Is there a better way to kick off the new year than with a ton of new technologies that you probably can’t afford?
International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was hosted Jan. 7 through 10 in Las Vegas. Every year, this massive show starts the year off by showcasing some of the world’s coolest technology products. People from around the world come to see the latest and greatest in every field imaginable.
Typical features of CES always include video games, televisions, cars and the like, but a few interesting surprises are always guaranteed.
One of the most unique products I noticed was the TREWGrip. It’s a chunky-looking rear keyboard. Essentially, you hold it like a controller and type on keys facing away from you. It features the same QWERTY setup as any other keyboard, but splits the keyboard in half to allow maximum speed. It can be used on computers, phones or televisions.
While the TREWGrip isn’t currently in production for consumers, fans can expect it to be in full production by the end of this year, with a price tag somewhere between $250 and $350.
Personally, I would feel a little strange carting this thing around to type, but it could be very useful to someone who dreads trying to find a flat surface for his or her laptop to sit on.
For gamers, the future looks something like Yei Technologies’ PrioVR full-body harness. After suiting up in a harness that looks like it’s designed for skydiving, gamers can be launched directly into your game. It tracks movements and allows gamers to act just as if they were in the game.
The harness is also wireless, which means gamers could technically do this anywhere they wanted. It’s estimated to cost about $400 and is said to one day be compatible with most gaming systems. Yei has yet to announce what date the system will be released.
This could be a really neat technology to expand on what Wii and Kinect have been trying to do, but advancing to incorporate everything a body can do. However, it looks a tad bit ridiculous.
The thing highest on my wish list from CES would be the Liquid Image Apex HD camera goggles. (Also, probably the most useful thing on my list.) It is as if someone took a GoPro (the hip camera that is easy to mount on a helmet) and put them directly into your snow goggles.
As a skier myself, I know just how awesome this product could be if used in a creative way. The coolest part about this is that you can live stream your feed directly to your phone. Just imagine how this could be used — maybe one day we could be seeing Shaun White’s newest tricks right from his own helmet.
This product is currently available on the company’s website for $400.
For now, I’ll just be admiring these products through my computer, but I can still appreciate them all, right?
Sophie Kruse is a sophomore studying journalism. What technologies are you looking forward to this year? Email her at sk139011@ohiou.edu.
