If you're looking for weird things, Las Vegas is a pretty good place to find them, particularly when the International CES is in town. In an age when pretty much everything with a power cord (and some without) is being connected to the Internet, the opportunities for fun are nearly endless.
Frivolity aside, though, that some of these innovations will stick to the wall, and those Internet of Things (IoT) devices will inevitably affect cable operators, requiring more bandwidth, bringing up security issues, and creating opportunities for management.
CES offered the opportunity to see some of the IoT devices operators might have to accommodate. Here are some that made us smile.
The Kerastase Hair Coach won the International CES Innovation Award for its WiFi-connected hairbrush. It will score hair quality and monitor hair care routines. An app will make product recommendations and offer suggestions on how to better brush. Sensors detect brushing force, a microphone listens to patterns, and an accelerator and gyroscope count strokes. How much does it cost to learn how to better manage frizziness, dryness and split ends? $200. The brush will be available later this year.
The Hydrao Digital Showerhead is a Bluetooth-enabled device that changes color to alert the bather to how much water has been used. The user sets the amounts for the triggers, like 5, 7 and 10 gallons. The app also allows for different settings based on who is showering and tracks the water usage of each person in the home (so you know if your 12-year-old is taking 20-minute showers).
Spinalli Design jeans buzz on different sides of the body to alert the wearer whether to turn left or right. The company also has a “smart” bikini that alerts the wearer when to apply sunscreen and a beanie that keeps the user connected while skiing. (Why one would need to be connected while skiing is not clear.)
Genican revealed a trash can sensor that scans barcodes and creates a shopping list of what to reorder. The user can also tell it what to put on the list and can choose to use Amazon replenishment services to automatically reorder.
The Ceravo Teclim is a pair of virtual reality shoes and gloves that give the wearer the sensation of walking on different surfaces or touching different objects. What use could this have? Gamers can now kick or hit and have a tactile experience. If they hit a wall, it will feel hard (will it hurt?) or if they punch someone in the stomach, it will feel soft.
A smart All-in-One Combo washer/dryer by Whirlpool washes and dries a load in one machine. There is no need to remember to transfer the wash. (Apparently many people share my habit of forgetting to put the wash in the dryer.) The smart sensors determine when laundry supplies are low and order from Amazon. Detergent is loaded in bulk and the machine dispenses exactly what is needed. Consumers can control the device through an app, which also alerts them when the cycle is done. And they can download special cycles to match unique loads.
A smart scarf by Wair looks fashionable and also cleans the air for walkers or bikers so they don’t breathe in pollution. It also alerts the wearer when the air is filled with smog and recommends they pull the garment up over their face.