CES, the world’s premier consumer electronics convention, took place last week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
As usual, it was a mix of the weird and wonderful, with a huge range of gadgets, devices and new technologies on display.
Artificial intelligence (AI) featured prominently, as you might expect, but there were plenty of other innovations being showcased.
One of the biggest headline grabbers was an ‘invisible’ and wireless OLED TV from LG.
The OLED T is the world’s first transparent television set, which blends into the environment and, LG says, frees users from the long-standing problem of what to do with the ‘big black screen’.
When you want to watch it, a contrast screen can be raised at the push of a button for high-definition viewing.
Rival Samsung also had its own transparent microLED panels on display, but these were only prototypes.
The OLED T, on the other hand, is expected to ship later this year, though LG didn’t announce the price points.
AI technology is increasingly being built into a wide range of devices
AI is being used to provide real-time translations in dozens of languages.
Timekettle’s X1, for example, is a device that leverages AI to provide high-quality translations in up to 40 languages in real-time.
The palm-sized gadget can provide printed translations as the conversation happens or in-ear spoken translations via earbuds.
By syncing hubs, up to 20 people can receive their own translations at the same time, potentially making the X1 a game changer for multilingual meetings.
AI-leveraging pet technology was a theme at this year’s event, with trackers such as Invoxia’s Minitailz smart dog collar, which can measure respiratory and heart vitals, as well as changes in behaviour.
Swiss startup Flappie even introduced an AI-powered cat flap that can use a camera to spot if your feline companion is trying to enter the house with a mouse or other prey in its mouth.
If so, the cat flap will remain resolutely closed until the prey is discarded.
Another intriguing AI-powered gadget is the Rabbit r1, which its makers claim can understand and use many of the apps on your phone.
You can tell it to carry out a task, and it will select and navigate the appropriate app, essentially acting like a digital personal assistant that can use third-party apps.
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