[GADGETS] Best of CES 2022

Highlights of the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show

The Razer Zephyr is either the coolest face mask ever, or a clever way to start rumors that the alien invasion is upon us. Razer announced the $99 Zephyr at CES 2022. It filters air both inhaled and exhaled, using two adjustable-speed fans and replaceable filters. It also has voice amplification and customizable interior and exterior lighting that can be controlled with an app.

Another strange-looking gadget is TP-Link’s new Archer AXE200 Omni wifi router. It has four motorized rotating antennas that promise to adjust to your devices to optimize the wifi signal. The AXE200 comes with HomeShield to provide comprehensive network protection, robust parental controls, and real-time loT security.

Samsung announced that its 32-inch Odyssey Neo G8 monitor (another futuristic design) earned a Best of Innovation Award in the Gaming category at CES 2022. And why not? "Beautiful colors leap off the screen into a user’s real environment with CoreSync lighting. The core lighting found on the backside of the monitor automatically detects colors on the screen and projects them in real life to create a deeper sense of immersion." Who doesn't want a deeper sense of immersion? Maybe people who don't have $2500 to spend on a monitor.

Noveto says their N1 Soundbar will eliminate the need for headphones, by beaming sound straight to your ears, in a “magical, immersive, personalized, cocooned audio experience.” The magical part is that only you can hear the audio. Face-tracking tech adjusts the sound to your head movements, and others nearby will hear only a whisper. It’s all done with smart beaming and multimodal interaction. Or at least it will be, when the product is released “sometime in 2022.”

Massage Robotics is betting that you’ll happily welcome our new robot overlords, so long as they can give a decent massage. Their life-sized autonomous massage robot costs $300,000 but has collaborative robotic arms and of course, responds to verbal commands with artificial intelligence. For reasons I can’t understand, it also communicates with other robots in a neural network. Will this this muscular, seven-foot-tall robot eliminate your fear of disrobing in front of strangers at a massage salon? Maybe, but there are plenty less embarrassing ways to die.

OrCam's MyEye attaches to a visually impaired person’s glasses, and helps them read text, and recognize faces. The $4000 device can also be helpful to people with reading difficulties. In addition to reading text on a page or electronic device, it can identify products and money to help with shopping, or read barcodes to identify items from the refrigerator. Information is conveyed audibly to the wearer.

Goodyear pledged a few years ago to develop a tire made of 100 percent sustainable materials by 2030. The latest prototypes shown as CES are at the 70 percent mark, and use soybean oil, methane, and carbon dioxide to replace the petroleum used in production. To improve traction, Goodyear is using silica derived from rice husk ash, a common by-product of rice milling. Polyester from recycled plastic bottles is also broken down and reformulated for use in tire cords.

There was plenty of electric vehicle news at CES 2022. Chrysler turned a few heads by announcing that it will sell only electric cars by 2028. The Chrysler Airflow, slated for 2025, will have a range of up to 400 miles, and Level 3 autonomous driving capability. GM, which previously announced plans to go all-electric by 2035, unveiled the Chevrolet Silverado EV. The $100,000 RST Edition will have 600+ horsepower and the ability to tow up to 10,000 pounds.

And finally, the winner of the "Weird Gadget That Nobody Asked For" award is the Amagami Ham Ham. It's a cuddly robotoy that nibbles your fingers. Masahiro Shiomi, who offers expert opinion on this product, says "many people would like to enjoy the feeling of pet and baby play-bites over and over again." Will the Amagami Ham Ham bring comfort, reduce stress and provide healing... or just bite your finger?

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