Call me geeky but checking out cutting-edge medical technology, virtual reality games, in-vehicle tech and 3D printing is my idea of an awesome day. Those technologies and much more were on display in New York City this past weekend at the Engadget Expand tech showcase and conference. Engadget Expand offers a sneak peak at the latest innovations in consumer electronics. I visited the tech show and got demos of some really exciting new technologies. Here are five I think we’ll be seeing more of in the future.
1. Avegant Virtual Retinal Display
Move over Google Glass -- wearable head-mounted display technology is just getting started. The Virtual Retinal Display glasses from Avegant delivered unbelievably sharp, eye-popping 3D content the looks of which I have never seen before. There’s no LCD screen inside these glasses, instead the technology projects images directly into your eye, or more precisely - your retina. They use micromorrors to send separate images to your retinas – and the images are generated with reflected light as opposed to emitted light which I’m told is more comfortable and less tiring for your eyes. I had to adjust each lens to bring it into proper focus but once I did, the scene was sharp and brilliant. I tried out a prototype so it was heavy and clunky, (as you can see in the picture) but I’m told the final consumer version will be quite lightweight and have a much smaller form factor with integrated speakers. I can’t wait to use these to watch all my movies in 2014.
2. ZBoard Electric Skateboard
If you’re blessed with a short commute you should definitely keep an eye on the Zboard Classic Skateboard. No pushing-off from the ground to get this baby going, it’s a weight-sensing electric skateboard powered by a rechargeable battery. You lean forward to go, lean back to stop. The more you lean forward, the faster you go. Top speed is 15 mph with a range of 5-10 miles per charge. Think of it as a Segway for those with a little more balance control. The company is currently taking orders on the crowdfunding site IndieGoGo (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/zboard-hoverboard-for-charity) to make a limited edition Hoverboard version to celebrate October 21st; which is two years until “Back to the Future Day”. Proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation. Calling Marty McFly!
3. Virtuix Omni
There’s a whole new world of immersion for gaming fans. Seriously, how much can you lose yourself in a game you play with your thumbs? The Virtuix Omni is a virtual reality interface that lets you walk through the virtual world of your favorite video game. Wearing a head-mounted display like Oculus Rift, you walk on the Omni base, which works with sensors on the bottom of sneakers – so you can stand up and walk, run or jump your (your avatar’s, that is) way through the world you’re playing in.
4. 3D Printing
3D printing is all the rage and it’s not too far out of the realm to imagine that we will soon be buying these printers for home use or in pursuit of a hobby. There are now really well-designed 3D printers on the market at all price points. Affordable is a relative term. You’re not going to see home users buying Formlabs’ $3,299 high-res desktop 3D printer -– that’s more for a professional designer -- but you will see more printers available to more people. In fact, Make magazine debuted its “Ultimate Guide to 3D printing” at Engadget Expand with printer recommendations starting at just $300.
Quirky is a company that helps inventors turn their practical ideas (like this pivot flexible power strip http://www.quirky.com/shop/44-Pivot-Power-Flexible-Power-Strip) into real products you can buy. They’ve teamed with GE to help give everyday items a connected component - an app. One inventor wanted to teach his daughter to enjoy saving money so he created a way to let her watch the amount change on a mobile device. Thus, the Porkfolio piggy bank was born. Saving up for a new clothing purchase or tickets to a concert? Drop money into the piggy’s belly and watch the balance grow on your app. There are plenty more inventions at quirky.com.
Andrea Smith is an award-winning news and technology journalist. She was most recently Lifestyle Channel Editor at Mashable. Prior to that, Andrea spent more than a decade as Technology Producer at ABC News as an on-air, on-radio reporter and expert covering all things digital. Andrea is able to break down the latest technology trends, turning tech talk into easy-to-understand concepts. She's also a frequent contributor to many national television shows including, ABC News, CNBC and Anderson Cooper.
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