Hottest gadgets of 2022: New Samsung, Linklet wearable cameras and Moonbike
Nailable solar panels, adaptive focus sunglasses and devices that can charge from across the room are among a host of new gadgets coming this year.
It’s early in 2022 but already we’ve seen the unveiling of dozens of new gadgets, mainly at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas this month. While some gadgets are updates on existing technology, some are based on new ideas that have longer term implications.
For example, take Samsung’s Echo Remote, which is powered using the Wi-Fi signal from your home router. How many other devices could be charged in this way? Or take the Mashgin shopper check-out system, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to recognise products that you are buying rather than bar codes. You don’t have to look for bar codes on labels as you self check-out.
32°N adaptive focus sunglasses
We are used to camera lenses adapting to changes in depth of field, but what about sunglasses? There is finally movement in this area with Deep Optics unveiling its 32°N adaptive focus sunglasses.
Deep Optics says the liquid crystal technology allows the glasses to switch from sunglasses to reading glasses in a swipe. That could save sufferers carrying around two sets of glasses, especially those with presbyopia who cannot focus on nearby objects. “We are on a mission to improve human vision through dynamic optics,” says Yariv Haddad, the CEO and co-founder of the Israeli company. “32°N Glasses was developed to provide a seamless technological solution to a problem faced by over 1.8 billion people around the world.”
Linklet LTE embedded camera
This Japanese-developed camera system offers the missing link between common video services and wearable technology. It includes a super wide angle camera with five microphones.
The Linklet connects you directly to Zoom and Teams to offer you hands-free remote support from four friends and colleagues across the internet, as if they were helping you over your shoulder.
“By using popular video conferencing tools with hands-free wearable device, it realises one-to-many communication for various means,” the company says.
The Linklet won an innovation award at CES 2022.
Moonbike
Two years ago we featured the Manta 5, an e-bike that you could ride on water. It had a seat, handlebars and pedals like a normal bike, but the handlebars connected to a tiller mechanism instead of a front wheel.
Now there is an e-bike for the snow called Moonbike, which the start-up behind it brands as the first ever ultralight electric snowbike. It’s many times lighter than a snowmobile. The Moonbike weighs 74kg (87kg with a battery), can carry a 120kg driver, and has a top speed of 42km/h. A single battery lasts 60-90 minutes, with recharging taking from five hours 45 minutes with a standard charger, to three hours with an optional fast charger.
GAF Energy nailable solar roofing
It’s been six years since Elon Musk unveiled his solar roof tiles – tiles with embedded solar panels that trap energy from the sun. They haven’t become a household name, like some of Musk’s other exploits, but there is an industry in integrated solar roof tiles where you don’t need a separate solar panel system sitting on the roof. A browser search will bring up Australian firms such as Nulok and Tractile. Musk meanwhile says Tesla made significant mistakes with its solar roof tile project around the complexity of assembly on various roofs and has been revising its design.
At CES this month, GAF Energy unveiled what it says is the world’s first “nailable solar shingle”.
It says its solar roof technology can therefore be integrated into traditional roofing systems. “The launch will enable the mainstream deployment of clean energy via traditional roofing channels,” the company says.
Rode VideoMic Go
Australia’s Rode in the past has released a prolific amount of audio tech for those who shoot video with smart devices. And it seems that this year the trend will continue. It recently launched the VideoMic Go II, a lightweight and compact directional shotgun microphone, which is compatible with cameras, smartphones, tablets and computers.
Rode says the new mic has the acoustic capabilities of the VideoMic NTG, but in a more compact form. Rode promises “a rich and full-bodied sound”.
It says the mic operates off the mains. You get a foam windshield and a shock mount for absorbing handling noise.
A sliding rail lets you adjust the position of the mic on the mount, and there are cable management slots for keeping a set-up tidy. The microphone weights only 89 grams. Rode also announced the Wireless Go II Single, which is similar to the Wireless Go II but with a single transmitter instead of two.
Botslab Robot Vacuum Cleaner S8
Cheap robot vacuums don’t usually offer a LiDAR navigation system. This one does, along with mapping, route planning and obstacle avoidance. It also offers automatic dust collection in a very large four litre dust bag. which the company estimates you only need to clean out five times a year, something that “is really helpful for busy office workers”.
Mashgin shopper check-out
The days of shoppers laboriously scanning bar codes on products are coming to a close if Mashgin has its way. The company has produced a fast self-checkout system that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to recognise products that you are buying. There is no need to look for the bar code on the packaging.
“Items don’t have to lie flat – that is, a bottle of Coca-Cola with their barcode exposed to a scanner. Once placed on the kiosk tray, Mashgin can easily and instantaneously identify the items from virtually any angle,” the company says, adding that the system is suited to sports stadiums, convenience stores, airports, convention centres, cafes and hotel lobbies.
Long-distance wireless charging
Successive CES consumer electronics shows in January have demonstrated the ability to charge a device from across the room. You won’t need to attach a physical cord or a battery to a camera or another device hanging in the corner. These systems usually include a stand-alone wireless power transmitter and a small receiver attached to the device being charged.
At CES, Energous revealed it had received regulatory approval for its WattUp charging solution for both near and far field charging. This could involve “charging electronic devices on a charging surface to charging networks of sensors in an industrial application”.
WattUp is at the stage of talking with industries that want to manufacture devices with its tech in consumer electronics, IoT and retail, health and medical, automotive, and defence and public safety.
Another firm, Ossia, has developed “Cota technology” that uses an RF smart antenna to charge multiple devices from afar.
“Wireless power helps you achieve longer IoT shelf life with fewer maintenance needs, while giving you real-time data for continuous improvements.”
Samsung Echo remote 2022
Samsung’s revamped Eco Remote is notable not just for its design, but for amazing charging technology that could find its way to a slew of devices.
Whereas the old Echo remote used solar power, the 2022 version uses energy transmitted by your home wi-fi router to recharge. That’s energy that is otherwise wasted. So you neither charge nor replace the batteries, nor do you depend on solar charging. Without dependence on a light source, you can even charge the new Echo in a dark room provided you are within 40m of your router.
Samsung says the Echo remote will be bundled with new Samsung TVs and other appliances. However, expect this technology to be adopted more widely.
Nanotech graphene-organolyte batteries
Billions of dollars is being spent on developing alternative battery technology in the quest to make renewable energy more affordable, more abundant and safer.
To that end, Nanotech Energy has unveiled graphene-organolyte batteries that it says are infinitely safer than lithium-ion batteries used for commercial electronics.
It says the batteries are safer and higher-performing than lithium-ion batteries.
“Standard lithium-ion batteries that power consumer electronics use highly flammable materials that can suddenly catch fire and/or explode and also lose the ability to hold significant charge over time,” Nanotech Energy says. “Building safer batteries is critical for the future of energy storage. Nanotech Energy is the only producer of non-flammable, graphene-based batteries on the market.
“Its patented scalable process and graphene products have the potential to transform the world we live in via applications in batteries, transparent conducting electrodes, conductive inks, printed electronics, conductive epoxy, antistatic coatings and EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding, paving the way to make the wonders of graphene a reality.”
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