Gaming
Per my earlier LinkedIn post, this year was my first time back at CES after nearly a decade since my last visit. While a lot has changed since then, a surprising amount of the conference remained familiar — mainly in the sense that there has been no slowdown in tech innovations filling the show floors. As BerlinRosen’s newest Digitech team member, I was there (alongside my colleagues Cary Kwok and Angelica Sabado Juarez) supporting our multiple clients in the gaming, entertainment, wearables, AI, consumer tech and lifestyle space.
Below were my personal favorite pieces of standout tech, including some proud pieces of coverage for our BerlinRosen clients. For brands looking to attend CES next year, I’ve also added in some tips on how to stand out.
Health & Fitness Technology:
Personal health and wellness continues to be top of mind each new year, and there was no lack of unique health tech at CES. The integration of AI in health tech was a core theme, with the Urtopia Fusion AI-Powered E-Bike being a prime example of how its AI companion tailors accurate recommendations exclusively for each user – from offering new routes based on your ride history to finding the best bike route based on preferred distance. An upcoming Urtopia smart ring will also offer a more robust coaching experience by collecting core health data, including sleep patterns and heart rates, to suggest a riding experience that is optimized for your current fitness condition.
Digital health company Withings also announced BeamO, a portable “multiscope” for at-home check ups done in under a minute. This includes a digital stethoscope that provides insights into your heart and lung sounds, an oximeter that measures your blood oxygen levels, and a contactless thermometer to measure body temperature. As telehealth visits become increasingly common, BeamO aims to encourage both individuals and families to perform more regular at-home checkups to substantially improve the quality of those visits.
When it comes to staying active as a family, BerlinRosen client Nex Playground also received positive attention for being an interactive, portable entertainment device that encourages movement for all ages via fully motion-sensored games – from jumping with Peppa Pig to NBA-level shooting-practice. The best part is that there are no controllers or clunky headsets needed, which makes the device accessible to folks with disabilities. Reviewed.com named it one of their favorite innovations shown at CES 2024, claiming that it is “the CES 2024 launch every tween should know about.”
For health and fitness tech brands looking to maintain relevance in 2024 and beyond, the focus should be on providing a seamless user experience paired with personalized health solutions.
Smarter Smart Homes:
The smart home industry has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, with innovations aimed at enhancing convenience, efficiency, and connectivity. One of the most buzzworthy gadgets was the Samsung Ballie, a basketball-shaped AI companion robot for the home that’s capable of completing household tasks, projecting pictures from the day or workout videos on the wall, sharing weather updates and more. Similarly, LG’s AI Agent is a two-legged wheel designed robot that utilizes a built-in camera, speaker and various sensors to gather real-time environmental data, including temperature, humidity and indoor air quality. With this data, it can help conserve energy by connecting with a smart outlet and turning off unused devices throughout the house. It’s even able to greet users when they arrive home and play music based on their detected mood.
There’s also an increased interest in solar and renewable smart home gear, as natural disasters, power outages and climate change have all driven how people invest. BerlinRosen client EcoFlow, a portable power and eco-friendly energy solutions company, addressed this issue directly with the CES launch of its DELTA Pro Ultra smart hybrid home battery generator and backup system, which received much praise. A review from CNET noted: “Unlike most home backups, which are permanent, you can take the EcoFlow with you if you move. That can save you on installation costs and keep you from having to buy a new battery at your new place. It’s another step toward more reliable and flexible energy use at home.”
As the smart home continues to evolve, it’s important for brands to consider not only what home owners want today, but how changes in our economy and environment will shape what is considered a “must have” or “couldn’t live comfortably without” item over the next five plus years.
Elevated Wearables:
Outside of CES, Apple officially revealed its February launch date for its Apple Vision Pro mixed reality and spatial computing headset, prompting many existing competitors on the CES show floor to tackle how they differ. The closest comparison were the Xreal Air 2 Ultra glasses, which are not only more affordable than the Vision Pro, but are also much smaller and lighter. Unlike previous versions of the glasses (Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro), the Air 2 Ultra uses 6DoF spatial computing capabilities, meaning virtual objects can be mapped to the real world while you walk around. Hand tracking also provides an intuitive way for users to interact with objects, using pinch, grab and swipe commands to control holographic objects. Ultimately, the Air 2 Ultra’s success will depend on the apps that are developed for it and how seamlessly it works with users’ phones and other devices.
Another unique and highly regarded wearable coming out of CES was BerlinRosen client Neurable’s MW75-Neuro headphones, which go beyond providing a traditional audio experience – the headphones actually measure auser’s brain waves, helping to recognize signs of stress and tell you when to take breaks. Tom’s Guide named the MW75-Neuro its favorite headphones of CES 2024, stating that “I really look forward to testing out the Master & Dynamic MW75-Neuro to see if they can come close to living up to the hype. Because if they do, they could really aid people’s mental health while opening the door to lots of other practical use cases that would save us a ton of time and potentially transform computing.”
AI Efficiency Tools:
As AI continues to transform various industries with mixed reactions of concern and excitement, its most compelling use case comes in the form of AI-driven personal assistants that not only respond to commands, but also learn and adapt to user preferences over time. The Rabbit R1 was the standout device, in this case, positioning itself as a portable and user-friendly AI assistant that is designed to learn from a user’s specific actions, make tasks easier and ultimately eliminate the need for users to download multiple apps.
Another compelling device leveraging AI for efficiency included the Vasco Translator E1 earpiece, which uses AI and an app to translate nearly 50 languages in real time. Per its Wirecutter review: “Vasco spent a lot of time working with linguists to address idioms and variations in meaning that direct word-for-word translations don’t consider, which can be crucial to understanding someone in business settings, at medical appointments, or when you’re speaking with local police. The translated text is visible in the app and spoken through the earpiece.”
The convenience that AI offers often outweighs its complications, but for companies looking to successfully implement the technology, there needs to be a solid use case for consumers with clear and noteworthy benefits.
Conclusion:
As a whole, CES 2024 highlighted a future where our environments are not just connected, but intelligent and responsive. While I look forward to keeping an eye on all of the standout products and services mentioned above, it will be equally exciting to see what new players emerge later this year and how they either fit into existing conversations or completely shift the landscape.