The ever-chirping chorus of techies at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, hawking their gadgets, services and Wi-Fi-enabled everything, is a vortex of cloying cyber-enthusiasm. Since I am prone to seeing much of this as ridiculous (for example, who wants a $1,200 Walkman?), much of my experience walking around this endless mire of booths was one of consternation. But even this neo-Luddite found a lot of neat things worth sharing. Without further ado, here are my picks, with an emphasis on things that haven't already gotten a lot of press:
Picture a printer roughly the size of several iPhones stacked on top of each other—and moves as it prints. Voilà, you have Zuta Labs's mobile printer. This device trundles back and forth over paper as it puts down ink. This little guy would make sense to own if you want a printer but don't have enough space for one, or are constantly on the move. It can now be purchased on the company's website, after Zuta raised more than $500,000 with a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Not everybody is good at taking care of plants. To get around that, a little French company called Mind Every Garden has created an automated pot that senses soil moisture and gives the plant a drink when needed. It also will soon release another product, which monitors the electric signals within plant tissue to monitor levels of pollutants like ozone. Company co-founder Franz Ezin says he is working with the city of Paris to deploy the sensors for their pollutant-sensing abilities. The Parrot Company, a completely separate entity, has made an even more advanced smart pot that senses soil nitrogen content and can be programmed, the company claims, to take care of hundreds of different plant species.
Rats and mice are a pain. But some people would rather not kill the little animals in a violent manner. Enter Raticator. This California company makes traps that electrocute rodents and kills them in a quick and "humane" manner, says company president Robert Noe. The floor of the Raticator is made of metal, and when a mouse or rat walks in, an infrared sensor notices its body heat and triggers a flood of current that stops the rodent's heart and lungs. It also sends out a signal saying that it has done its job, so somebody can retrieve the unmangled carcass.
Learning to play the guitar isn't easy. California-based gTar has created a guitar with real strings overlaying a fretboard with glowing LEDs that show players where to put their fingers. It can load hundreds of popular songs by connecting to a smartphone and then shows you how to play along. You can also select a level of difficulty, increasing it as you improve.
This company has built a $249 infrared camera that connects to smartphones. The device can "see" heat by sensing infrared radiation and also has a second visible camera to distinguish writing and other surface details not typically visible with infrared cameras. Why would you want one? It has many potential uses, explains spokesman Keith Metz-Porozni, such as spotting animals or pets in the dark, or detecting cold air drafts or leaking pipes in walls. It's also fun to take a thermal portrait of yourself, which the company dubs a "thermie."
When I say "jump," you say "How high?" Blast Motion has created a coin-sized sensor that will tell you exactly how much air you're getting, whether you're jumping under your own power or on a skateboard or skis. It also registers how quickly you're going, your rotation and a whole bunch of other metrics. The sensors can also be used on baseball bats and golf clubs to analyze your swing, and there is a smartphone app to help you correct problems with your game. An accompanying video feature allows users to film, quantify and analyze their jump, swing, running gait or other athletic maneuvers, frame by frame.
Ever wanted a miniature sculpture of yourself? Who hasn't? This company has developed a 3-D scanner that takes a composite image of your body, including fine details such as the color and pattern of your clothing. You can then order a 3-D-printed copy of yourself, in several sizes, which the company calls a "shapie." Even Barack Obama had a bust of himself made using the company's technology.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Douglas Main is a journalist who lives in New York City and whose writing has appeared in the New York ... Read more
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