Consumer Electronics Show 2021: 10 of the weirdest and wackiest gadgets
From made-in-a-minute ice cream to face masks with smarts, this year’s Consumer Electronics Show is full of surprises.
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The world’s largest technology show shifted from the bright lights of Las Vegas to the dim blue light of computer screens this year, with 1900 exhibitors moving their product showcases into the virtual world.
But there was still plenty of useful tech, forthcoming releases and conceptual creations on show, as well as some of the strangest devices you’re likely to see.
We’ve scanned the virtual halls of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to find 10 of the weirdest and wackiest devices from 2021 and beyond.
Just when you got used to seeing smartphones fold, they’re going to learn to roll. LG showed hints of its future smartphone at the end of its CES presentation, revealing the LG Rollable as a smartphone that could expand to tablet size. The phone is based on technology LG has previously used in TV prototypes shown in Las Vegas. A company spokesperson said it would be released as part of LG’s “Explorer” project, but its launch date and price had yet to be determined.
Yes, this does exactly what you think. The famous hi-tech toilet brand is going where other health gadgets dread and promises it can deliver a health perspective like no other. The Toto Wellness toilet promises to track your health by using “two unique touchpoint that cannot be found elsewhere: the skin and human waste”. The company says a “wealth of wellness data can be collected from fecal matter” and it expects to launch the smart toilet in future years.
Didn’t expect your next face mask to come from a video game brand? Razer has potentially got you covered anyway with a concept that it promises is the world’s “smartest mask”. It’s an N95 respirator to keep droplets away from mouth and nose, but it also features a transparent panel so people can still see your expression and a microphone and speaker to ensure your voice isn’t muffled. In a nod to its roots, there are also some lights on its side, and it comes with a charging case that has a UV steriliser inside.
First coffee came in pods, now it’s ice cream. Sigma Phase unveiled what looks like a coffee machine at CES but it actually promises to turn the contents of aluminium canisters into soft serve ice cream in your home. The liquid inside the ice cream cans is cooled and made into ice cream or a smoothie inside the machine and delivered to a tub within 60 to 90 seconds. The liquid mix promises to last on the shelf for a year or more. The machine is expected to be released next year.
So many pets have been adopted over the past year but for those who cannot do that — due to space, accommodation, or allergies — there are artificially intelligent robots. Created by Vanguard Industries, the fluffy Moflin robot looks a little like a guinea pig. It is, however, packed with sensors including an accelerometer, gyroscope and microphone to assess how it’s been treated and develop ‘emotions’ appropriately.
This is not a virtual reality headset but a headset for watching regular movies and TV shows as if you were sitting on your couch, four metres away from a big TV. These classes feature dual full high-definition displays that promise to mimic a 140-degree view of your favourite content, and can be connected to a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. They’re due in Australia in the second half of the year.
Vaonis Vespera Observation Station
Winner of a CES Innovation Award, this gadget is impressive, advanced and pretty unexpected. Described as a mix between a telescope and a camera, the portable device can be pointed towards the stars, connected to a smartphone or tablet, and will use GPS coordinates from your device to find different nebula to inspect. Users can direct it, change settings and take photos to share by using their connected gadget, and the company behind it opened pre-orders at CES for $US1499 ($1943).
This smart take on a face mask focuses on keeping wearers connected. The Maskfone, available online for $US50, arrives with built-in earbuds from each side, a microphone inside, and touch controls below the right side of your chin to answer phone calls, alter volume and skip tracks. When connected to a smartphone, it solves the issue of being heard on a phone while wearing a mask out, plus it comes with PM2.5 filters to keep you safer.
Apparently beds need to offer more than just comfort and a foam top in 2021. Ergomotion, known for creating mechanised beds, showed off new connected beds that feature speakers to play meditation prompts, ports for charging phones, integrated aromatherapy solutions, will use IFTTT to connect to other devices like coffee machines, and can be programmed to physically force you out of bed when your alarm goes off.
Smart home gadget-maker Arlo has created a connected doorbell that doesn’t actually need to be touched, making it 2021-friendly. The Arlo Touches Video Doorbell, which claimed a CES Innovation Award, uses a proximity sensor to determine when someone approaches it and rings and lights up instantly rather than requiring a button press. It’s expected to launch later this year.
Originally published as Consumer Electronics Show 2021: 10 of the weirdest and wackiest gadgets
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