Feature
The Gist
- Metaverse evolution. CES 2024 showcased the expanding role of the metaverse in various industries beyond entertainment.
- AI in daily life. The event highlighted advancements in AI, making digital interactions more intuitive and user-friendly.
- Revolution in charging. CES 2024 featured new technologies aiming to make smartphone charging quicker and more convenient.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, a marquee event in the tech industry calendar, kicked off in Las Vegas, delivering promising a showcase of cutting-edge innovations and announcements. Spanning through Friday, Jan. 12, CES 2024 was a hub of activity with daily announcements from the world's tech giants.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), related that CES 2024 brought together exhibitors, attendees and media to display and dream up the technology of tomorrow, and the innovations that are solving today’s greatest challenges. CMSWire is delighted to bring you a curated wrap-up of the most buzz-worthy and groundbreaking developments unveiled at this year's event, capturing the pulse of technological advancement and industry trends.
The Industrial Metaverse
Just when you thought you’d heard the last about the metaverse, on the first day of CES, the launch of the “Industrial Metaverse” marked a new chapter in the evolution of virtual environments, rekindling interest in a concept that extends far beyond entertainment and social media. This groundbreaking initiative, which was initially discussed by MIT in December 2022, is the result of a powerhouse collaboration among leading tech giants: AWS, Sony, Nvidia, Microsoft and Siemens. These industry leaders are harnessing the metaverse's potential to revolutionize core societal sectors, including transportation, infrastructure and manufacturing.
The Industrial Metaverse builds upon existing metaverse concepts by creating a virtual replica of the physical world, where every element has a “digital twin.” This allows for unprecedented virtual optimization and remote management of products and services, encompassing intricate details such as airflow, temperature and time.
This venture is a synergy of expertise and technology from its collaborators. Nvidia contributes its computing prowess, essential for powering the vast metaverse landscapes. Microsoft brings an Industrial Copilot to the table, leveraging OpenAI's capabilities, while AWS integrates MENDIX, a sophisticated low-code process design tool. Sony steps in with immersive spatial engineering hardware, enhancing the user experience in this virtual realm. The Alliance for OpenUSD, Red Bull Racing, and Sony collaborate to implement Universal Scene Description and optimize digital twin technology for F1 design.
Related Article: CMSWire's Guide to CES Las Vegas 2023
R1: The AI Pocket Companion
Rabbit.inc, in collaboration with Teenage Engineering, this week at CES unveiled its innovative R1 AI pocket companion. Priced at $199, this device introduces a paradigm shift in digital interaction, replacing traditional app-based navigation with a natural-language operating system powered by their proprietary Large Action Model (LAM). Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu highlighted the growing frustration among users juggling numerous apps with complex interfaces, an issue the R1 AI aims to streamline.
The heart of the Rabbit R1 is the Large Action Model, an AI system designed to learn and replicate a user's regular interactions with apps and web interfaces. This model operates on a customized cloud platform, the "Rabbit hole," allowing users to access services without the clutter of numerous apps. With Rabbit OS, the device performs tasks on command, safeguarding user privacy by not storing identity information or passwords.
The R1 boasts a unique design featuring a rotating "Rabbit eye" camera for video calls and advanced computer vision tasks. Its microphone, activated by a push-to-talk button, ensures privacy in voice interactions. Other notable features include a 2.88-inch touchscreen, a scroll wheel for OS navigation, and a USB-C port. With a 1,000mAh battery, 128GB storage, and a SIM slot for connectivity, the R1 integrates cutting-edge technology into a compact, user-friendly device.
Swapery Charges Phone Battery in 7 Seconds
Though smartphones are ubiquitous at this point, the one thing that remains a consistent pain is the need to constantly monitor battery power, and consistently charge the devices. The Swapery, which was announced this week at CES, addresses this problem, and revolutionizes mobile device charging with its innovative auto-swappable battery system, designed to ensure your phone is always charged. This system consists of two key components: a sleek swapping station and a slim battery attachment that adheres seamlessly to the back of your smartphone or its case. The magic lies in the battery attachment, equipped with a pre-charged battery that can be effortlessly exchanged for a fully charged one at the Swapery station.
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Simply place the phone on the station, and in just seven seconds, it's equipped with a fresh battery, offering around 8-10 hours of power, according to the company. The station itself is a powerhouse, capable of housing and simultaneously charging up to four batteries.
Additionally, the battery pack attachment is not just about wireless convenience; it includes a Type-C port for those times you might need to plug in headphones or opt for a traditional cable charge. While the battery pack is designed for portability and ease of use, the station's portability remains to be detailed. Swapery stands out as an innovative solution in the realm of device charging, eliminating the need for extra cables and adapters and redefining charging convenience for the mobile user.
Whispp Bridges the Gap for the Vocally-Challenged
Whispp is revolutionizing the way individuals with speech disorders and voice disabilities communicate, propelling assistive speech technology into a new era with its AI-powered app. The company made a significant leap at CES 2024 by introducing a phone-calling feature that transforms whispered and impaired speech into the user’s natural voice in real-time.
Joris Castermans, co-founder and CEO of Whispp, emphasized the profound impact of voice disabilities on personal and professional lives, explaining that Whispp's technology is designed not only to enhance communication but also to boost the quality of life by making spoken interaction more accessible for everyone.
Setting itself apart from conventional voice conversion tools, Whispp's app leverages advanced AI to seamlessly convert voiceless speech into clear, natural-sounding speech. Its standout feature is the ability for users to recreate their unique voice from past recordings, offering a highly personalized communication experience.
Whispp caters to a wide array of voice disabilities, from whispering voices to those affected by conditions such as total laryngectomy due to throat cancer. It's particularly beneficial for disorders where whispering helps navigate neurological changes in the speech system. This innovative approach positions Whispp as a crucial tool in bridging communication gaps for those with speech impairments. It can be seen being demonstrated in this video.
Adlook’s Privacy-Centric, Cookieless Solutions
At CES this week, Adlook unveiled insightful findings from a survey conducted on Jan. 3, which polled over 1,000 U.S. consumers about their attitudes toward current changes in digital advertising. The survey, aimed at gauging consumer responses to ad relevance and privacy concerns, yielded revealing results, particularly considering the ongoing deprecation of third-party cookies by Google in its Chrome web browser.
When it comes to privacy, particularly the growing trend of exchanging email addresses for more targeted ads as an alternative to cookies, consumer skepticism becomes apparent. Nearly half of the respondents (48%) were hesitant to share their email addresses for more personalized advertising. Within this group, 30% prioritized their privacy concerns, and 18% considered sharing their email addresses unlikely, though not entirely out of the question. Meanwhile, 29% of consumers were open to the idea, albeit conditionally, depending on the perceived value of the ad. Lastly, 23% were amenable to sharing their email addresses if it meant receiving ads with better relevance to their interests. These findings offer a nuanced view of consumer attitudes toward digital advertising in a changing digital world, highlighting a delicate balance between ad relevance and privacy concerns.
Patrick Gut, VP of US at Adlook, expressed enthusiasm about leading the shift to a cookieless future, emphasizing their dual focus on innovation and privacy. “We view the initial 1% deprecation of cookies as a crucial first step in assessing the viability of a cookieless environment,” said Gut. “This phase allows us to perform essential tests and begin redefining our benchmarks and delivery metrics for branding campaigns in a world without third-party cookies.” Gut explained that a gradual and transparent expansion of cookieless traffic is necessary for a comprehensive understanding and adaptation to this new landscape.
Final Thoughts
As CES 2024 drew to a close, it set the stage for even more anticipation for next year's event. CES 2025 promises to unveil further technological marvels, continuing its legacy as a pivotal showcase in the tech world. Stay tuned to CMSWire for comprehensive coverage and insights on what is widely regarded as the premier global technology event. Stay tuned to CMSWire for comprehensive coverage and insights on what is widely regarded as the premier global technology event.
