Each year, CES Unveiled offers a tantalizing glimpse into the future, a soft launch for the world's most influential tech event. It's where companies proudly showcase their latest innovations, from nascent concepts to near-market products, all vying for attention in a single, bustling arena. For Routinova, this early preview is a crucial opportunity to identify technologies that will genuinely enhance daily life and foster smarter habits. This year, amidst the vast array of gadgets and gizmos, I found myself particularly drawn to a handful of breakthroughs. Here are my five favorite things that stood out, each promising to redefine aspects of our personal and home lives.
Innovations in Companion Tech and Care
The intersection of technology and personal well-being continues to evolve, bringing forth devices that offer more than just utility--they provide comfort and support. Among the most heartwarming and impactful innovations at Unveiled was a robotic companion designed with profound purpose.
Tombot: A Robotic Friend with a Mission
The Tombot robotic puppy, affectionately named "Jennie," isn't merely a high-tech toy; it's a carefully engineered healthcare device. Specifically designed to assist individuals living with Alzheimer's, Jennie aims to provide comfort while also monitoring critical behavioral patterns, such as "sundowning"--the confusion and agitation often experienced in late afternoon and evening (Gerontology Research, 2024). This focus on therapeutic application distinguishes it from other robotic pets on the market.
What truly set Tombot apart for me was its remarkable realism. While not intended to deceive, Jennie's design incorporates a sophisticated array of motors and sensors that enable incredibly lifelike interactions. Her gaze follows yours, her face subtly reacts to movement, and capacitive touch sensors allow her to respond to petting. Light sensors adjust her demeanor to the room's ambiance, gyros maintain orientation, and microphones enable responses to sounds, including her name--whether it's Jennie or a custom name set via the app.
The level of detail extends to her voice; Tombot recorded ten-week-old lab puppies to give Jennie an authentic bark. With approximately 1,500 unique behaviors planned for her launch this year, Jennie promises a rich, interactive experience. Tombot claims Jennie can operate all day on a single charge and features a low-power mode that extends battery life to over a week when an owner is away, ensuring she's ready to offer a warm welcome home. Slated for launch at $1,500, with financing options available, Jennie represents a significant step forward in assistive technology.
Transforming Digital Experiences and Personal Safety
Innovation isn't just about grand new devices; it's also about enhancing the tools we already use daily and providing critical safety nets. These next two entries on my five favorite things list demonstrate how subtle yet powerful advancements can make a huge difference.
CubicScreen: Your iPhone, Now in 3D
Imagine transforming your everyday iPhone into a portal for spatial viewing, no glasses required. That's the intriguing promise of CubicSpace's CubicScreen. This innovative screen protector integrates an optical filter, enabling users to view spatial photos and videos in stunning 3D directly on their standard 2D iPhone display. It's a concept that initially breeds skepticism, but one that genuinely delivers in practice.
During the demonstration, pre-loaded 3D content on the CubicScreen app truly popped with depth. This isn't the kind of 3D that jumps out at you, but rather a subtle yet immersive depth effect, akin to the experience on a Nintendo 3DS. It adds a tangible sense of space behind subjects in images and videos, significantly enhancing engagement. The technology cleverly employs eye tracking to continuously adjust the effect, even allowing for zooming while maintaining the spatial illusion. While occasionally the effect might momentarily drop, for the most part, the immersion holds strong, making digital content feel more alive. This technology could revolutionize fields like architecture or virtual tourism, allowing users to 'step into' designs or distant locales with unprecedented depth.
The speed and efficacy of CubicScreen were further highlighted when a photo taken at the booth instantly rendered with the 3D effect. Launching at $79, CubicScreen offers an accessible entry point into the world of glasses-free spatial viewing, turning a familiar device into a gateway for new visual experiences.
Allergen Alert: The Mini Lab for Peace of Mind
For millions globally, managing food allergies is a constant source of stress, especially when dining out or consuming food prepared by others. The risk associated with unknown ingredients can be debilitating. This is precisely why Allergen Alert's "the mini lab" caught my attention as one of my five favorite things this year.
This portable device empowers individuals to test food samples for specific allergens within minutes. Users simply scoop a small portion of food into a provided container, insert it into the compact, portable speaker-sized mini lab, and await a positive or negative result. Currently capable of detecting milk and gluten down to five parts per million, Allergen Alert plans to expand its detection capabilities to include other major allergens like egg, fish, soy, sesame, peanuts, shellfish, and tree nuts (Food Allergy Research & Education, 2024).
While I couldn't independently verify its claims on-site, the potential impact of this product is enormous. A quick, two-minute check on a meal could literally be life-saving for someone with severe allergies, offering unparalleled peace of mind. For parents of children with severe allergies, this device could transform dining out from a high-anxiety event into a relaxed, confident experience. Priced at $200 and slated for a September launch, the mini lab could be a true game-changer in personal health management.
Connecting with Nature and Immersive Sound
The final two entries on my five favorite things list highlight innovations that bring us closer to nature and immerse us deeper into our auditory worlds, demonstrating technology's versatility in enriching our daily routines.
Birdfy Hum Bloom: A Window into the World of Hummingbirds
Birdfy consistently brings ingenious smart bird feeder concepts to CES, and this year, their new prototype, the Hum Bloom, was a standout. Unlike their general bird feeders, this product is meticulously engineered for the unique allure of hummingbirds.
The Hum Bloom boasts a powerful 4K camera capable of shooting stunning 120fps slow-motion video. This feature is particularly brilliant for capturing hummingbirds, whose wings beat hundreds, even thousands, of times per minute, transforming their rapid movements into a mesmerizing ballet. Imagine observing every intricate detail of their flight and feeding, all from your smartphone. Beyond its incredible camera, the Hum Bloom's AI can identify over 150 hummingbird species, turning casual observation into an educational experience. It also features a leak-proof design and an integrated ant moat, ensuring a pristine and exclusive feeding environment for these delicate creatures. This specialized approach offers a unique blend of nature observation and high-tech engagement, far beyond what a standard wildlife camera provides, making it a must-have for any bird enthusiast.
Opsodis 3D Speaker: Sound That Surrounds You
Some innovations defy simple description; they demand to be experienced. The Opsodis 3D speaker is precisely one such product, and frankly, my accompanying image cannot convey its magic. To truly appreciate why this speaker made such an impression, you need to hear it.
My initial skepticism quickly evaporated during the demo. What appeared to be a typical wireless speaker unleashed an auditory landscape unlike anything I'd heard from a single device. Sounds weren't just emanating from the speaker; they were appearing next to my ears, behind my ears, and seemingly around me. I found myself less focused on the visual content playing on the connected iPad and more on deciphering how such a compact unit, positioned directly in front of me, was orchestrating such a profound spatial audio illusion (Audio Engineering Society, 2023).
This immersive experience was courtesy of Opsodis's "narrow mode," one of three distinct audio settings. This mode delivers the most potent spatial audio but requires precise placement: approximately 60 centimeters (23.62 inches) directly in front of the listener. A "wide mode" offers a softer spatial effect, while a third mode simulates standard stereo audio. While it won't replace a full home theater system, for focused personal listening--be it for gaming, music, or podcasts--the Opsodis speaker offers an incredibly personal and enveloping sound experience, distinguishing itself significantly from conventional stereo setups.
The Future of Lifestyle Tech
CES Unveiled 2026 once again proved to be a fertile ground for innovation, showcasing technologies poised to integrate seamlessly into our lives. From compassionate robotic companions and immersive visual enhancements to critical personal safety tools and groundbreaking audio experiences, these diverse products underscore a collective drive toward more intelligent, intuitive, and enriching daily routines. These five standout innovations represent my five favorite things from this year's preview, each offering a compelling glimpse into how technology continues to evolve, not just for convenience, but for genuine well-being and a smarter lifestyle. As these products prepare for launch, their potential to transform our homes and habits is undeniably exciting.
