CES 2022 Review
Augmented-reality
Augmented-reality smart glasses might be the talk of 2022, but Mojo Vision is continuing its development of smart contact lenses. We first got a look at the company’s Mojo Lens prototype two years ago at CES 2020, when it was still very much in the research and development phase. Not much has changed there; the product is still in very early stages. The idea is that these smart contacts use an embedded display to show notifications, serve as a teleprompter, and even help people with poor vision move about.
TCL’s second-generation version of its NxtWear Air wearable glasses aren’t augmented reality glasses à la Google Glass, but they let you view anything from your smartphone through the dual 1080p micro OLED embedded in the lenses via a USB-C cable. The idea seems like it would be handy if you don’t want to prop up your phone on a plane ride to watch a movie or play a game. The design aims to replicate the effect of having a 140-inch screen right in front of your face.
Electric vehicles
Hyundai, which bought the robotics company Boston Dynamics last year, would like to bestow on every object the gift of electric motorization. The general purpose Plug & Drive Module is a single-wheeled, self-balancing motorized board — and as such, a wide range of equipment can be mounted on top of it. With a 360-degree swiveling wheel and camera and LIDAR guidance, it can navigate and maneuver nimbly through tight indoor and outdoor spaces. Think medical equipment that needs to shadow a doctor or a heavy tool chest that follows a factory worker.
Hyundai also unveiled its Personal Mobility and L7 concept vehicles, which measure about 4 feet by 4 feet and seat a single passenger. The former is underpinned by four 5.5-inch PnD Modules, and the latter is mounted to a single 12-inch PnD Module. They run for up to an hour and take two hours to recharge. Both are also controllable by way of a joystick mounted to the right of the seat. Sorry, lefties.
Based on the same four-wheeled platform (and with slightly more rectangular dimensions), there’s also a Logistics Mobility pod, which is intended for transporting goods from warehouses, and a Services Mobility pod, which can be used for all manner of mundane purposes, such as moving luggage through a hotel. There’s no word that any of them are actually heading to production, but hey, it’s fun to daydream about living like George Jetson, even if the potential robots of our actual future aren’t as sassy.
Smart home
If your home is filled with gadgets from Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, you’ll soon be able to control all those devices from one central device called the Home Hub. But unlike Amazon’s Echo Show or Google’s Nest Hub–both of which put their own distinct spin on the smart display trend–Samsung’s version is a generic-looking 8.4-inch tablet that you can place on a dock or carry around the house. It does have two microphones built in, as well as two speakers, so it can listen for Bixby voice commands (yes, Bixby is still kicking) and announce notifications.
