Must-have gadgets of the season: From AI shoes to see-through TV screens
Whenever you start to think the latest gadgets are getting kind of boring, just wait a week or two. Recently, tech companies far and wide have dropped all kinds of gadgets gone wild.
Check out some of the latest tech gizmos that caught our eye this season.
Moonwalkers Aero – $1,200
Strapping on a pair of Shift Robotics Moonwalkers Aero new robotic "AI-informed" shoes feels like taking a step into the future. They make you walk seven times faster than normal, kind of like being on one of those moving sidewalks at airports. The top speed is about 7mph, and they can go anywhere from five to seven miles on a single charge, which is about 1.5 hours of "walk time" in them.
There’s no real learning curve. To speed up, you just take a bigger stride. To slow down or stop, you just slow down or stop. Onboard regenerative brakes slow you down and bring you to a smooth stand-still, similar to how the brakes work on most electric vehicles.
Are they fun? Absolutely. But the deeper purpose is to help factory and warehouse workers — some six million in America alone — boost productivity with less effort.
LG Signature Transparent OLED TV – $60,000
LG’s Signature OLED 4K 77-inch see-through screen is insane. It’s translucent, meaning you can see right through it, even when there’s something on the screen. There’s a darker film that rises up from the base at the touch of the remote, which turns it into a gorgeous next-gen, more "normal-looking" 4K TV.
How does it work? It’s similar to how transition sunglasses go from clear inside to darker when you go outside in the sun. The screen is made up of OLEDs — organic light-emitting diodes — printed on a transparent piece of glass no wider than a smartphone. The base of the set is wider because it houses all of the speakers and other important TV components, but it’s still sleek and futuristic-looking, the kind of gadget that sparks TV-envy in any neighborhood on the planet.
It’s also wireless, so you can actually put it right in front of a window without blocking a single view. Why would you want a see-through screen? Because having a giant black box on the wall is so 2020. Now, it’s there when you want it and not when you don’t.
On sale now for $60,000. Clearly, this is the pinnacle of new TV tech, but LG has a bunch of award-winning OLED TVs for a wide range of budgets.
Chamelo’s Aura Color-Changing Sunglasses – $385
These Aura glasses by Chemelo are the world’s first sunglasses that change color with a simple tap of your finger. Touch the side of the frame, and they shift between vibrant hues that are, according to the company, "scientifically designed to influence emotions and enhance well-being." I don’t know about that part, but I get compliments everywhere I wear them. When I show off the magic lens touch, I get all kinds of "ooh’s and ahh’s" too.
They’re one of Time’s Best Inventions of the Year for good reason. Transition lenses typically take around 30 seconds to get darker outside and a few minutes to lighten back up inside. These take a fraction of a second, thanks to a flexible, liquid crystal film controlled electronically by tapping or sliding a finger across the temples.
Nekojita Fufu – Expected to cost around $25
Check out this little robot that totally blows — to cool off your hot drinks, of course. Because who can be bothered to do that themselves these days? Nekojita Fufu hooks onto the side of your mug and blows on your drinks or food so you don’t burn your tongue.
Is it simple? Yes. But it’s smart too. The internal fan uses a special algorithm that supports up to eight blowing speeds. Seriously? A smarter mouth? Sign me up. Not all tech needs to be complicated, just functional, and being adorable doesn’t hurt.
I think it’s great for hot flashes too. It’s expected to go on pre-sale this summer for around $25, and it definitely falls into the "so silly, have to have it" category.
Expected to go on presale this summer for about $25.
Mirumi – Expected to cost around $70
From the same folks behind the coffee-cooling kitty comes a vision for the future of robots that serve no other purpose than to make you smile. Mirumi is a furry little companion bot that imitates a shy infant.
The robot senses and steals glances at nearby people while clinging to a bag strap, your clothing or a backpack. Using sensors, it detects and appears to inquisitively turn its head to engage nearby people or objects with adorable googly eyes. But its inquisitive appearance has limits. When the bot is suddenly approached or touched, it ducks away to simulate shyness.
Using a combination of a distance sensor and an inertial measurement unit to detect movement, Mirumi appears to react in different ways to what it senses. It will start to look around once a bag begins to move and then appear to focus its gaze on a person or an object detected nearby. The whole idea is to share happiness with others. In a crowded subway, a grocery line, wherever and whenever, Mirumi’s purpose in life is to make people smile.
Expected to go on presale in the fall for about $70.
BodyFriend Pharaoh Q Massage Chair – $15,000
These are a different kind of robot, like the Rolls Royce of massage chairs. The Pharaoh Q is one of the most luxurious models on the market, blending high-end tech with a premium design inspired by Egyptian royalty. It features natural leather seats, a built-in high-end stereo system and touchscreen controls.
The 4D rollers move up, down, left and right, and even adjust intensity and speed dynamically. This provides a deeper, more human-like massage. The L-Track and S-Track hybrid design covers from the neck down to the glutes, ensuring full back and lower body coverage. Air compression massage uses 64 airbags for full-body compression, improving blood circulation and reducing muscle tension.
Other features include zero-gravity recline for spinal decompression, infrared heat therapy in the lumbar and calf areas, and Bluetooth speakers with mood lighting. Each leg moves independently to massage, relax and stretch core and lower body muscles. It heats up and uses rollers, air compression and acupressure to deliver light, medium and deep tissue relief from top to bottom.
The chair also includes a stretching series that massages and applies acupressure to the lower back, calves, feet and hamstrings to improve circulation. The XD-PRO heating module moves in 80 stages with incredible precision, providing a massage as detailed as that of a human hand. It’s amazing for aging populations. My dad is 86, and this is exactly what he needs to stay mobile and reduce stress.
BodyFriend Falcon SV Massage Chair – $8,000
The Falcon SV is "only" $8,000 and offers a pared-down version of the Pharaoh Q’s features. It includes Robo-Walking technology with independent leg movement, taking chair massage to the next level.
Features include individual leg stretching, a custom user account that remembers your body and massages, 29 multi-massage auto programs, and a zero-gravity recline to elevate feet above the heart for deep relaxation. It can help stretch your legs, improve circulation, and increase range of motion.
The Falcon SV also includes 36 airbags that provide compression from hands to heels and a sole roller massage for tired feet. Auto safety sensors keep kids and pets safe. While it may not have all the extras of the Pharaoh Q, it still offers an exceptional massage experience.
This story has been updated with a corrected photo.
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.” The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Paste BN. Contact her through her newsletter at Techish.com, or follow her @JennJolly on Instagram.