From Kitty Bathroom Monitors To Chairs That Induce Kegels: The Weirdest Tech From CES 2022

Every year, CES brings us a few of the most modern, futuristic concepts -- issues we count on to be talking about for years to return. It additionally brings us expertise that's a bit on the market. Products that make us scratch our heads and ask, "What the heck inspired this?"

To be clear, that doesn't suggest it's bad tech, nor does it imply it's unexciting. They're simply the issues that none of us had on our CES 2022 bingo playing cards.

Pharaoh O2 massage chair There are massage chairs, after which there's the Pharaoh O2 by Bodyfriend -- a CES innovation honoree and premium massage chair that appears like something out of a futuristic first-class flight. Bodyfriend's other chairs start at $2,499 and go up to $9,999, and all come packed with excessive-tech features to maximize your comfort.

What kinds of features? The Pharaoh O2's innovation award web page says that the chair makes use of superior sensors that will help you recuperate. We're not just talking about back massages, both. Based on Bodyfriend: "The perineal therapeutic massage function not solely helps the blood circulation of the pelvic floor muscles and the perineum, it additionally induces the consumer to do Kegel workout routines to assist maintain well being."

Kegel-related tech is nothing new, as CNET's Claire Reilly found in 2017, however a chair that induces Kegel workout routines looks as if the first of its form. The product page does not explicitly say the chair is intended for pregnant individuals, however the precise callout of perineal massage seems just like the product was made with that audience in thoughts.

OWO Recreation haptic VR vest OWO Recreation desires you to really feel the video games you play -- not just emotionally, but bodily. The wireless vest makes use of haptic technology to mimic real-world sensations. Think about placing on a form-fitting vest, almost like an athletic compression shirt, that responds to what's occurring in the digital world. In OWO's phrases: "Our algorithm ... permits us to create infinite totally different sensations such because the rain, a gunshot, the wind or a hug."

The concept itself isn't as weird as the choice to sandwich "gunshot" between other, gentler emotions like rain, wind and hugs. As gaming tech evolves, persons are in search of extra methods to make them really feel extra immersive, and a haptic vest is simply the latest cease on that quest. OWO Sport is also considerably sleeker than haptic vests we've seen previously.

Petnow noseprint ID for canine People can use fingerprints as unique identifiers, but canines' paw pads lack the distinctive features (and manual dexterity) that may allow us to fingerprint them. Except Petnow has found a approach to do without getting your pup to high-five a pill -- simply take a picture of that beautiful snoot instead.

Canine noses have unique patterns of ridges and bumps, and Petnow makes use of neural networks to identify them. The tech even earned a CES Innovation Award honor in software program and cellular apps. And Petnow is putting the know-how to practical use: "With advanced identification know-how-powered registration system for canine with their nostril prints, Petnow goals to construct a world with out misplaced or abandoned canines."

Maicat AI-enabled robocat Robotic pets have been round since at the very least 2000, when Poo-Chi hit shelves. In spite of everything, electronic pets are a lot cheaper than owning a residing cat or canine. But Macroact needs to convey these toys into the future with Maicat. A "social robot," Maicat is designed to adapt to your private home setting, which sounds a bit like a robotic vacuum with four legs and no cleansing perform.

Nevertheless, Maicat can do extra than just find out how to not bump into walls. Macroact says Maicat is "outfitted with face-, voice and emotion-recognition" and "capable of analyzing and evaluating situations via emotional intelligence algorithm." Nervous you will not get the genuine cat expertise? To not concern, says Macroact: "Maicat reacts otherwise relying by itself temper and state of affairs, avoiding repetitive [experiences]."


PurrSong Lavvie cat monitoring tech
Cats are notorious for pretending issues do not hassle them. Fell off the sofa? Walk it off like nothing occurred. Missed  palletizing robot arm  onto a countertop? Pretend you weren't thinking about the first place. Usually, this can be a harmless and humorous tendency, but in relation to your cat's well being, it may be more harmful.

The PurrSong Lavvie products need to take some of the guesswork out of monitoring your cat's well being by monitoring their exercise and bathroom habits. As CNET's Patrick Holland wrote, "The idea is that any and all of this information can make it easier to see your cat's on a regular basis routine and, more importantly, discover early enough once they break that routine."

It's cool and useful technology, however "feline bathroom monitoring" is unquestionably one of many surprises from CES this yr.

For extra from CES 2022, try our experiences with Ameca the robot, the primary have a look at new (costly) recycling tech and the CES tech you can truly purchase this 12 months.