Dan and myself returned from CES in Vegas feeling a little worse for wear – the feet get you every time. Still, we enjoyed our visit and found some interesting new product ideas from some of the smaller, upcoming companies. Here are a couple of our favorites.

The E-cigarette or the cigarette that isn’t
An exact replica of a real cigarette, this nifty little battery-powered product simulates a real smoking experience complete with glowing cigarette tip and smoke-like vapor. Made up of three parts: the battery, atomizer and replaceable mouthpiece – the e-cigarette stores liquid that when heated creates a smoke-like effect. Determined to test this product out I ‘lit’ one up in a non-smoking restaurant. Sure enough the tip glowed just like a real cigarette and I was able to emit ‘smoke’. Other diners didn’t seem to care that I was ‘smoking’ (it is Vegas after all) but they were all fascinated with the concept of a cigarette that isn’t a cigarette. Smokers: there could be hope for you yet!

Smart condominium
P2P Universal Computing Consortium demonstrated an interesting concept using their service platform – a Smart Condominium Home IT System and PUCC. The platform, using Toshiba’s home IT “Feminity System” and PUCC Stack Technology, connects mobile phones to control in-home security cameras, lighting, and other home appliances. One part of the system was particularly interesting: when Dan tried to open the door of a safe used in the demo, the mobile phone snapped a photograph of him and, we were told, would in real time, send an image to the authorities and the home owner’s phone. Talk about caught with your hands in the till. Better luck next time, Dan.

Tags: ces, dan robbins, e-cigarette, julia hyde, las vegas, pucc

This entry was posted on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 4:10 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.