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Every January, Tomorrow Lab attends the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to start the New Year off right, exploring what is fresh and cutting edge in our industry! CES is one of the world’s largest and most influential technology trade shows, organized annually by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The event showcases cutting-edge consumer technologies and innovations across various industries, including electronics, software, hardware and services. This year, Tomorrow Lab’s Partner Theodore Ullrich spent several days looking at new products, networking and connecting with vendors. In this part one of two stories, Ullrich walks us through their selected products that stood out and impressed the most, with original Ullrich photos to boot!
Exploring the Future of Product Design at CES 2025
While there is so much to observe at CES, being hardware creators, it was only natural that Ullrich focused on consumer based electronics. In combing through Ullrich’s findings, it became clear that many products fell into a “community” theme. Products that could enrich the lives of us as a whole, the ones we spend most our time with and our broader community at large.
Smart Glasses and Wearable Tech
First up, it came as no surprise that all kinds of smart glasses were on display.
The LAWK ONE Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) headset from Lawaken Technologies features a custom AI model they developed for smart glasses that are meant to improve daily efficiency and life quality. On their website they describe impressive features such as syncing to the users peripherals, performance tracking, instant social media sharing, one touch photo snapping, a voice activated assistant, 4k video recording with stabilized footage, all while being lightweight and ergonomic and only 80 grams weight. On the display inside the glasses, at the user’s view they can see navigation direction, the time, speed of acceleration, incoming messages and battery life.
Also of note was the VisionX by VIRNECT and EyeBliss by UltraReality AR/VR headsets. The VisionX headset claims to be the “world’s first AI safety glasses,” that are compatible with glasses wearers and has a customizable fit. It also features a battery hot swap for uninterrupted use, easily swappable eye shield for damage or purpose, a detachable boom microphone and directional speakers for noisy environments. Similar in solution to the Apple Vision Pro, the EyeBliss headset has inward facing cameras that are used to capture eye and eyebrow expressions that play live on the outward display. The mission of the EyeBliss is to track the user’s gaze and blinking, giving the subtle but important eye contact effect in natural human connection.
Revolutionary Mobility Solutions
Secondly, and also unsurprisingly there were many types of innovative mobility solutions from electric scooters to cars meant for the ground and sky!
Electric scooters have been around for some years now, but this was the first time we saw multiple car brands get into the scooter game, each designed to match the unique style and branding of their respective auto companies. Bugatti’s eScooter special features include dual-turn signals for safer city navigation, radiant side lights and a customizable monogram projection tail light. Jeep’s new eScooter is clearly meant for tough terrain and off-roading with a wide standing platform, large off-road tires and a large headlight on the top of the front wheel.
Aptera Motors is currently developing a highly efficient solar electric vehicle (sEV) designed to harness solar energy for daily driving needs. The vehicle’s aerodynamic design and lightweight materials contribute to its efficiency, offering a range of up to 400 miles on a full charge(!), with the potential to add up to 40 miles per day through solar charging. Aptera plans to begin low-volume production in 2025 at its Carlsbad, California facility aiming to produce up to 20,000 units annually by 2027. Notable features of the Aptera model include 700 watts of integrated solar cells, a carbon fiber body structure that enhances performance and impact resistance, an anti-lock braking system, four external cameras, parking assist, all while driving on only three wheels!
XPENG AEROHT, founded in 2013 is Asia’s largest flying car company and a key part of the XPENG Motors ecosystem. Their mission is to provide safe, intelligent low-altitude mobility solutions, including modular flying cards capable of both ground driving and vertical takeoff. In October 2024, they began constructing a manufacturing base in Guangzhou, China aiming for an annual production capacity of 10,000 units, with mass production slated for 2026. Congratulations are in order to XPENG AEROHT, as they have secured significant funding, including $500 million in a series A round in 2021 and $150 million in a Series B1 round in August 2024, to advance their vision of making flying cars accessible for personal and public use. We’re excited to see what is next for them!
Health and Wellness Breakthroughs
Switching gears to health and wellness, there were two products that really stood out.
Acheless by PTBRO Inc. is a non-invasive electroacupuncture device designed to alleviate temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) symptoms. The device utilizes conical electrodes to delivery low-frequency electrical stimulation, combining the benefits of traditional acupuncture without the associated pain or side effects. Their proprietary, adjustable electrodes accurately target pain points of connected muscles using conductive silicone material instead of conventional suction-type electrodes. The second stand out device, the ELI Horometer™ by Eli Health, is an at-home device that enables real-time hormone monitoring through non-invasive saliva samples. The device delivers lab-grade results within 20 minutes via a smartphone app and currently tests cortisol and progesterone levels, providing personalized health insights to support areas like stress management, sleep and fertility.
Boosting Efficiency with Smart Technologies
In the Industrial IoT arena, there were several that sparked curiosity for us.
First, PickPad™ is a modular system of smart pads powered by sensors and machine learning that are designed to help busy restaurants boost operational efficiency and customer retention. It seamlessly integrates into existing store designs and tech systems and, without changing any processes, double-checks order accuracy, updates all statues, collects crucial data points and delivers a unique, personalized customer experience. PickPad™ eliminated manual, repetitive tasks, empowering restaurants to focus on what truly matters – exceptional hospitality! They even won an honoree CES Innovation award this year!
Hydrific’s new Droplet smart home water meter is a smart water sensor that monitors real-time water usage, detects leaks and provides detailed insights via an app. Key features include instant leak alerts using machine learning, appliance-level usage tracking and a comprehensive dashboard for water consumption insights. The device attaches to any water pipe and features high-precision ultrasonic sensors that detect leaks as small as 0.026 gallons per minute and offers easy DIY installation without tools. Interestingly, this product is very similar to a past Tomorrow Lab project, Lotik.
Fun and Educational Devices for the Next Generation
Lastly, to end on an amusing note there were two eye catching device series that we knew our nieces and nephews would love!
myFirst creates kid-friendly tech, blending fun and education with products like smartwatches, cameras, ear buds and drawing tools. They offer safe platforms within their brand, like myCircle for family communication and FreeSIM for kid-focused data plans. Every product is designed specifically for kids aged 3 to 12 years old with features like easy touch controls, max volume settings, kid-sized comfort, water resistance, GPS tracking and geo-fencing to only name a few! Not to mention all the fun colors and customizable physical and digital features. Available in 36+ countries, myFirst fosters creativity and safe tech exploration for children, which is so needed.
The XSenseRobot got much attention both in person and across the socials! I mean, who wouldn’t want to test out playing chess against a cute little robot?! This impressive spectacle is an AI-powered robotic chess coach that combines advanced AI with a physical robotic arm to provide an interactive chess-playing experience. It offers 25 adjustable difficulty levels, catering to both beginners and advanced players, and includes over 1,200 exercises to enhance strategic skills. The device supports online play through integration with platforms like Lichess.org, allowing users to compete with players worldwide. Additionally, SenseRobot provides real-time voice guidance and game analysis, making it a comprehensive tool for learning and improving in chess. The SenseRobot even defeated a four-time women’s chess champion last year!
Tomorrow Lab’s Commitment to Bringing Hardware Ideas to Life
With so many inspiring hardware products shown, how could one not get excited about creating their very own solution focused concept – and bringing that to life!
If you are looking for a talented firm to bring your new hardware idea to life – fill out a new business inquiry here for a free consultation with the TL team.
And if you are a designer and engineer looking for freelance work – we are always looking to connect with talent and please do apply here.