Each year tech companies big and small descend on Las Vegas for CES. The cutting-edge products they unveil on the show floor can mold the future of tech or go nowhere at all. Here are some of the most interesting innovations out of CES 2023 in this week’s Five for Friday.
#5: AtmosGear Electric Skates
Over the last five years, the streets of every major city have been inundated with electric skateboarders and scooter riders. Electric skates are about to be added to the mix thanks to French startup AtmosGear. Their skates boast a top speed of 20 mph and a range of 20 miles for $500. One downside is that to keep a small form factor, AtmosGear opted for an external battery pack that straps to the user’s back.
#4: Glüxkind Ella
Canada’s Glüxkind showed off its Ella artificial-intelligence-powered smart stroller at CES this year. The Ella can assist with uphill walks, can brake when going downhill and has a hands-free mode for when the child isn’t in the mood to be in the stroller and you need a little help pushing while holding onto the little one. If the child is having trouble resting, it offers a built-in white noise machine and rock-my-baby mode. It monitors the stroller’s surroundings too while you are focused on your bundle of joy. All of the features come at a premium with the Ella’s price tag hitting $3,300. Baby tech has been making waves at CES recently with the introduction of the smart diaper.
#3: Withings U-Scan
It seems like every new product has the term “smart” attached to it these days. Withings U-Scan is a smart toilet sensor that attaches inside the bowl. Withings says the U-Scan can check PH levels, track ovulation cycles and detect early signs of health issues. As with any other smart device, it has an accompanying app to track the data. It can even tell the difference between users based on distance and speed of flow.
#2: Aska A5
Flying vehicles have become a huge trend at CES in recent years. In 2023 Aska showed off its functional A5 eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle. The flying car is electric as the name suggests but also has a small gas reserve just in case. Beating the traffic in the big city is one thing, but the A5 can be parked in a normal sized space. That said, it needs an area the size of a helipad for take off and landing. The A5 is still awaiting regulatory approval and when it does, it’s going to cost early adopters $789,000. But for those not willing to spend that kind of money, the company hopes to start a ride hailing service by 2026.
#1: BMW i Vision Dee
CES is not the No. 1 place for revealing concept cars, but with tech like the BMW i Vision Dee, it’s the perfect place. BMW calls it the ultimate companion that can “speak, listen and understand your wishes.” Using electronic ink technology, it can change color on a whim and its front grill creates a digital display that can mimic eyes showing real personality. BMW pulled out all the stops with this concept, bringing in Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Hasselhoff and KITT from Knight Righters for their “Dee Movie” announcement video.