By ADRIANA MORGA, HALELUYA HADERO and CARA RUBINSKY
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Technology companies of all sizes show off their latest products at CESformerly known as the Consumer Electronics show.
The show returns to normal After going completely virtual in 2021 and seeing a significant drop in attendance in 2022 due to the pandemic.
Exhibitors range from big names to smaller startups, including Sony and LG. You might see the next big thing or something that never gets past the prototype stage.
The show kicked off on Tuesday night with media previews of just a few of the 3,000 companies registered to attend. CES officially opens on Thursday.
Here are some highlights:
POKEMON, BUT MAKE IT BIRDS
Bird Buddy featured a smart bird feeder that takes pictures of its feathered friends as they fly in to eat some treats. The startup says its AI technology can recognize more than 1,000 species of birds and allows users to share which birds they feed through a mobile app.
“We’re trying to sort of gamify the collection so that it’s a really fun game that you can play — almost like real-life Pokémon Go, with real animals and wildlife in your backyard,” said Kyle Buzzard, the company’s co-founder and chief hardware officer. . .
The product has already attracted some interest from consumers who want to show the world what birds are coming to their yards.
The company, which began as a Kickstarter project in 2020, said it began shipping the bird feeders in September and has already sold all 100,000 units in its inventory. The basic feeder costs $199.
ELECTRIC SKATES
Journalists had fun in the exhibition hall on remote-controlled electric skates from French startup AtmosGear.
The battery lasts 20 miles (32 kilometers), founder Mohamed Soliman said, hoping people will see them as an affordable way to get around like electric bikes or scooters.
“My goal is for everyone to go skating again because it’s so much fun, every time you see people skating, you see them with a big smile,” Soliman said.
The backpack holds the battery and the cables connected to the skates. They can also be used as regular skates when they need to be charged or when skaters just want to travel under their own power.
The $500 skates are available for pre-order. The company has taken orders for 150 pairs so far and is targeting 200 orders to start production.
Digital temporary TATTOOS
The handheld device demonstrated by the South Korean company “Prinker” allows you to apply temporary tattoos quickly and easily.
The device uses cosmetic-grade ink with a library of thousands of designs or the option to make your own with the company’s app. After choosing a tattoo, you can swing the device wherever you want. The tattoos are waterproof but can be washed off with soap.
The flagship model is $279 and the smaller model is $229. Ink cartridges good for 1,000 tattoos are $119.
HELP FIND YOUR WAY
Loovic, who operates in Japan, has created a device designed to solve the problems of those who have difficulty navigating while walking.
The neck-worn device uses sounds and vibrations to guide users to their destinations, allowing them to see their surroundings rather than focusing on their phone’s map app.
Loovic co-founder and CEO Toru Yamanaka said he was inspired to create the device for his son, who has a cognitive disability that makes navigation difficult.
The prototype device has not yet been released to the public.
A FITNESS TRACKER FOR YOUR DOG
If you’re wondering what your dog does when you’re not at home, French startup Invoxia has a product for you. The company’s smart dog collar tracks your pet’s activity and sleep, sending the data to your phone.
The latest version unveiled at CES, a GPS tracker, includes more advanced heart health monitoring.
The collar costs $149 in the US, with an $8.25 monthly app subscription that monitors and shares data with your vet.
METAVERSE FOR KIDS
The creators of Roybi, an educational AI robot that helps kids learn about STEM subjects and new languages, are venturing into the metaverse.
RoybiVerse is expected to offer stations where K-12 and higher education students can learn about a wide range of educational topics.
Users walking around RoybiVerse will be able to visit an area where they will learn about dinosaurs or go to a virtual library where they can choose and read a book.
Expected to launch in mid-2023, RoybiVerse will be available in virtual reality headsets and on its website. No robot needed.
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For more information on CES, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/consumer-electronics-show