The 2024 Consumer Electronics Show saw its usual number of high-profile launches and major announcements, but it also saw its usual number of quirky and eccentric products. While most (generally established) brands chose to innovate and improve while staying within the box, some thought outside it and some others redesigned the box altogether. Not all of them are likely to be successful and some might not even be released commercially, but here are seven products released at CES that reminded us that crazy and whimsy were alive and well in the world of tech:

LG Signature OLED T: The See-Through TV

All right, this one was super cool at one level and distinctly odd at another. LG showed off its Signature OLED T television at CES and well, it certainly had some impressive specs — a large 77-inch 4K display that connects wirelessly to a box, so can be placed anywhere in a room and not necessarily close to a power socket. 

It delivers great colour and sound. And you will barely notice it when it is switched off because… it is transparent and you can literally see through it. This is perhaps the most unobtrusive large television in history, as it will blend into any setting and not stick out like a large black object when switched off. 

You can choose to watch content on it, and notice bits of what’s behind it or make an opaque black screen descend on its back for a more classic TV experience. 

A see-through TV sounds cool, but is rather eccentric in terms of use and is likely to be super expensive as well!

DeRucci Smart Pillow: All Sleep, No Snores 

If you tend to snore, then Chinese startup DeRucci has come up with the perfect solution – a pillow with AI cushioning.  

At CES, DeRucci showed off its Smart Pillow it claims can detect the slight movements in the user’s head that occur when they snore. The Smart Pillow then gently changes its shape, moving the head of the person sleeping to a position where they do not snore. You can also adjust the pillow manually using an app on your phone. 

The brand claims that this cuts down on snoring by almost 90 per cent and also reduces the chances of sleep apnea. The price of $1,000 might give some sleepless nights, though.

Flappie: No Entry To Cats Bearing Dead ‘Tributes’

They might be cute, furry and purry, but most cats do have this annoying habit of venturing out and coming back with dead mice, birds and other creatures, either as “gifts” for their owner or as random snacks to be consumed at leisure at home! Well, one of the gadgets shown at CES attempts to address this problem. 

Flappie, an AI cat flap from a Swiss startup, comes with a motion sensor and a camera with night vision. And it has been programmed to refuse to open if it “sees” your cat coming back with it preyed on and you did not pray for. 

It has a 90 per cent accuracy rate so the odd dead mouse and bird might still get in, but by all large, this could keep cat victims outdoors. Some might value that enough to shell out the $525 it costs. 

Moonwalkers X: Shoes With Speed

Do not get taken in by their name — these shoes have nothing to do with dancing or with Michael Jackson. Do not get taken in by their appearance either — they might have wheels on them but are not your regular rollerskates either. 

The Moonwalkers X are a pair of high-tech shoes that claim to help you walk faster by moving you just a little further with every step you take, thanks to those wheels! Strap these onto your shoes and literally glide along your path. 

They are lighter than their previous versions and claim to be able to get you across six to nine miles in an hour depending on how fast you move. They are expected to be expensive (the previous ones were $1,399) but well, those with a need to speed walk will love them.

BMind AI: The Mindful Smart Mirror

What do you do when you are feeling low? Well, one of the options that CES 2024 provided us with was looking in the mirror. Baracoda’s BMind AI smart mirror is designed not just to show you your reflection, but also to make you feel better. 

It comes with microphones for voice detection, a 4K HD camera and Face ID, and uses AI as well as natural language processing (NLP) to analyse the expression, gestures and tone of the person looking at it, and then tries to provide therapy through displaying relaxing images and also through guided meditations and positive messages. It will even pep you up if you tell it you feel you are not looking good. 

As if that were not enough, it can also monitor activities like brushing your teeth, help in skin care and monitor water temperature. It is expected to be priced between $500 and $1,000 — the price you pay for peace of mind rather than reassurance of vanity. 

Swarovski Optik AX Visio: The Binoculars That Tell You What You See 

It might be known for its crystal jewelry but Swarovski captured the hearts of wildlife lovers and birdwatchers with its Optik AX Visio binoculars that have been designed by Marc Newsom. They come with 10×32 magnification, but what makes them really special is the fact that they can not only let you zoom into birds and animals from a distance but also identify them. 

The binoculars can identify more than 9,000 species of birds and wildlife. They also come with GPS and a compass and an interesting Share Discoveries feature that lets you hand over the binoculars to a friend who will then be guided to see exactly what you had seen and wish them to see. 

You can also shoot and share images and videos to a phone through an app. Amazingly high-tech, although at $4,799, they are rather expensive.

Kohler Numi 2.0: Holy Smart Crap!

Kohler first gave us a glimpse of what answering nature’s call could be like in the future when it told us about the Numi 2.0 smart toilet at CES 2019. Five years down the line, the brand showed it in all its finished glory at CES 2024. 

It comes with a lot of fancy lighting and speakers and a truckload of features that can be controlled through a remote or a phone app — a bidet for front and back wash, temperature control, automatic flushing, automatic deodorizing, seat heating, UV cleaning and even an air dryer. You can even use Alexa when deep in conversation with nature if you so wish. Finally, there’s the killer feature — a lid that opens and closes automatically. 

All of this for a mere $11,500. Perfect for those flush with success and in need to take a break from their runs in its pursuit, we suspect. Puns TOTALLY intended.