Best of CES 2024

Consumer Electronics Show

Las Vegas again opened its exhibition hall to let thousands of people experience the latest and greatest in tech. This year was all about artificial intelligence and some of the technology built around it. Here are the sneak peeks!

Palmplug
Palmplug might sound like a strange name, but it's actually a pretty impressive device. It is a new device that is designed to improve interfacing our hands with things like AR and VR. The device fits over your entire hand and can track the precise movement of every finger. It also provides haptic feedback and visual cues for some more immersion. It is also not as restrictive as a glove or a handheld controller used currently. The device will have many applications that will go beyond just games; it could be used in medical applications for physiotherapy, it could replace a mouse when interacting with a computer, or it could be used for education. Currently, it is available only for developers.

MSI Claw
MSI is also jumping into the handheld PC gaming sector with their new device called Claw. The dimensions of the device are similar to the ASUS ROG Ally, but what's under the hood is different. They have gone with an Intel-based approach. The device has an Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor with Intel AI boost and Intel Arc Graphics. The Intel GPU has been getting a lot of good press lately for great performance on a budget. Does this mean the MSI Claw will be cheap? Unfortunately, no; while there are three options, the device will start at around $699 (approximately R57,000), which is similarly priced to its competitors. It will be available in the first half of this year.

Flappie door
If you have a cat, you will appreciate this device. Cats are amazing pets, but they can also be pretty feral. . Flappie is a Catflap that gives your cat the freedom to explore, with the added benefit of detecting and recognising your cat. This means no other cat (or animal) can access to your house. The developers of this product have also included a prey detection that uses AI to detect if your cat is carrying an unwanted gift. However, since it is priced at approximately R35,000, you decide if you really need it.

Rabbit R1
Rabbit R1 is by far one of the most interesting devices released during CES. It is essentially a pocket AI assistant, but really, it is so much more. The device is small and fast and does everything seamlessly, including tasks that would take you several minutes on your smartphone. The device was designed by Teenage Engineering and has a bit of a quirky retro vibe to it. At the same time, it looks functional. The device essentially has access to a large Language Model similar to ChatGPT , and the company has also built something they call a Large Action Model, which knows how to interact with websites and applications. This device is available for pre-order and you can get one for $199 (Rs 16,487).

Oro Robot
If you thought an expensive Catflap was too much, you haven't seen this latest companion robot for your dog. It's called Oro, and it can cover all your dog care needs. It can play fetch, give your dog a treat or even release food for your dog. The robot can interact with your dog to reduce stress when you are not around, thanks to its ability to detect physical and audible signs of stress. It can also track medical appointments for your pooch and remind you about them. The design of the robot is bite-resistant, which means your furry friend cannot destroy it by just gnawing at it. At its core this is another device that uses advanced AI techniques to predict and counteract the behaviour of your pets.

Lotus Ring
Health bands seem to be on a path to replacing health bands for tracking sleep, heart rate, and other things. However, the Lotus ring takes things a little further, adding gesture controls, an infrared blaster and a touch interface. This device can be used for home automation, making it very useful for senior citizens. The company has also made companion products that use existing sockets and devices to add automation instantly. You can turn on lights, turn off devices and pause music all by pointing at the device and clicking the ring.