CES 2017: 6 tech products that make a real difference

CES 2017: 6 tech products that make a real difference

(Liesl Nielsen)


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LAS VEGAS — As thousands of tech enthusiasts descend upon Sin City this week, companies and innovators from across the world roll out their newest products for CES’s 50th anniversary.

While the tech is impressive and the hype justified, some products leave the consumer wondering, “Is this really necessary?”

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A lot of tech showcased at CES claims to make easy tasks even easier, and no one is complaining (who doesn’t want a fridge camera that suggests recipes based on fridge contents?) But every once in awhile, a product will distinguish itself from the crowd, not only for its innovation, but its ability to serve a real need.

The CES Innovation Awards program distinguishes the highest-rated products and technology from a myriad of different categories. The winners are then displayed throughout the rest of the conference.

KSL meandered through the rows of glass-encased award-winners, searching for the tech focused on serving real needs.

The following is a non-comprehensive look at the top 6 products:

RAPAEL Smart Glove from NEOFECT:

This smart glove is designed to provide fun and engaging rehabilitation exercises for stroke patients. The glove customizes training for the stroke patient based on the data it collects throughout the exercises and works to keep the patient motivated to continue treatment.

Model M Personal EV Wheelchair from WHILL:

With the Model M wheelchair, WHILL has sought to give users access to places they’ve never been able to go before. The wheels are more conducive to giving users an active lifestyle and are equally competent indoors and out, even conquering rough pavement and climbing over obstacles.

Smart Moto Airbag Vest from In&motion:

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2006, 72.34 motorcycles out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes compared to 13.10 cars. This Moto Airbag vest provides riders with at least one of the safety benefits of being in a car. The vest is light and can be worn under a jacket and contains an embedded detection device that will sense when a rider crashes. The vest will then inflate an airbag that’s designed to protect the most sensitive body areas. After deploying the airbag, the app informs a relative of the GPS coordinates to launch a rescue.

SafetoSleep baby blanket from Ospicon Systems:

Being a parent is stressful enough when the children are awake, but even sleeping children can be in danger. The SafetoSleep is a thin, blanket-like monitor that can be placed under a sleeping baby and uses fiber optics technology to gauge a baby’s wellness and breathing. The SafetoSleep is said to help babies sleep safely, develop healthy sleep habits and cope with separation anxiety. Which, in turn, might help even a parent to sleep through the night.

ReSound ENZO2 hearing aid from ReSound:

According to ReSound, this hearing aid is the world’s only super power smart hearing aid. The hearing aid offers not only rich sound, but internet connectivity and is compatible with the iPhone, doubling as wireless headphones able to stream music, calls and other audio.

Ampd Silo from Ampd:

While “backup power system” doesn’t sound like the sexiest tech out there, the Ampd Silo is a 17 kWh energy storage device aimed at developing nations that experience frequent power cuts. The Silo charges when there’s electricity, and discharges when it goes out, essentially replacing a diesel generator.

KSL talked to an #Ampd company rep to learn more about their energy storage device designed to help developing nations #CES2017pic.twitter.com/J3ejela4EI — Liesl Nielsen (@liesl_nielsen) January 5, 2017

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Liesl is a web reporter at KSL.com and a student at Brigham Young University. You can email her at lnielsen@ksl.com.

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