HOME LIFE BETTER LIVING THROUGH SMARTER TECHNOLOGY
2021 GETS SMART
Join us as we analyze the best home tech on its way this year
BY ALEX COX
ES 2021 was not short of excitement, even if the year’s biggest tech show did happen on a website rather than in Las Vegas. Some big hitters revealed some very big hardware, and it gave a lot of smaller companies and startups a chance to show off their wares. When it comes to smart, CES showed that connected devices are bigger than ever, and we managed to find some particularly weird and wonderful devices among the noise. So this issue, we take a look at what’s going to make waves in the not–too–distant future, the products you might otherwise have missed, and a little that’s more pie–in–the–sky thinking.
Bear in mind that the latter designation applies to a lot of the hardware from this year’s CES, even more so than usual. In many cases we don’t know when, where or even if these gadgets will be released, and we haven’t played with prototypes or grilled brand representatives in person. This round–up is a preview, not a promise.
RISE OF THE ROBOTS
Helper robots are always a Twitch staple, and 2021 saw some particularly cuddly examples. Take the Petit Qooboo (tagline “a tailed cushion that heals your heart”). It is, as you may have guessed, a fluffy cushion with a tail —a smaller version of the original Qooboo from a couple of years ago. Give it a stroke and the tail wags slowly; rub more vigorously and you’ll get a playful wag instead. It emits a subtle heartbeat, reacts to speech, and seems great for a cuddle — the perfect Tribble–esque friend.
The Petit Qooboo is soft and cuddly, but it’s actually a clever robot too.
A more advanced take on the cuddly companion came in the form of the Moflin, an AI pet which looks like an earless rabbit. The ¥41,800 (around $395) bot can develop its own personality from a range of possible emotions, and apparently learn how its owner likes to interact and adapt accordingly. There’s a temptation to look at these devices as toys, but for those who can’t safely care for pets they can offer unique emotional support.