Aussie innovators Espresso Displays, Seeing Machines at CES in Las Vegas

An Australian group has attracted millions in investment and another is partnering with a US airline. Here are the details on the Down Under tech on full display at the world’s biggest consumer electronics showcase.

Attendees at CES, the world’s biggest consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, would notice an Australian touch – or at least an Aussie-designed touch screen if they were travelling in comfort on Delta Airlines.

Sydney-based Espresso Displays – which Deloitte has recognised as one of Australia’s 50 fastest-growing tech brands – has a deal with the American airline to allow its portable computer monitors to be used as a guest amenity at its Delta One lounges.

They are available in Los Angeles, New York JFK and Boston as part of Espresso’s strategy to fuel its global expansion in 2025.

Meanwhile, Canberra-headquartered Seeing Machines, announced at CES that it has secured a £26.2 ($52.1m) “strategic” investment from Mitsubishi Electric Mobility to accelerate the development of its computer vision technology in the automotive sector – underscoring Australian innovation on one of the world’s biggest stages.

Espresso Displays co-founder and chief executive Will Scuderi.

Espresso – which was a CES Innovations Awards honoree this year – says it has created the world’s thinnest pure portable monitor at 5.3mm (although Apple’s latest iPad Pro, which is 5.1mm thick, can also act as a portable monitor).

It has become a hit in its home market, launching in JB Hi-Fi last year as it builds scale.

Co-founder and chief executive Will Scuderi was one of the thousands of exhibitors at CES, where he launched a new 15-inch Pro display, which he said “takes performance and productivity for business to new levels”, while being more energy efficient.

The 15 Pro features a touch screen and is designed mainly for people who travel for work frequently. It delivers up to 550 nits of brightness. This compares with 450 nits peak brightness on its existing 17 Pro. It also has released a new fordable “Stand+” which is more adjustable than its previous iteration, which uses magnets to mount the screen.

Espresso Displays new 15 Pro – a touchscreen that connects to laptops and other devices via a USB-C charging cable.

“Building on the success of Espresso 17 Pro, 15 Pro provides a more compact, energy-efficient, and brighter option while providing exceptional picture quality, performance and viewing comfort when used with the ergonomic Stand+,” Mr Scuderi said.

“Like all espresso Displays products, espresso 15 Pro is built to give people the best in terms of premium design with glass and aluminium, single cable connection to almost any device, and the freedom to produce quality work wherever the road takes you.”

A single USB-C cable connects the display to a source device, which can be MacOS or Windows based. It also has compatibility with iPhones, iPads and Samsung Galaxy devices running on DeX, Mr Scuderi said.

Seeing Machines chief executive Paul McGlone.

Seeing Machines – spun out of Australian National University 25 years ago to create a “crash proof vehicle” – has been quietly advancing its artificial intelligence-powered driver monitoring system, which is used to alleviate fatigue and help avoid car accidents.

Customers include BMW, General Motors and Ford. It also works with Qantas, Emirates and CAT.

Mitsubishi Electric Mobility’s investment in the company represents about 15 per cent of Seeing Machines’ issued share capital before the issue of new ordinary shares.

Seeing Machines chief executive Paul McGlone described it as a “pivotal partnership”.

“We have been working closely with our new colleagues at Mitsubishi Electric Mobility and the synergy is clear: promising significant benefits for both of our businesses,” he said.

“We have carefully considered this investment in Seeing Machines to ensure that we remain focused on supporting our existing key customers and programs across our transport focused businesses, while we accelerate growth in currently under-served markets and together explore new opportunities in adjacent industries.”

Seeing Machines driver monitoring system helps alleviate fatigue and avoid crashes.

Mitsubishi Electric Mobility president and chief executive Kunihiko Kaga, said the partnership formed part of the company’s CASE (connected, autonomous, shared and service, electric) business, which has “great market potential”.

“We position this partnership with Seeing Machines as part of this strategy and are confident

that by combining the strengths of both companies, we will be able to provide the market with new and attractive products. We are very pleased to be taking on a new business challenge with Seeing Machines, our best partner, in the rapidly growing DMS (driver monitoring system) market.”

The author travelled to CES with assistance from Samsung, LG and Hisense.