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There is a lot to be excited about Smellscapes, robot dogs, and 'wearables' on display at CES

CES is about to get started, but even though the show floor doesn't open, we've already discovered a lot of interesting technology at the show, ranging from practical to bizarre tech (yet compelling).

The Tacoma Tatamel, a suitcase-sized electric bike, was spotted last night. It makes a lot of sacrifices to get there (range, speed, wheel size, cost), but if you want an e-bike that fits in your trunk, it's worth looking into it'll be available later this year. If you prefer smart home lighting so you never have to reach for a light switch, Nanoleaf has you covered. Their new geometric smart lights are said to learn how you use them and automate them without requiring you to set a routine. When it notices you walking from your bedroom to the kitchen in the morning, it knows to turn on that soft, sun-like light. However, when you walk in from the dining room at 6:00 p.m., bright cooking lights turn on. In theory, at least.

But how will you get off the couch when you're immersed in the aroma escape created by Aromajoin? Nothing yet, but some demo experiences let you, for example, enjoy the crackling sound and flickering light of a fire while getting that critical smoky smell shot right at your nose. The smells were described as "remarkably recognizable" by Haje. It will be released "soon." Fufuly, a "breathing pillow," is the brainchild of the creator of the strangely soothing Qoobo soft robotic cat thing. It may appear insane, but it is based on the idea that people naturally match their breathing rhythm to respirators or even those nearby. Your breathing partner will be the pillow. "Switch it on and hug it," the instructions say. This is all you require." Shunsuke, you said it. A crowdfunding campaign is expected later this year.

Last year in 2021, I wrote about the Bird Buddy, and now the company is expanding from live identification of backyard songbirds to hummingbirds with its new feeder. When you have a visitor, it recognizes 350 species and sends photos to your phone. Interestingly, the company is also working on a data play it records the species, time, and location, creating a database of bird movements. Perhaps there are patterns here that could be packaged as a product. Anyone who likes the idea of a smartwatch but dislikes the "watch" part should take a look at the No watch, which the company refers to as "wearable." It does the health-tracking thing without a display, which reminds me of the old Misfit devices. There are no notifications, only steps, sweat detection, and other metrics with a beautiful stone or gem as the face.

For years, Roku has been one of the go-to brands for smart TVs, but the company is now transitioning from powering Samsung and TCL models to producing its own. The new Roku-branded TV lineup will include models ranging in size from 24 to 75 inches and the latest voice-powered remote. I have one, and it's great for just plugging in headphones and watching a show without having to fiddle with Bluetooth or apps or anything. The most expensive will still be less than a grand, which is great. More information will be released in the spring. Urinalysis isn't everyone's favorite activity, but that's partly because it's so primitive. Why doesn't the lab simply live in the toilet, where the pee already goes? Withings, a smart home company, is demonstrating a urinalysis device for home health monitoring not for everyone, but for people with specific medical conditions or those working toward a specific goal, it could be invaluable. Naturally, Europe gets this one first. The toy company is still selling the Roboraptor, but they now have a brand-new robot dog called MINTiDDog-E. Hopefully, Dog-E will suffice, though this may result in unwanted lawsuits. Try this one if you want a robot dog but think Aibo is too simple. It communicates by wagging its tail in the same way that a regular dog would if regular dogs had persistence-of-vision LEDs embedded in their bodies. NuraLogix claims to be able to collect 1,000 diagnostics from a 30-second selfie video, including blood pressure, stress, BMI, stroke risk, and blood sugar. Sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me, but I suppose the nice thing to do is let them put their stuff out there and judge it on its own merits.