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The weirdest tech and gadgets we saw at CES 2024

<p>We always find some strange gadgets at CES. There's no way around it, with thousands of exhibitors peddling their wares, trying to find a market for things no one has dreamed up before. From startups to giants like Samsung, there are plenty of things that make us pause, chuckle, and shake our heads. Here's a few favorites from CES 2024. Keep in mind, weird doesn't necessarily mean bad. It just means weird.</p>
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<h2><a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-spacetop-is-a-laptop-that-really-wants-to-swap-your-screen-for-ar-glasses-ces-2024-233638523.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/the-spacetop-is-a-laptop-that-really-wants-to-swap-your-screen-for-ar-glasses-ces-2024-233638523.html">Sightful's Spacetop AR Laptop[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/8a4edde0-af46-11ee-bf36-3d491b73e9cc" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/8a4edde0-af46-11ee-bf36-3d491b73e9cc" style="height:1200px;width:2000px;" alt="While the bottom half of the Spacetop looks like a traditional notebook, the top half relies on tethered AR glasses to provide a 100-inch virtual display." data-uuid="9fc67ef1-2e28-3894-9a7a-55b7d779acb6"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photos by Sam Rutherford/Engadget</div></figure>
<p>If you squint, you can see how a laptop paired to AR glasses could provide a much more expansive and immersive experience than a standard 14-inch laptop screen. Unfortunately, the narrow field of view, spongy keyboard and high price make this a bit of a non-starter.</p>
<span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><h2><a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-ballie-robot-didnt-do-much-at-ces-2024-but-it-sure-is-cute-221425179.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-ballie-robot-didnt-do-much-at-ces-2024-but-it-sure-is-cute-221425179.html">Samsung Ballie[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/c2e956a0-af3a-11ee-bbfc-cb2cca51dcf0" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/c2e956a0-af3a-11ee-bbfc-cb2cca51dcf0" style="height:1576px;width:2422px;" alt="Samsung Ballie robot demo" data-uuid="030f491a-4229-32a1-af08-53f75eb824dd"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Engadget</div></figure>
<p>Yes, Ballie is definitely cute. We got a kick of out seeing it roll around its demo area at Samsung's CES booth. But it's still pretty weird to have a tiny robot follow you around so it can project a workout video on the ceiling while you work your abs.&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/dont-call-em-skates-because-theyre-moonwalkers-164737288.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/dont-call-em-skates-because-theyre-moonwalkers-164737288.html">Shift Robotics Moonwalkers[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/114883b0-af55-11ee-96f9-9c81f9c6d732" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/114883b0-af55-11ee-96f9-9c81f9c6d732" style="height:1200px;width:2000px;" alt="Image of Shift Robotics' Moonwalkers on a black table." data-uuid="10293bf8-1366-3711-8fb9-caadc2860102"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget</div></figure>
<p>The Moonwalkers have a highbrow premise: by propelling the human wearing them a little bit further than they'd normally go when they take a step, this could add up to much more efficient walking over the course of a day, week or lifetime. The new "X" model is lighter and has fewer wheels, making it theoretically easier to produce. But the original Moonwalker cost about $1,400, a wild amount of money. You're probably just better off walking a little quicker.</p>
<h2><a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/a-volkswagen-with-chatgpt-told-me-a-story-about-dinosaurs-at-ces-2024-185239472.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/a-volkswagen-with-chatgpt-told-me-a-story-about-dinosaurs-at-ces-2024-185239472.html">Volkswagen's ChatGPT-generated dinosaur story[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/eb9f2710-afed-11ee-b7bd-d4a0bac822af" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/eb9f2710-afed-11ee-b7bd-d4a0bac822af" style="height:1212px;width:2168px;" alt="A Volkswagen in-dash tablet display shows an example of the ChatGPT integration announced at CES 2024." data-uuid="9ddf0f64-2b9a-3df4-b8c7-3408fe0536b0"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget</div></figure>
<p>While we can see the potential use cases for having a more intelligent voice assistant in your car, one powered by ChatGPT, having the car tell us a story about dinosaurs was a pretty weird way to go about demonstrating it.</p>
<h2><a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/teach-your-dog-to-play-this-piano-140028808.html">ZooGears TheButter — a "piano" for dogs[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/640adef0-b08f-11ee-bd47-a851dca26e01" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/640adef0-b08f-11ee-bd47-a851dca26e01" style="height:1248px;width:2000px;" alt="Image of both Zoo Gears' dog pianos, TheButter, as well as its forthcoming musical instrument and pet feeder, TheBiscuit. " data-uuid="72204012-a5bc-3d9f-9ad6-f914d172a78d"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget</div></figure>
<p>We've all seen videos of dogs "playing" an instrument, but this might be the first one purpose-built for a pet. "Teach" your dog to "play" this "piano" and you'll surely get hours of entertainment. The $299 device even comes with an automated feeder to encourage your dog to keep going.</p>
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<h2><a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:6;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/who-knew-dogs-enjoyed-downtempo-music-004714808.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/who-knew-dogs-enjoyed-downtempo-music-004714808.html">One by One — downtempo music for dogs[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/27600820-b019-11ee-98ea-5e1b26a42af8" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/27600820-b019-11ee-98ea-5e1b26a42af8" style="height:847px;width:1920px;" alt="Cartoon promotional image of a girl wearing headphones while applying headphones to her dog." data-uuid="d4338877-55d8-34e4-87a6-497d8b9dfe3d"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">One By One</div></figure>
<p>Turns out downtempo music music soothes pets and <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:7;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/lofi-girl-is-back-and-she-made-a-synthwave-friend-182928515.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/lofi-girl-is-back-and-she-made-a-synthwave-friend-182928515.html">cartoons studying endlessly[/url] alike. We love the research showing this, but that still doesn't explain why this is better than just letting your dog listen to your Spotify account.</p>
<h2><a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:8;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-flappie-ai-cat-door-stops-your-pet-from-gifting-you-dead-mice-033237654.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/the-flappie-ai-cat-door-stops-your-pet-from-gifting-you-dead-mice-033237654.html">Flappie AI cat door[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/dc1355b0-ae52-11ee-b5ff-068176747897" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/dc1355b0-ae52-11ee-b5ff-068176747897" style="height:1600px;width:2400px;" alt="A white Flappie cat door installed in a square of black wood with a stuffed cat and mouse behind it on display at CES 2024." data-uuid="779cb5e3-3fe1-306c-af88-d39fb187ecc2"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget</div></figure>
<p>C'mon, just look how cute this is! Let the poor guy in, your cruel and arbitrary cat door.</p>
<h2><a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:9;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-cpr-dummy-of-the-future-can-piss-blood-165533305.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/the-cpr-dummy-of-the-future-can-piss-blood-165533305.html">Adam-X CPR dummy[/url]</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/38482430-affe-11ee-befd-a6167fa5516a" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-01/38482430-affe-11ee-befd-a6167fa5516a" style="height:1333px;width:2000px;" alt="Image of the Adam-X medical training robot, an artificial human body laying on a white dais with the shirt open." data-uuid="e3f83e4c-8c53-3b7c-9a6f-b446d66195ec"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget</div></figure>
<p>Let's be clear: "weird" does not necessarily mean "bad" or "useless." Adam-X certainly does look useful for medical training. But, well, it's also just a bit off-putting.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:10;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/guides/ces/" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/guides/ces/">here[/url].</p>This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-weirdest-tech-and-gadgets-we-saw-at-ces-2024-233003886.html?src=rss

Source: The weirdest tech and gadgets we saw at CES 2024 (https://www.engadget.com/the-weirdest-tech-and-gadgets-we-saw-at-ces-2024-233003886.html?src=rss)