents and diffuses them when it is the time for you to wake up. No beeping, seriously. Pre-order for the clock costs $89 that includes three packs of scent.
5. CleverPet
Your pet pooch is part of the family and family members could get bored at times. And what better way than to keep them engaged in a video game? CleverPet is a gaming console that helps exercise your dog’s mind with custom light, touch, and sound puzzles. The console works on reward or no-reward teaching. Tap on the light, get a snack; miss it you get nothing. As the pet gets used to the console, the patterns get complex and so the level of engagement is also high.
6. Human carrying drone
Drones - the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or UAVs - are being used for military purposes and quite recently, explored for delivering your online orders promptly. But a China-based company showed off what it calls the world's first drone that could carry a passenger. The Ehang 184 is a small quadcopter that is capable of transporting a person at a click. The baby helicopter can fly about 1,000 to 1,650 feet off the ground with a maximum altitude of 11,500 feet and top speed of 63 miles per hour. The US Federal Aviation Administration recently laid out strict guidelines for non-commercial drone usage in the country and this weird tech is bound to raise many questions.
7. LG rollable display
With connected TVs the need for a newspaper too seems to be fading. Even if your TV is now capable of serving you news and other information, the feel of rolling up a newspaper is beyond words. LG doesn't want you to miss that and decided to build a display that you can roll like a sheet of paper. Showed off at the CES 2016, the 18-inch rollable TV is part of LG's ambitions of using OLEDs for flexible, curved, and bendable displays which could be used creatively in TVs, smartphones, tablets.
8. Genworth ageing suit
Ageing is something we, humans, experience alike every single minute, every single day. What if you were suddenly 40 years old? Grey hair, poor eyesight, perhaps even restricted muscle movement. Another weird technology in Las Vegas was a futuristic-looking but scary aging suit by Genworth which has the sole function of making you experience the physical effects associated with old age. The age-simulation suit includes augmented reality vision system that projects to the wearer eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and floaters that come with age. Similar simulators run throughout the suit to demonstrate conditions like muscle loss, arthritis, mobility challenges, hearing loss, etc. Are you ready to feel 40 at 20?
9. Rem Fit smart pillow
A 'smart' pillow might just save your marriage from falling apart because snoring has also been one of the reasons loving couples are said to be opting for divorce in the modern times. REM-Fit showed off its SmartPillow that lets you analyse your sleep (and snore) patterns in order to help you get a better sleep. The pillow comes with a snore alarm that gently vibrates the pillow to subtly encourage the user to change sleeping position. There is also a smartwake alarm that triggers gentle vibrations to wake up the user. In-built speakers further play pre-loaded 'soundscapes' and a snorescore tells you how often the user snores through the night. The company also introduced SleepSmart, powered by Sleepace,- a non-wearable sleep monitor that uses sensors to monitor heart rate, breathing and motion. So much just for a pleasant sleep!
10. Laundroid
The second most tedious task after doing the laundry is folding it. But, would you pay for a robotic closet that simply folds clothes? A combined product from partnership of Seven Dreamers Laboratories, Panasonic and Daiwa House, Laundroid is what could be best understood as a futuristic closet into which you could toss clothes to have them neatly folded. Although the time consumed to fold out a single shirt, approximately 5 minutes, is a tad too long even for humans, the company envisions the idea of having Laundroid carry out washing, folding, and also arrangement of clothes in respective drawers in future.
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