INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

By: Sindoor Naik (1365)

Google Glass

Say what you will about the practical value of wearing a computer on your face, but there is no denying that Google Glass is a supremely sophisticated piece of technology. The 1.8-ounce frame sits across the bridge of your nose like a pair of glasses and has a small screen that floats in your peripheral vision, a camera, motion sensors, and a touchpad at the temple that lets you scroll through the interface—though most of the interaction is done through voice control. Google introduced the technology in 2012, but 2013 was the year it was made available to at least some of the public through the Google Glass Explorer program (it's still not generally available at retail). That makes Glass the latest technological justification for staring into the distance and talking to yourself.

Pebble smart watch

It wasn't the first smart watch, nor was it even this year's most advanced wrist gadget, but this $150 Kickstarter-funded Pebble watch nails the balance between functionality, fashion, and affordability. The Pebble works with a Bluetooth link to your smart phone (unlike many other smart watches, it's cross-platform, compatible with both iOS and Android devices), and it displays incoming calls, instant messages, emails, and lets you control music. Its low-power monochrome display is always on, and can be backlit with a simple shake of the wrist. And its battery lasts 5 to 7 days on a charge. Plus, the Pebble tells time.

One Laptop per Child XO

Innovation: $200 laptop does mesh networking, is sand- and waterproof, and

works well in direct sunlight.

Benefit: What every child in the developing world needs; makes you ask, "When

will my laptop be able to do that? “Innovation isn't always about being bigger,

better, and faster. One Laptop per Child's Linux-powered XO laptop, with a 7.5-

inch display--designed for children in poor countries--is one of the cheapest, most

power-conscious, and sturdy notebooks on the planet. It also has features you

might wish you had on your mainstream laptop. One clear standout: XO's Wi-Fi

allows it to function as a mesh-network node that can connect with other XOs,

even when no Internet connection is available.

Oculus Rift ‘Crystal Cove’ Prototype

Virtual reality was once something people joked about; laughing about wearing a helmet and transferring yourself into a virtual world. That technology is a lot closer with the Oculus Rift ‘Crystal Cove’ Prototype. The one displayed at CES 2014 has depth sensing by an external camera, a 1080p display for stunning clarity and has no motion blur, which is a major con that virtual reality was assumed to come with. While only being a prototype, the functions are limited but it’s hard to deny that this is some exciting new technology. Congratulations to Oculus, it’s ‘Crystal Cove’ is bringing us much closer to virtual reality.

Parrot MiniDrone

Drones are not going to be killing machines “only”, they will deliver you pizzas and stuff very soon. Drones make people go “Wow, look at that!” Parrot’s MiniDrone is not really the first flying toy, but makes the flying a lot more fun with many sensors and two giant TIE wheels that will help it maneuver around objects and up and down walls. It would be quite fun flying this little toy around the house or outside. While no price or release date was announced, it’s hard to deny the MiniDrone is an impressive gadget. A toy for people of all ages, expect the Drone to be very popular and sell a lot when it is released.

EyeLock Eye Scanner

EyeLock Myris Iris Scanner Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to scan your eye and log into a website? Well now you can with the EyeLock Myris Iris Scanner. All you need to do is plug the device in through the computer’s USB port, go to website any asks you to log in, hold the scanner up to your eye and that’s it. It will scan your eye and use the iris pattern as your password. Your eye is a lot more secure than your fingerprint, and will cause less people to attempt any fingerprint scams. EyeLock wants to aid manufacturers in building the eye scanner directly into the products in the future. But first let’s test out how their individual iris scanner product will perform. It will be sold to the public in the first half of 2014. - See more at: http://www.theeasterntribune.com/story/1053/5-best-products-revealed-at-ces-2014/#sthash.gAG0IPE4.dpuf

WheeMe

LAS VEGAS—Massage therapy gets automated with the WheeMe robot, which

promises to caress and tickle as its wheels and small rotor run over your back.

Sensors determine the slope of its subject so the robot massager can shift

direction and keep rolling, instead of falling off its subject, according to

representatives of DreamBots, developer of the palm-size massage therapist. A

unit measures 5 by 3.8 by 3.1 inches and weighs about 12 ounces; it rolls along at

just under two inches per second. Units are available in white and blue or white

and red. It runs on three AA batteries.

The WheeMe apparently rolled through CES previously, but is now available

through several distributors in the U.S. and internationally. Representatives at CES

said it sells for $69 to $79, but it's priced at $199 in the U.S. through

partner Pinook.

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX

Amazon’s third-generation Kindle Fire tablets — a $239 seven-inch model and a

$379 8.9-incher — are the first ones which felt truly polished and pleasing from

the day they debuted. As always, they make it as simple as possible to consume

mass quantities of Amazon content — video, music, books, games and more. And

they’ve got one feature that’s a ground-breaking dazzler: Mayday, which lets you

get tech support from a real live Amazon rep who appears on screen and can take

control of your tablet.

Nest Protect

Silicon Valley startup Nest Labs specializes in making the most mundane

household devices a lot less mundane. In 2012, it introduced a Web-savvy touch-

screen thermostat. And its new product is Nest Protect, a $130 smoke and carbon-

monoxide detector. Rather than emitting an eardrum-shattering squeal, Protect

alerts you to hazards in a calm female voice which says helpful things like “There’s

carbon monoxide in the den.” If it mistakes your smoky cooking for a fire, you can

set it wise with a wave of your arm.

Brunton Hydrogen Reactor

The hydrogen reactor is an incredible mobile power source. It combines a personal

hydrogen core with the oxygen in the air to generate remote power to your

favorite energy-starved USB devices like tablets, phones, rechargeable devices,

GPS receivers and more.

Reebok Checklight

The severity of impact injuries sustained by athletes is often not immediately or

visibly evident. The Reebok Check light uses an array of sensors in the skullcap to

asses an athlete’s condition before returning to the field.