Pandemic-related gadgets take over the first virtual consumer electronics show.
The popular technology event has moved online this year due to the persistent coronavirus pandemic, but this has not stopped companies from introducing new innovations that help keep the virus at bay.
The companies shared the first glances of technologies that will help people return to the office, alleviate the anxieties of those who are under lock and key and stay safe while in the real world.
These include smart masks that measure air quality, a coin-sized device that monitors vital elements to identify possible symptoms of coronavirus, and a keyboard light that promises to kill up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
Scroll down for videos
Pandemic-related gadgets take over the first virtual consumer electronics show. The popular tech event has moved online due to the persistent coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped companies from introducing new innovations that help keep the virus at bay.
Hundreds of thousands of people around the world usually travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, during this time to enjoy the latest and greatest technologies.
This year is very different, as the Consumer Technology Association was forced to host the popular event, known as CES, entirely online due to the persistent pandemic.
But the new configuration has not stopped companies from presenting their innovations and many of them are related to the virus.
BioButton
BioIntelliSense has introduced a coin-sized portable device that sticks to the user’s chest and monitors vital elements such as skin temperature, respiratory and heart rate, activity level and sleep quality.
Vaccinations have been made available in the US and many other parts of the world, which aims to help society get out of their homes and back into the real world – and BioButton wants to make sure this happens safely.
BioIntelliSense presented a coin-sized portable device that sticks to the user’s chest and monitors vital elements such as skin temperature, respiratory and heart rate, activity level and sleep quality.
By using all of these measurements, the device is able to identify if a user is developing coronavirus symptoms – even if they themselves do not feel bad.
James Mault, MD, CEO of BioIntelliSense, said: “We are extremely honored to be named Best of Innovation as the CES 2021 Innovation Award winner.”
“The commercial launch of the Symptom Detection Solution and the monitoring of the BioButton COVID-19 vaccine is timely to address the growing challenge of returning safely to work, school, travel, conferences and entertainment.”
BioButton is the latest addition to our portfolio of biosensors and the data services model for clinical and public health applications related to infectious diseases, orthopedics, oncology and cardiac care.
BioButton has already received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its ability to detect symptoms in just a few days.
Qoobo
While some devices help the public stay safe outside their homes, others seek to help them cope with the blockage inside – the Petit Qoobo robot is designed just for that. This round, furry robot is made to look like a headless cat
While some devices help the public stay safe outside their homes, others seek to help them cope with the blockage inside – the Petit Qoobo robot is designed just for that.
This round, furry robot is made to look like a headless cat.
It is available in four realistic shades of faux fur which, according to its Japanese manufacturer Yukai Engineering, “reminds of young animals” and even produces its own “heartbeats” that users can hear and feel.
Petit Qooboo appeared at CES 2020 as a prototype, but today’s presentation is a functional product for $ 110.
AirPop Active + masks
AirPop made masks five years before the coronavirus caught the world, but changed the original exercise design and added the ability to measure air quality.
Masks have become part of our everyday outfits and many companies have turned canvas design into technologies to help improve lives.
AirPop made masks five years before the coronavirus caught the world, but changed the original design for the exercises and added the ability to measure air quality.
Called Active +, the mask comes with sensors that connect to a smartphone.
This allows the mask to monitor everything from breaths per minute to outside air quality.
Targus UV-C LED disinfection light
Targus has launched its UV-C LED disinfection light, which kills up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria that can sneak onto a keyboard
Some companies slowly bring employees to the office after months, but allow staff to share their work time at home.
Such a move means that people will commute and transport laptops and other things to and from work, which can increase their risk of collecting bacteria and viruses along the way.
To solve this problem, the American company Targus launched at CES an antimicrobial backpack with keyboard light and antimicrobials that kill the virus.
Targus also presented the 2Office antimicrobial backpack that owns a laptop and has an antimicrobial infused protective finish on key contact points to prevent the growth of microorganisms on the backpack.
UV-C LED disinfection light kills up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria that can sneak onto a keyboard.
Designed to sit on a desktop, the AC-powered light works for 5 minutes, disinfecting the workspace every hour through automatic settings via motion sensors.
If any movement is detected in the safety zone or directly outside the active cleaning zone, the UV-C LEDs will be automatically deactivated and will resume again after five minutes of inactivity.
Targus also presented the 2Office antimicrobial backpack that owns a laptop and has an infused antimicrobial protective finish on key contact points to prevent the growth of microorganisms on the backpack.