CES 2023 – My Favorite Products on Display

Attending CES 2023 could definitely provide me with enough blog material to write about for weeks, but at some point, I must return to my real world… just not quite yet. I was fascinated with so many products, but a few really made a lasting impression because they were innovative and unique and appealed to me personally. My five favorite products at CES…

1. WasteShark

Ran Marine, a Dutch company, introduced WasteShark. Remember that photo of Prince Constantijn van Oranje I showed you the other day? He was visiting Ran Marine’s booth. According to their website, “Currently, 18 billion pounds of post-consumer plastic waste drains into oceans yearly.” WasteShark is an autonomous surface vessel that is “designed to remove floating pollution such as plastics, algae and biomass from lakes, ponds, waterways and harbours…WasteShark targets marine waste right at the source, efficiently removing 500 kilograms [1100 lbs] of waste per day from all types of waterways. It’s completely portable and can be operated safely and securely from virtually anywhere.”

I spoke with one of the informative reps at the booth. Currently, the vessels are radio-controlled with a 3km (1.8 mile) range. In the future, however, they’ll be able to be programmed to comb a user-designated waypoint area and when full of trash automatically return to the dock for emptying and recharging and signal another vessel to take its place. Not only does it remove surface waste, it also has the capability of evaluating water quality via water probes and reporting the data to the user. How awesome is that?

Check out their website for more information.

2. Panasonic Multishape

I love products with the ability to use the same chargers and technology for a multitude of applications. David uses Ryobi tools for the same reason. In this case, Panasonic has come up with a set of personal grooming products that fit this criteria. Products include an electric razor, hair & body trimmer, nose trimmer and toothbrush. You can purchase a whole set which comes with a carry pouch or pick and choose the products that suit your needs. Currently, if you opt to recycle your old personal care device with them, they’ll give you a 30% discount.

For more information, check out their website.

3. Boxabl

When considering tiny houses, the Boxabl Casita concept is absolutely stellar. This Las Vegas company’s mission is “to significantly lower the cost of homeownership for everyone.” There are lots of options available with more to come. A four-room ‘tiny house’, for instance, including full kitchen, living room, bath, and bedroom, utilizes the latest technology to provide a house in a box. It’s shippable anywhere and it purportedly can be set up in an hour. They claim it is strong... wind, water, fire, mold, and bug resistant and super energy efficient. Of course, you need to buy the land, install utility access, etc., but still what a great affordable alternative to renting an apartment or house.

Or maybe you just want to add on a mother-in-law apartment or an office or a man/woman cave. These ‘boxes’ can connect to existing structures or each other or even stack. Here’s their website for more information.

4. Bird Buddy

This product plays right into my love of birdwatching and attracting backyard visitors. It’s a battery-powered birdfeeder with a proximity-activated camera. When a bird lands, the camera snaps a shot and sends a ‘postcard’ notification/photo to your smart phone. It is powered by a 3800 mah lithium-ion battery and comes with a USB charger cord. According to the Bird Buddy website, the battery can last anywhere between 5-15 days depending on the number of photos taken and/or videos you stream. It has a sleep mode to preserve battery life after dark. A solar roof option is available to extend battery life.

The birdfeeder module is connected to your home wi-fi and uses that connection to download photos and video stream to your phone. You can add up to three additional people to your Bird Buddy app in order to share your birding experiences. Your purchase also includes a “lifetime smartphone app membership to observe your local birds and learn more about them”.

I noted other similar products on Amazon and haven’t done any comparison shopping, but I was really impressed with the Bird Buddy folks at CES. The product is currently backordered, but I’m thinking this would make a great birthday/holiday gift for some special people (maybe even me!). More info can be found on their website.

5. Touchpoint

We chatted at length with Touchpoint Solutions President, Adrienne Stevens. Here, David is holding the touchpoints in his hands.

Last, but certainly not least, is a medical OTC product that utilizes bilateral stimulation, similar to a TENS unit. I quote from Touchpoint Solution’s website… “TouchPoints work by altering the body's stress response with scientifically-proven BLAST (Bi-lateral Alternating Stimulation Tactile) technology. BLAST uses gentle, alternating vibrations on each side of the body to shift your brain from your default "fight or flight" response to your calm and in-control response.  Over time, TouchPoints retrains your body, creating new behavior patterns that lessen the negative impacts of stress. TouchPoints are non-invasive and safe for use by adults and kids to relieve stress without drugs or side effects.”

According to clinical studies, the product helps to reduce stress, improves sleep, and helps users to regain focus. Applications include ADHD, Parkinson’s, stress, PTSD, anxiety and autism.

I chatted at length with the CEO and founder, Vicki Mayo, a very impressive and interesting young woman known for her innovative entrepreneurial efforts as well as her philanthropy. “Our non-invasive patented wearable BLAST® technology is proven to reduce stress by 70% in 30 seconds and helps both kids and adults alike. Our mission is to help people stress less and live more.”

I was just as impressed with Touchpoint’s president, Adrienne Stevens, an articulate, knowledgeable woman whose career history portends to make Touchpoints a success.

In doing some homework, I found study after study indicating that this type of neuroscience can work. Adrienne let us both try Touchpoints in our hands while we were standing there chatting. The product provides an alternating tingling sensation that studies show can reduce stress, replacing it with calm. It would be difficult for David to become calmer, but I know lots of people who would benefit from this type of therapy. Click here for Touchpoint Solutions website.

There were so many products that impressed me and narrowing it down to five was difficult. David will provide his faves in his next Blue View.

FYI… In case you were wondering, we are not being compensated in any way, shape or form for endorsing these products.