Connected bracelet that tracks a person's activity
Internet connectivity has overtaken the watch, the thermostat and the lights, but there are, apparently, many more everyday objects getting plugged in.
Some seem silly. Some make sense, like the FitBit, a connected bracelet that tracks a person's activity, it practically launched the wearable industry. Sales of wearables are expected to more than double, topping $5.1 billion this year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
But what connected product is poised to take off next? Will a new smart jar change the way we eat? Or a smart chair help couch potatoes exercise? Getting a glimpse into the future, or at least its potential, is all part of the fun of the Consumer Electronics Show, which wrapped Friday in Las Vegas. Here are a few connected products that are available or coming out this year.
Baby glgl — The French makers of 2012's smart fork introduced a smart baby bottle. Slow Control's Baby glgl bottle has Bluetooth, accelerometers and an inclinometer to determine the bottle's angle. Too much or too little tilt — 45 degrees is recommended — and the baby's air-bubble intake could cause fussiness. Baby glgl weighs how much formula or milk the baby drank, tracks feeding times and can alert parents when it's dinner time.
Roost battery — Smart smoke detectors linked to a smartphone are costly. But by putting the new Roost smart 9-volt battery into an existing device, you get a smarter smoke alarm that alerts people when an alarm went off at their home. The battery includes Wi-Fi and an audio sensor that listens for alarms. It also pings users when the five-year charge is dwindling.