In this Tech Talk report, Time Warner Cable News’ Adam Balkin visits Consumer Electronics Week in the City, and examines some of the strange places you may soon find technology.
A toothbrush, a soccer ball, and a robot. At the recent CE or Consumer Electronics Week in the Big Apple, they all helped prove just how creative manufacturers are getting when it comes to new places or new ways they’re sticking and using technology.
Let’s start with the toothbrush, called the Prophix; $300 and out the beginning of next year, it’s being billed as the first toothbrush with a high definition camera built in.
“The purpose is to allow you to see any places that you’re missing and to see changes over time. So you can go back and compare that image with one that you took a couple of months ago," said Alex Riemer of Onvi, Inc.
Another device, the Coji, out late summer for $60, is a robot that allows young children to control it by programming via emojis.
“The name Coji comes from two words - 'coding' and 'emoji.' So we took the fun of emojis and coupled them with all the complexities of coding to make coding accessible for young kids age four to seven," said Andrew Yanofsky of Wow Wee.
Finally, Uncharted Play is designing ways to bring all of us - primarily though those in underdeveloped countries - clean, easily accessible electricity. Its first product was this soccer ball called the Socket. Kick it around and the kinetic energy you use with it creates power for this plug-in light.
Now, according to Nadeen Mustafa of Uncharted Play, it’s looking to expand that technology elsewhere. “We partner with OEM partners to make anything from a stroller to a suitcase to floor panels," said Mustafa.
Developers say any company that creates a product that moves, it’d be willing to partner with in order to double that product as a giant, human powered battery.