The best of CES 2021: Pandemic technology, green technology, air taxis and many robots

This story is part of CES, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the most popular articles from the all-virtual CES 2021.

Flashing three-story booths and auditoriums full of tech nerds have been replaced by highly-produced live streams and virtual stands of executives calling their home offices and kitchen tables. But in the end it was still CES.

We first looked at what could probably be the most popular TV’s and laptops of 2021. We’ve seen ambitious ideas and concepts for products that may never hit the market, but may inspire future product designers to keep dreaming. And of course we are entertained by the usual robots, luxury flights and puzzling quirks.

One thing that will set CES 2021 apart forever was how many companies we showed to address the global pandemic, in large and small ways. Cynics would say that some of it was pure marketing. But there was no doubt that some of the best minds in the technology industry used the brain cycles to solve society’s problems and render service to humanity.

Of all the products we saw, from the most ambitious to the most helpful, these were the ones that stood out:

High-tech N95 mask from Razer

The gambling company Razer has introduced a concept called Hazel Project, for a high-tech face mask with active ventilation, a clear shield so you can see people talking and a suitcase that recharges the fans and does UV disinfection of the mask while charging. It also has LED lights on and it seems to appear straight from the pages of the sci-fi.

HP Dragonfly Max, with a 5MP webcam

Among the powerful laptops at CES 2021, we took note of the HP Dragonfly Max for its built-in Tile detection, its sleek blue design and the fact that it’s one of the only new laptops featuring an upgraded 5-megapixel webcam with four wide microphones. In the age of Zoom, many people will welcome the upgrades.

LG Rolbaar

At one of the first press conferences of CES 2021, we got a smartphone screen that scrolls upwards to expand the viewing area of ​​the screen. Like foldable phones, it looks incredibly futuristic, but does not hold much in hand. However, Roger Cheng of CNET confirmed that this was not only a concept but also a product that LG plans to launch in 2021.

Cadillac eVTOL Air Taxi

GM used CES to announce that it is transforms itself into an EV company. And by far the most interesting EV announced was the Cadillac eVTOL air taxi. It’s more of a giant drone than a flying car, but it’s the kind of thing the CES audience loves.

Samsung solar remote control

The 800 pound gorilla from CES, Samsung, has shown numerous new TVs, but the thing that really caught our attention was something much simpler – it’s new TV remote control by solar power. You no longer need to replace and throw away alkaline batteries. Instead, you can turn the remote on and off from the mini solar panel at the back (or plug it into a USB-C port).

LG Transparent OLED display concept

Speaking of TVs, LG had one of the most flashy demonstrations of CES 2021 transparent OLED TVs, as expected. While still a concept, LG has shown some impressive scenarios of this technology in action on train windows, restaurant partitions and hiding in the footboard of a bed.

TCL TVs expand to 85 inches and 8K

As for TVs, people will actually be buying soon, TCL announces new 85-inch and 8K TVs. The popular TV maker is likely to be competitive on price and will make both 85-inch screens and 8K more affordable for many more people in 2021. The timing is obviously ideal for people who are currently getting 100% of their entertainment at home.

Nobi fall-sensing ceiling lamp

Senior citizens were one of the most dangerous groups during the pandemic, and a product intended to help them is the smartest ceiling lamp we’ve ever seen, called the Nobi. It uses sensors and AI for active monitoring, can detect and detect other risks and then send alerts. It even has a built-in smoke detector, an air quality sensor and a 4G SIM card as Wi-Fi.

Alarm.com Touchless Video Doorbell

Instead of pressing a button, this new doorbell from Alarm.com use a doormat and AI to track when someone arrives in front of your front porch, and let them talk to you via an app with the built-in camera and microphone. It is a contactless system for the age of the coronavirus.

Samsung Robot Butler (Bot Handy)

Surprisingly, the Samsung lead at CES this year had far more robots than TVs or devices. The most intriguing one was the Bot Handy robot butler, who can help you with chores around the house and bring you something to drink. The demo video shows how it takes dishes out of the sink and loads them into a dishwasher. We have not seen this kind of uproar from CES participants since the laundry folding robot teased us a few years ago.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514

With Chromebooks currently becoming the center of education for many elementary and middle school students, a CES 2021 product that many parents will appreciate is the Acer Chromebook Spin 514. It looks like a jet and the body of a tank. With a Gorilla Glass screen and MIL-STD 810H1 compliance, it has an indestructible atmosphere.

Kohler toilet without touch

Potty humor has arrived at CES over the past few years with more and more smart bathroom technology, and 2021 does not disappoint Kohler toilet with a magic handle. Simply wave your hand in front of the handle and it will flush automatically. Like the touchless doorbell we mentioned earlier, it is aimed at reducing the spread of germs from ordinary surfaces.

Samsung JetBot 90 AI

Another Samsung robot was its vacuum cleaner loaded by AI with a lid and cameras, to make it smarter and more automatic than traditional vacuum cleaners. The JetBot 90 AI can also serve as a roaming security camera to monitor your pets and your home when you are no longer away – because when that day arrives, we can safely leave our homes again.

Infinity Game Table

One of the coolest things about CES this year was the Infinity Game Table, which digitizes some of the world’s most popular board games on a touchscreen. You can play digital monopoly against a family member or roommate and no one needs to be the banker. You can even play online against other friends and family members if they have their own table.