Weirdest tech from CES 2023: Car companions, scent showers and more

It’s easy to get lost in the excitement CES: Dazzling wireless TVs here, one an actual flying machine there. It’s a lot to take in. But hiding in plain sight is the whole product of jaw-dropping, unusual or just plain weird gadgets. These strange products are part of the delicious signs of the usually overflowing show slim new laptops and shiny cars.

We’ll continue rounding up the weird and sometimes disturbing tech products we’ve seen this week. Here’s our ongoing list if you’re interested The must-see devices of CES 2023and here is a summary The most futuristic gizmos of CES.

Withings’ toilet sensor can read your urine

We figured a pee target was as good as it got. With Withings, it goes a few steps deeper sensors in the toilet It’s a bit like a urine cake and calculates if, for example, you’re low on nutrients or if you’re about to ovulate. A sensor called U-Scan attaches to the toilet bowl and analyzes urine every day you use it. A companion application provides health indicators over time.

A robot pet with a personality

Robot companions are a fun idea, but they often suffer from a lack of personality. Each droid friend comes with the same features, the same personality traits that you can pick and choose from. Toymaker WowWee wants to change that with its $80 electronic dog Dog-E. This a robot dog with a personality coded deep in its heart (CPU?), manifesting itself over time. According to WowWee, some dogs will always be hungry, while others may be more playful or shy.

This camouflage car color syncs with the music

Of course, we like what we see inside Volkswagen ID 7 concept car It will be shown at CES this week. But it’s what VW put on the outside that caught our eye: The car is covered in QR-code-themed digital camouflage and is divided into 22 zones and individually illuminated, turning the entire exterior into a music visualizer connected to the car’s audio system. .

LG’s answer to foot odor

If you’re an athlete, here’s your high-tech chance to care for your shoes. Called LG’s Styler ShoeCare, you slide your sneakers into a locker-room-like device, and 37 minutes later your shoes are deodorized via magical TrueSteam heads. The companion Styler ShoeCase lets you show off your shoes after they’ve freshened them up.

Fun in your kitchen

Here’s another reason why you’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties: LG’s new MoodUp refrigerator it has color-changing doors and a Bluetooth speaker to make the kitchen the center of the action. With 190,000 color combinations, you can match the LED backlit panels to your cooking mood, according to LG.

Print your hair color

In years past, you may have seen how you can print temporary tattoos, but this January at CES, you can take it a step further and color print your hair. Prinker shows how.

An aromatherapy shower sprays you with scents

How cool is that? Among the new shower and bath products Kohler is showing off this week aromatherapy shower a system the company designed to bring spa scents into the shower. The aromatherapy system infuses the shower water with vitamins and scents — all you need is a cucumber to complete your spa treatment.

Neutrogena Personal Skin Care Gummies

Neutrogena has been making soaps and lotions for years, but now the skincare giant wants us to chew. vitamin gums said the company can tailor it to your specific skin needs. A 28-day pack of chewable food will cost $50.

Kitchen cutting board with built-in screen

Don’t cover your MacBook keyboard or iPhone screen with sticky dough while touching a recipe with floury fingers. A $699 walnut cutting board from Blok shows recipes and cooking lessons on a 13-by-20-inch display (with a $39-a-month subscription). The screen comes apart for cleaning.

Live stream while you cook dinner

OK. I confess: I watch a lot of Twitch for the live streams and chicken hens of gamers and artists. Therefore Samsung’s bespoke AI wall oven so attractive. Now I can live stream my cooking with a camera built into the oven.

Joke with your car like an old friend

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Volkswagen wasn’t the only automaker to bring a fun concept car to CES. BMW i Vision Dee it has 240 e-ink panels on the outside, which allows it to change colors in an instant. At its most futuristic, it wants to be both your car and your companion: It uses sophisticated artificial intelligence to create a personality of its own, a la Herbie or Knight Rider’s Kitt. Although it’s just a concept, BMW says some of the technology in the i Vision Dee will make it to new cars in 2025. maybe AI companion not included.

For more on CES, here’s what to know about how to watch all the big announcements in Las Vegas this week Samsung’s massive QLED monitors on the screen and all the robots we found.