LOOKS like January is the month to showcase ingenuity and innovation.
Last week, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas wrapped up another dazzling display of cutting-edge gadgets and futuristic technologies, and in Dublin the 60th BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS finished up after another demonstration of the burgeoning brain power of some of Ireland’s brightest teenagers.
Seventeen-year-old Sean O’Sullivan, from Limerick, was announced as the ultimate winner in Dublin for his sophisticated software, which can verify the authenticity of authorship, potentially giving universities and colleges a better way of checking if students are using their minds or ChatGPT to write their end of year essays.
I produced an RTÉ documentary marking the 40th anniversary of the science competition way back in 2003 and have been following the winners closely for 20 years. Every year, I continue to be impressed by the young people who, slightly worryingly, have learned and achieved more by transition year than I probably have in my whole career.
It is always inspiring to think of what these bright sparks will achieve in the future and the problems they will solve.
In contrast to the wholesome successes of the RDS competitors is the razzmatazz of the Las Vegas gadget geek fest, CES (another event that I filmed decades ago and have maintained a cynical fascination with).
The RDS is filled with bright kids tackling some of the world’s biggest problems, and the Consumer Electronics Show extravaganza is filled with technological solutions that no one ever asked for.
What the world needs now are ceasefires, carbon-absorbing technology and answers to global challenges such as poverty and healthcare disparities. Instead, we get ever-sleeker smartphones, mind-bending gaming consoles, AI-powered personal assistants and smart refrigerators.
Mercedes-Benz showcased a new feature that enables a SUV to pivot 360 degrees. In over-the-top Las Vegas fashion, the German car manufacturer staged a PR stunt with four synchronised SUVs rotating on the Las Vegas strip.
I watched an online clip and think I was supposed to respond with “Cool!” but all that I could muster was “Why?!”
The amount of engineering, ingenuity, man hours and money that went into developing such trickery when there is zero practical application for a spinning SUV boggles my brain.
How about the other big problem facing our world right now? The severe shortage of temporary tattoos! Never fear, Korean company Imprintu has the answer. A portable, customisable temporary tattoo printer for $249 (€230) means you can have a 24 hour long tattoo for any occasion or any mood.
Better let the thousands of tattoo shops in Cork know that Big Tech is after their business. (Seriously, I didn’t do an audit, but I think there is a tattoo parlour on every street in Cork city centre nowadays).
Actually, this might be a bit of tech I could get behind if it means my kids won’t come home as teenagers in the future with celtic-inspired dragon hindu lettering all over their calves. But for now. Totally unnecessary innovation.
Nail technicians might be wary of the $600 (€550) Nimble nail robot which uses 2D and 3D scanning technology and advanced AI to understand the exact size, shape, and curve of your nails.
Nimble’s smart robotic arm then precisely applies the required coats of polish “for a rich, high-shine, effortless manicure”.
Again, very clever, handy out, but needed? Not really.
LG and Samsung both showcased transparent telly. Say goodbye to your ugly, enormous black box in the corner of your living room and say hello to an enormous transparent box in your living room.
The TV of the future is a glass box which is transparent until you pick up the remote and it turns into a TV. Again, undoubtedly clever and cutting edge, but what the world needs now? Nope.
The most ludicrous bit of tech at CES that might help the world a teensy bit were Moonwalkers, the world’s fastest shoes.
According to the company Shift Robotics, “Moonwalkers are the first ever mobility device that allows you to walk at the speed of a run”. They promise three times faster walking speeds by equipping your shoes with six electric-powered wheels, worn over your regular shoes like a robotic, wheeled sandal.
They travel at a speed of around 7mph, compared to 15-25 mph for e-scooters, and users describe the experience as a bit like being on a moving walkway.
If they are actually robust bits of kit that don’t completely misalign your skeleton, I can imagine these might be a handy back-up to the vagaries of Cork’s public transport system.
Pop them in your bag, and if the 214 bus doesn’t turn up again, then stride purposefully home, 250% faster than your average gait.
Time magazine named them one of the best inventions in 2023 because you can travel farther without tiring out. Unfortunately, they cost a whopping €1,269, but who knows, you might see someone sailing down Pana in the not too distant future sporting a pair.
The annual CES expo is undeniably a showcase of human ingenuity and engineering prowess, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the choices we make in directing our technological advancements.
Technological progress should not come to a halt, but a recalibration of priorities is needed.
Imagine if the brilliant minds and vast resources dedicated to creating the next sleek smartwatch or augmented reality glasses were channelled into developing solutions for clean energy, affordable healthcare, or global education initiatives.
That’s the future I want to see.
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