If you have a pulse, you have probably heard endless talk of autonomous cars, VR and drones the past year. But in the midst of all that hype, there have been a few interesting technological advances you may have missed.
Gatebox
Virtual assistants are all over the place, but one Japanese company has taken this concept to the next level with their virtual roommate. We can’t decide if this is the most awesome new invention or the saddest thing we have seen all year. If a virtual girlfriend isn’t your style, we have another odd tech gadget that might help that empty feeling.
Chip K9
If you have been searching for the perfect pet but shedding and drooling aren’t your jam, Chip the K9 might be the answer! Chip is a robot dog that plays fetch meanders around and charges itself, so you have a perfect companion whenever you need it.
SCiO
This little gadget will forever change your diet regimen. Imagine being able to point a device at your food and have it calculate the calories, carbs, protein and even which tomato is the freshest! With this toy, you’ll soon know more about the world around you than you ever dreamed.
Ripple Maker
You no longer have to schlep yourself down to your local coffee bar to get an intricate design on your morning latte. Now you can look super posh at home with the help of this artsy gadget.
HTC Vive
Virtual reality headsets have become so mainstream that you can get a low-cost version made out of cardboard. Most headsets still leave you with one foot in this reality, though. The Vive allows you to actually interact with the virtual world that other headsets just let you peek into.
Spectacles
Snap Inc hit the nail on the head with their version of smart glasses. Could this be the push the world needs to start wearing glasses that do more than correct vision? Well, probably not. While the camera-enabled glasses are neat, they only serve a single purpose, to elevate your selfie game.
KFC’s New Ordering System
Facial recognition has captivated visionaries for a long time. But we don’t know if any writer, moviemaker or casual daydreamer would have ever thought that a fast-food joint would be looking into giving meal recommendations based on how you look.
Stay tuned! We’re sure 2017 will bring its own set of ogle-worthy inventions.
