With virtual booths and digital portals taking the place of conference centers and exhibits, CES looked different in the time of the coronavirus. So too of technology.
COVID-oriented technology products stood out at the CES this year. Some brands have made new products made for the pandemic, others have found that items they have been working on throughout have newfound applications and relevance.
But is ‘COVID tech’ really necessary? After all, the best way to slow down the spread of the virus is to do away with social distractions and wear a face mask, which can be as simple as a bandana or a recycled old T-shirt – basically low-tech strategies.
‘I think most of what I would have seen there was indeed meant to solve a real and current use case regarding COVID; it was not just marketing, ”said Jason Cottrell, CEO of software studio and product development company MyPlanet.
MyPlanet works with companies to develop new products and studies consumers’ attitudes towards emerging technologies. Cottrell found that the strategy of many brands using COVID technology was to adapt, reuse, or add new features to existing products, such as adding contact tracing capabilities to smartphones. Business surveys have found that consumers are generally not as enthusiastic about specific COVID technologies, but that they are more useful for some futuristic products, such as autonomous delivery robots.
“The product managers and the entrepreneurs were very, very actively trying to build products that could meet a need in the market, depending on how things unfold and what people need,” Cottrell said.
There were three main categories of COVID-related techniques at CES: masks with smart features or electronic add-ons; a plethora of disinfectants and cleansers, from an airport to your smartphone; and social distancing technology. Some are still concepts and not yet real products, but many you can buy now.
CES is always going to bring out the most ridiculous in product development – that’s part of what makes it fun. Whether you should make ‘technological’ top-notch jives with ‘pandemic’ in these products depends on you.
Here’s what we saw in COVID technology at CES 2021.
‘Slim’ masks
Some masks are smarter than others.
The AirPop Active + Halo
This true “smart mask” protects against both environmental factors (such as smog and soot) and pathogens (such as coronavirus), monitors your respiration and the quality of the air you breathe, and even tells you when it’s time to change the filter on your unique use.
In our opinion, the smartest of the smart masks.
It’s available online this month for $ 149.99, and you can learn more about the mask and Mashable’s interview with the company’s founder here.
Maskfone
Simple but useful, the Maskphones integrate bluetooth earbuds and a microphone into one mask, reducing the need to juggle different devices and accessories at once.
Now this is what you call a decorated mask.
It’s a patch mask with replaceable filters, and you can buy it now for $ 49.99 plus a 5-pack filters for $ 19.99.
Razer’s Project Hazel ‘
The toy and lifestyle company Razer has debuted a clever mask concept called Project Hazel. It’s not a real product yet, but although it’s still in the R&D stage, it’s pretty cool: it’s transparent so you can see the wearer’s mouth, has a voice boost and burns when it’s dark. , so you can see the person’s face. In addition, it is deceived with optional neon lighting effects.
For sure the most gifted mask from CES.
LG’s PuriCare Portable Air Purifier
Do you want to wear an electronic air purifier on your face? Now you can! Well, as long as you’re in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Iraq. Electronic giant LG has unveiled a mask that comes with air purifiers, HEPA filters, a respiratory sensor (which monitors breathing) and ‘dual fans’. According to the , it will be available in more countries soon.
Seguro Airsafe
Benefits: this new portable with a HEPA filter lets people see your face when you talk to them through the transparent shield. Cons: it’s a dang helmet.
The AirSafe says it just lets in the good air.
The Airsafe uses filter systems, fans and air pressure to prevent the unfiltered air from entering your breathing zone. The company says that anyone interested in wearing the device can place orders via a crowdfunding campaign in February with delivery in March or April (they have not yet announced a price).
Cleaners and disinfectants
UV light disinfectants, sleek and portable air filters and other ways to disinfect your space (and yourself) were furious at CES 2021. There were too many to name all, but here are a few that stood out.
Unipin’s UVC Disinfection Robot
For the lazy clean frats among us, this is the cleaning robot of your dreams. It disinfects both surfaces and the air, and can map a course in a space in an intelligent way.
Unfortunately, the * starting price * is $ 7,500. It is more a product for industrial or commercial spaces than the home.
ClearAirZone’s Bio-Based Air Purifier
This company uses a ‘green’ cleaning method that she says protects against COVID. Instead of requiring filters (which cause waste) or chemicals, the cleaning formula combines enzymes, biotics and water to scrub the environment. It is a simple and attractive device that only needs to supplement its own formula. A representative said he has not yet released pricing information, but the company expects to be on the market this summer.
LG PuriCare ™ Mini Air Purifier
This 8-inch long air purifier is so small that it actually contains a strap so you can wear it on your wrist. You can even control it and see statistics using an app on your phone.
Never leave the house without your personalized air purifier!
It is an air purifier, so it is meant to filter out allergens from the air, not pathogens like coronavirus. However, the EPA says that an air purifier ‘can help reduce pollutants in the air, including viruses in a home’, but it should not be a substitute for social distance and wearing a mask. The mini filter is available for $ 199.99
Social distancing technology
Do not stand, do not stand, do not stand so close to me.
BioButton Covid-19 Screen Solution
The company BiolIntelliSense claims that monitoring COVID is as easy as hitting a sticker. The BioButton is a square sticker that can continuously monitor the wearer’s heart rate, temperature and breathing rate; continuous monitoring makes it easier to spot deviations.
The BioButton packs a large pack into a small pack.
It can be connected to a smartphone app, where users take a screening test every morning to ask for other symptoms. The entire system is an FDA-cleared portable medical grade. ‘Since it’s about monitoring a group of people, it’s not a product facing the consumer; Those interested can request a demo on BioIntelliSense’s website.
Seguro Smartspace
This is another device intended for use in a community. The “badge” is like a small card that other cards can feel around it. It is intended for use in schools, retirement communities and other high density communities. It will beep if a person with a card gets too close, and also provide contact tracking information to administrators. It costs $ 99.
iWavenology iDistance
The iDistance can be worn as a badge, necklace or other customizable wearable material to prevent people from getting too close to each other and to detect interactions. It says its ultra-broadband signal, which uses the devices to communicate with each other, is more accurate than Bluetooth. Beep beep!
Plot Ettie rings through temperature
And you thought Ring Bells was curious! This Ettie-smart doorbell from Plott can take the temperature of whoever is at the door.
Who’s going there?
While fever is not a foolish way to detect COVID-19, it is a symptom and a common way that businesses and other organizations examine people before entering a space. It also keeps track of the number of people entering a space, and can notify the owner when a space has reached capacity.