Exploring the Cutting Edge: Highlights from CES 2023

By: July Ramos Corona

Sony’s Project Leonardo

In its first year back since 2020, the atmosphere was electric at the Consumer Technology Association’s 2023 Consumer Electronic Show (CES). While dozens of awards were handed out across categories, here’s what we found to be some of the most interesting innovations at this year’s show…

A Focus on Accessibility

Project Leonardo, a gaming product designed specifically for people with limited control, won Best in Show. Although there is no release date just yet, this controller kit has everyone buzzing with the promise of making gaming more accessible for those with disabilities.

“Developed with key contributions from accessibility experts, community members, and game developers, Project Leonardo is our codename for a new highly customizable controller kit that works “out of the box” to help many players with disabilities play games more easily, more comfortably, and for longer periods.” – PlayStation.Blog

This product was not the only one vying to make the world more accessible; L’Oreal Hapta took home the Best Accessibility Tech award for an assistive lipstick applicator. L’Oreal worked with Verily, a utensil manufacturer, to produce an appliance that helps people with limited hand and/or mobility to apply lipstick.

Accessibility was a major theme across categories. Whether it was the German Bionic Apogee, a wearable exosuit, designed to help complete physical tasks without putting the body in danger, or Valencell’s blood pressure monitor protype offering ‘cuffless’ blood pressure monitoring, it’s exciting to see innovation and accessibility coming together to make a difference in people’s lives.

Innovation in Action

For me, the real showstopper was the KEYi Loona, who took home the Best Roboto award. This robot pet, Loona, responds to your voice, touch, and other tactical gestures. Loona’s main takeaway is her expressive responses, with morning sneezes and wiggling ears, she’s like no other robot on the market. Loona is more than a great companion for kids, but also works as a home security robot. With programming for face recognition and body detection, Loona can do it all. This product is marketed towards the whole family. In fact, in its unveiling video, Loona is presented as a new family member.

Loona in her element

Another product that has great potential is the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. Lenovo is achieving something the technology industry hasn’t experienced before: a dual screen laptop. Along with an attachable keyboard as an accessory, the Yoga Book 9i features two screens for a laptop. Most people always work at least two screens, some maybe even more! Look at our phones, from a Blackberry with a button based keyboard to phones that unfold into two screen, it was only a matter of time for our laptops to do the same. The Yoga Book will come with a detachable Bluetooth keyboard, a stand to hold up both screens, and a pen. Although some might argue it might be too much for just one laptop, CES thought it was just enough and awarded them for Best Laptop.  

The Best Transportation award was given to Stellantis’ new Ram 1500 BEV Concept. In comparison to the F-150 Lighting, Ford’s take on an electric truck, Ram’s offering packs every high-tech detail into a sleek and bold body design. This battery electric vehicle concept won’t enter production just yet; for now, it will be used as a template for the 2024 Ram 1500 EV which is set to launch next year. Consumers can expect four-wheel steering, animated taillights, grille emblems and badging, and of course, it’s integrated movie projector with its very own AI assistants.

Themes and Takeaways

Lenovo’s YogaBook i9

There were so many other outstanding products featured at the show, from a mix of categories that it’s impossible not to be excited about the future. From Ram’s new 1500 BEV to GE’s profile smart mixer, it’s impossible to cover the entire show floor in just one blog post. Want to see what others found to be the highlights, here are a few other round-up to check out:

Measurement, Netflix and Web3: Brand and agency hot takes from CES 2023

TECH BYTE: CES 2023 Highlights

CES 2023 RECAP by Wunderman Thompson

CES 2023 Highlights Tech Addressing Global Challenges

Do you agree with what the experts had to say? Are any of these award-winning products the CES presented capable of surviving the ‘uncertain market’? If so, how are companies going to advertise their products in a suitable way to better propose its authenticity?

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