Fancy, useful gadgets hit 2019

In tech, this year was more about laying groundwork than historic breakthroughs. It was a busy and exciting year, as key new technologies found their way into real, useful applications. Here are some of the coolest stories

Artificial womb for humans

The idea of babies not needing a human womb seemed like science fiction nightmares not long ago. But researchers at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands are developing an artificial womb that would provide babies with artificial respiration.

The womb will be an adequate substitute for the protective environment of the maternal womb. It will provide a natural environment for the baby completely to ease the transition to a new life.

Unlike current incubators, the artificial womb would be similar to biological conditions, with the baby surrounded by fluids and receiving oxygen and nutrients through an artificial placenta that will connect to their umbilical cord.

Wi-Fi t-shirts

There’s now no need to crack open your laptop or your phone to find out if there’s a Wi-Fi signal in the vicinity as this stylish T-shirt displays the current Wi-Fi signal strength in your surroundings to everyone around you.

Glowing bars on the front of the shirt dynamically change as the Wi-Fi signal strength fluctuates. 

It is perfect for finding the best places to access Wi-Fi in Coffee Shops or when out and about, and even in your own home or workplace, the Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt shows the connections that are floating about in the airwaves all around you.

Audio sunglasses

Bose Corporation a manufacturing company that predominantly sells audio equipment debuted an audio gadget this year that combined two things you love dearly into one: cool sunglasses and wireless earbuds.

The sunglasses are designed in such a way that once you wear them the frames themselves will play music, streamed from your phone via a Bluetooth connection, exclusively for your ears. The speakers are good to ensure that no one hears the music at all.

Earphones for translation

Sometimes traveling to a new town or neighbourhood where they speak a different language can be stressing because you require an interpreter on spot.

But Waverly Labs invented an audio device known as Waverly Ambassador Translator that translates on the spot making it easy for every person.

The device which looks like earphones is useful when attached the ears and once you start the conversation correct translation will play in both of your ears

Though it is still in the pilot project this might change the translating world.

App to curb music piracy

 Non-consensual distribution and copying of songs have deprived many musicians of their dues. However, the introduction of the Virtual Media Security (VMS) app, will ensure that every artist earns whenever their song is played.

All the musician has to do is to upload his/her song on the app before releasing it to the public and every person who receives it on their devices afterward will have to pay Sh5 to be able to play the song.

Suitcase that moves on its own

Have you ever dreamt of having an autonomous suitcase that’s always by your side?  Well, the Ovis suitcase by ForwardX Robotics is here with us. This is an autonomous suitcase that moves on its own with the help of self-driving technology.

Unlike standard luggage, this suitcase uses self-driving technology and algorithms to side-follow users anywhere, including airports, city streets, and hotels.

Computer vision technology enables the Suitcase to spot obstacles and move around them, so users won’t have to worry about it bumping into objects.

Not just that, it has a GPS tracker, charging ports and comes with the option of switching back to manual mode.

Pix digital customisable backpack

If you are a true tech nerd at heart, then this is a must-have for you. This bag is amazing.  It comes with an LED screen that allows you to create just your own pixel art and animations to display on the bag.

The LEDs are nice, bright, and color accurate. The material quality of the bag is very durable and it is waterproof. The bag is also comfortable to wear and it is pretty light. 

Kohler’s “smart” toilet

Kohler unveiled an “intelligent toilet” called the Numi 2.0 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year. This is one of the coolest or weirdest products unveiled.

The intelligent toilet comes with a built-in surround sound speaker, ambient mood lighting, and is Amazon Alexa enabled. You can ask Alexa to flush or play music, read the news.

The 10-second toothbrush

Fastest, a French company showcased it’s Y-Brush whose Unique Selling Position is that it cleans teeth in just 10 seconds.

The motorized toothbrush has three different vibration settings and one can choose it according to their preference.

Energy management system

Initially, no one could breakdown your power bills and because of that all of us used to speculate which electrical gadget uses a lot of power but with the introduction of Power Yako an energy management system you are now able to get a breakdown of how power has been consumed by every gadget/machine.

Developed in Kenya by a Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology student the best thing about this system is that it gives information on how much power is used in real-time, and users can also get information broken down over a period of time.

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