With the new year just beginning, a significant event in modern technology has already taken place with the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Hosted in Las Vegas, the show took place from January 7-11, drawing over 140,000 attendees and displays by 4,500 exhibitors.
The CES is a trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association to showcase the most recent innovations and products in consumer technology, offering attendees a chance to view recently released products, engage with exciting new gadgets, and take in advancements in the tech industry. Companies and presentations spanned a broad range of areas, including artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, travel and mobility, entertainment, energy, and sustainability.
Artificial Intelligence
This year, the compelling technology on display included inventions like Cosmos, an AI platform by the company Nvidia designed to better train physical systems like robots and self-driving vehicles through realistic imagery.
Home Technology
In the home tech category, the Saros Z70 made an appearance as a robotic vacuum cleaner with a mechanical arm, allowing it to move obstacles when cleaning.
Sustainability
The startup Flint displayed a more sustainable battery made from cellulose, a component of plant fibers, as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Healthcare
The AI Echo Care platform offers a way to make echocardiography more efficient, and detect heart disease more accurately. Similarly, AI Doc helps to diagnose certain cancers through an app.
Wearable Tech
Ozlo Sleepbuds are earbuds that offer an in-ear alarm and the ability to track a user’s sleep through biometric sensors.
Nuance Audio glasses offer wearable technology, as smart glasses with built-in hearing aids to pick up and amplify sound.
Unique & Fun
The company Kirin showcased a spoon that utilizes an electric current to make food taste saltier, aiming to improve meals without the addition of excess sodium.
On Campus
On campus, students reported that they would be excited to experience new developments like these. Computer science major Hannah DiNatale ‘27 noted, “I think AI that’s used to help people get diagnosed and treated more easily is especially important.” She added, “It’s definitely a really interesting use of newer technology like artificial intelligence.”
Technology similar to some showcased at CES can be seen on Union College’s campus, especially in spots like the Maker Spaces and the Integrated Science and Engineering Complex. Students can build novel creations, engage with abstract concepts, and visualize solutions with tools like the 3D Print Lab and the Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality available at the Imagine Lab. They also have the use of the CNC metal milling machine and waterjet cutter at the Make Lab, as well as the Laser Cutter and CNC Router in Feigenbaum Center for Visual Arts.