5 futuristic products from CES

Last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas showcased thousands of products and concepts designed for the home — many with applications for multifamily use. Every one of these products relies on innovative and high-tech features, offering new possibilities and conveniences for residents and property owners alike.

Here are a few of the offerings that could be coming to apartments in the near future:

Countertop charging

An illustration of the FreePower for Countertop. — Courtesy of FreePower

When installed underneath a countertop or other solid surface, the FreePower for Countertop station by FreePower turns a section of that surface into a wireless charging spot for Qi-enabled devices, indicated by a glowing LED border that shines through the surface. The power spot can charge multiple devices at once, and works through quartz, granite or marble countertops.

An upcoming app will allow users to customize the look of the charging halo, and the company is currently partnering with manufacturers and home builders for surface integrations.

On-demand ventilation

An image of a light fixture in a bathroom. — Courtesy of Kohler

The Atmo bathroom fans by Kohler automatically operate based on the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air. Users can schedule on and off times via the Kohler Konnect app, as well as set custom preferences for fan speed, color temperature and night light operation.

The smart fans are available in either a basic or smart configuration, with or without an integrated light fixture. The basic fans allow users to manually control the ventilation speed, as well as dim the light on lighted models. All models fit standard bathroom fan openings.

Smart laundry

A black-walled laundry room with a washer-dryer in it. — Courtesy of LG

The LG 27-inch Washer-Dryer Combo with Heat Pump is the latest iteration of LG’s all-in-one laundry appliance. It includes an AI-powered wash and dry cycle, which automatically detects fabric types, load size and moisture levels and adjusts the settings to achieve the best results, according to the manufacturer. The dry cycle starts automatically, utilizing an integrated heat pump.

The combo has a 25 kilogram washing and 13 kilogram drying capacity, and also includes a smaller wash bin below the main drum intended for delicates. Users can control the appliance with voice commands or the integrated LED display.

Touchless tactile

A person waves their hand in front of a holographic button. — Courtesy of Vtouch

The Holo Button by Vtouch is presented as an alternative to the proximity sensors used in many automatic devices. The technology, which can be integrated into IoT devices using the Matter open-source connectivity standard, projects a hologram into the air, which activates the integrated device when it is touched.

This allows the device to be used even when a button is out of reach, without the need for physical contact. Potential applications include light switches and elevator buttons.

Modular mounted lights

A living room lit with purple, pink and white lights, with a couch and a shelving unit. — Permission granted by Nanoleaf

Nanoleaf Skylights are a series of flush, ceiling-mounted modular light fixtures, which may be arranged in configurations of up to 100 squares from just one hard-wired installation, according to the manufacturer. Users can change the color and temperature of each individual light at will, set schedules or make use of a rhythmic music visualizer, among other smart features.

First introduced at CES 2023, Nanoleaf will begin taking pre-orders for the product this year.