Innovative Tech Highlights from CES 2023: From Color-Changing Cars to Smart Toilets

CES 2023 in Las Vegas showcased a wide array of futuristic technologies, despite a quieter atmosphere due to the global economic slowdown.

One of the most striking innovations was BMW’s i Vision Dee, a concept car featuring an E-ink exterior that can change color instantly, introduced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

While this color-changing skin is not expected in consumer models soon, the car will feature a full-width head-up display projected across the windscreen by 2025.

Sony and Honda unveiled their joint venture’s electric prototype, the Afeela, equipped with 45 sensors and a full-width media screen inside, likely for PlayStation gaming, with production planned by the end of 2025.

Volkswagen’s ID7, an electric Passat replacement capable of over 400 miles per charge, is closer to market with a late 2024 release, and it was previewed with electroluminescent paint that changes color in sync with music.

In computing, Asus introduced the Vivobook Pro with a glasses-free 3D OLED display that uses eye-tracking and lenticular lenses to deliver a 3D experience without glasses, targeting gamers and creative professionals.

Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i offers a dual-screen design with two 13.3-inch OLED displays hinged for versatile use modes, including laptop, tent, book, and tablet configurations, launching in June at $2,099.

Samsung’s Bespoke AI oven features an internal camera and AI to recognize 80 food items, automatically adjusting cooking settings and warning users if food is at risk of burning.

It also supports advanced cooking modes like air sous vide and steam cooking, with the ability to livestream cooking progress.

In health tech, Withings introduced U-Scan, a hands-free urine analysis device that fits under the toilet rim and tracks 100 biomarkers to monitor hydration, nutrition, hormone levels, and menstrual cycles.

It connects to an app for real-time health insights and is expected to launch mid-2023 at £500, with cartridges costing £30 for three months.

Lastly, satellite connectivity for emergency texting is expanding beyond Apple’s iPhone 14 SOS feature.

Qualcomm and Mediatek plan to integrate two-way satellite texting into their high-end processors for Android phones later this year, although details on implementation and service costs remain unclear.

These innovations highlight CES 2023’s focus on blending AI, connectivity, and novel user experiences across automotive, computing, kitchen, and health sectors.