The scariest tech at CES 2022: From Hyundai’s “digital twin” to breathing computers

[ad_1]

Most of the tech we saw at CES 2022 was innocuous and friendly, but beneath the show’s glossy surface were some ideas that sent shivers down our spines: autonomous tractors, seemingly friendly T-800 robots, bears gnawing at your fingertips.

OK, maybe we’re a little harsh with Amagami Ham Ham, but like everything else on this list, he ticked one important box: Given the right director, he could easily be the star of a chilling horror movie.

The big topic at CES 2022 was technology that monitors your sleep, including a smart anti-snoring pillow and smart light bulbs, so they made those on our list despite their undoubted plus points.

Throw in overly engineered air-purifying masks, breathing computer cases, and yes, more creepy humanoid robots, and you’ve got a solid support team for new David Cronenberg flick. So grab some popcorn and check out our list of the scariest tech ideas of CES 2022 — and if that gets you in the mood, head over to our guide to the best new horror movies of 2022.

John Deere independent tractor

(Image credit: John Deere)

If James Cameron recreates the opening sequence from Terminator, we might see this John Deere independent tractor roaring over the skeletal remains of human civilization. Of course, the 8R tractor was built with the perfectly reasonable goal of helping farmers plow their soil more efficiently, but there’s still something scary about seeing this farm beast swinging toward you with no one at the wheel.

Adding to our concerns is the fact that the 8R tractor uses artificial intelligence, as well as six pairs of stereo cameras, to drive itself. But the good news is that farmers can control the tractor with a smartphone app, and the machine’s ability to analyze the soil it has tilled should be able to provide farmers with some useful pointers on how to manage their land and crops more efficiently.

Amika robot

(Image credit: Ameca)

Lurking on the fringes of the uncanny valley, Amica is Sonny’s close relative of I and Robot and an emotionally expressive mechanic with a slightly sickly smile. Built by Engineered Arts, the UK’s leading manufacturer of recreational robotics, it made its public debut at CES 2022 and is designed to welcome visitors at events or attractions. But is he just a reflection on his time before launching a presidential campaign?

Ameca is definitely smart, it boasts artificial intelligence and cameras in each of its eyes allow it to respond to your movements and track faces. Fortunately, the robot can’t walk yet, which makes running a little easier than at the Boston Dynamics Spot. Given that Amica appears to be living in a state somewhere between surprise and confusion, we think we’ll be able to distract her with a fidget dial.

Razer Zephyr Pro

(Image credit: Razer)

If last year’s Razer Zephyr mask wasn’t intimidating enough for you, the company made an over-the-top version with built-in sound amplification, called the Zephyr Pro. Perhaps the perfect post-apocalyptic accessory for our troubled times, if not absolutely perfect for collecting your child from preschool.

To be fair to Razer, the Zephyr Pro is good for much more than Bane cosplay, thanks to its replaceable N95 filters and speaker grilles to drop your sound at 60dB, from a one-meter range. They are also made from recycled materials and optional RGB LEDs tell you when to replace the filters. There’s no release date yet, but it will arrive sometime in 2022 for $149.

Ten Minds Motion Pillow Photo 1 of 2

(Image credit: Ten Minds) Photo 2 of 2

(Image credit: Ten Minds)

The seemingly harmless motion pillow is filled with tiny air sacs that gently push your head into a better position for nighttime breathing. But what happens when you decide to end your snoring…permanently? Our imaginations may be running away with us, but a pillow that can watch you sleep and move around is likely the stuff of, well, nightmares.

Fortunately, the reality of Motion Pillow is, for now, much more monotonous and useful. Its AI motion system detects snoring, determines the position of your head, then slowly moves your side to help open your airway. Assuming this doesn’t wake you up, it will also offer the much-improved sleep stats when you join the real world, ready for your morning nibble from Amagami Ham Ham…

Amagami ham ham

(Photo credit: Yukai Engineering)

Yes, this adorable stuffed robot looks cute, especially when you find out that it is designed for your comfort by gently biting your finger. But what happens when Amagami Ham Ham goes all out for Gremlin and decides he wants to eat one of your fingers for breakfast? The fact that this isn’t technically possible doesn’t mean that our minds haven’t turned one of CES 2022’s most spirited launches into a comic horror spectacle.

Fortunately, “Amagami” means “soft biting” rather than “guillotine with the fingertips,” and its manufacturer Yukai Engineering has coded an algorithm that serves more than twenty biting styles for your fingertips. You’ll be able to buy it in Calico Cat and Shuba Inu designs for about $40 this year.

ooh tactile sweater game

(Image credit: aww)

What better way to unwind after a hard day at the office than in a jacket that mimics severe abdominal cuts, insect bites, daggers and axes? This is the utopian dream of the Owo Game Touch Jacket, which works with games on mobile, PC, console, and VR platforms to give an extra dose of unpleasant realism.

Fortunately, the sensations the jacket offers aren’t all near-death experiences, as the Owo Game also promises to bring back the thrill of driving at 100mph or free-falling (toward a very large trampoline, we hope). You can also adjust the intensity of each sensation, to make sure it stays pleasantly on the right side. There is no confirmed release date for Owo yet, but you can register your interest on the official website.

CyberPowerPC motion state

(Image credit: Cyberpower)

There’s something troubling about the technology that seems to be breathing, and that’s the effect that CyberPowerPC’s kinetic case has. Instead of sighing when you’ve spent another nine hours on Microsoft Flight Simulator, the case’s 18 mechanical vents are designed to automatically open and close when you need more air.

As CyberPowerPC’s Nam Hoang explained in a preview video of the Kinetic series, the goal was to create a case that was more than just a box with holes. The design seems to have been inspired by the kinetic architecture of buildings like the Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi – and now that we’ve transcended our reflexology phobia of breathing tools, we have to admit they are stunningly beautiful.

Hyundai digital twin

(Image credit: Hyundai)

The award for the most unintentionally disturbing vision of the future at CES 2022 was awarded to Hyundai, for its musings on the metaverse and robotics. Like the cross between David Gelernter’s Mirror Worlds and Neal Stephenson Snow Crash, Hyundai’s show centered around the concept of “digital twins,” an idea that didn’t quite portray science fiction in glowing terms.

In Hyundai’s vision, robots are effectively our agents, acting as our eyes and ears, or even allowing us to embrace family from another continent while we are away from work. The company has even gone so far as to photograph people visiting Mars with Boston Dynamic’s pet bots, which themselves tread a fine line between cool and scary. The perks of ‘metamobility’, where physical limitations are no longer a barrier for anyone, are certainly exciting, but it’s hard not to think of the wretched downsides when you’re weaning on Blade Runner and The Matrix.

Robot Beonmi

(Image credit: Beyond Fiction)

Taking HyundaI’s concept of ‘digital twins’ and turning it into a rather disturbing reality is the Beonmi 1.0 robot, which apparently evolves over time from human to fully autonomous humanoid.

It was Beonmi’s somewhat hyper-focused face that made us freak out at first, but the robot is also smiling and looking happy to work in a wide range of fields, including agriculture, logistics and eventually space construction. We’re happy to give Beonmi the benefit of the doubt for now – until you apply for a job at TechRadar, at least.

[ad_2]