January 11, 2026
Hi Reader,
This past week the Consumer Electronics Show—CES 2026, held in Las Vegas—delivered its customary array of dazzling innovations spanning a wide range of intriguing tech:
AI; robotics; smart appliances; wellness solutions; displays; security; and other futuristic concepts.
From captivating demos to serious product introductions, the show reinforced why CES remains the annual benchmark for what could be coming into our lives and homes sooner than you realize.
The largest technology show of the year is important to follow because:
CES serves as an early window into where technology, consumer behavior, and entire industries are heading.
However, not everything showcased at CES feels equally “serious” or “valuable”.
Every year brings its share of “technology for technology’s sake”—gadgets that may look cool in a booth, but add questionable value to daily life. This year’s example is Lollipop Star—candy that uses bone conduction technology embedded in its stick to play music directly into your head as you consume the sugary treat.
That said, even if you remain jaded and skeptical from hearing too many bold promises or encountering puzzling use cases that address questionable needs:
the underlying signals of emerging capabilities and future potential at CES always matter.
CES reveals where innovation energy is flowing—not just products ready to ship to millions of eager consumers.
Whether you are a homeowner, entrepreneur, technologist, investor, strategist, or simply curious, following influential tradeshows like CES can empower you to shape the future of the home.
As advocates for homeowners, we believe true home tech should solve real problems and last for decades—much like how a quality refrigerator from Sub-Zero reliably keeps food fresh for generations—rather than flake at impromptu times, like some tech-first consumer brands. We don’t want or need our refrigerator to compete in the world of smart digital devices, at the risk of losing stellar performance and reliability.
With that in mind, here are three examples of innovative products from CES 2026 that provide great utility for a large, growing market for the home—that of aging in place:
- Strutt EV1 Smart Personal Mobility Vehicle: A compact, AI-powered four-wheeled vehicle provides safe indoor/outdoor navigation, a "follow" mode to carry items, real-time sensors for obstacle avoidance, and voice control—directly improving mobility, autonomy, and confidence for those with reduced strength or balance, delivering powerful assistive technology for enhanced independent living inside and outside the home.
- Seattle Ultrasonics C-200 Ultrasonic Chef’s Knife: By vibrating over 30,000 times per second, this knife allows effortless cutting with up to 50% less force, smoother slices, less food sticking, and longer sharpness—significantly easing kitchen tasks for seniors with diminished grip strength, arthritis, or fatigue, promoting safer and more sustainable home cooking.
- Glomensio Firefly Gen 3: This smart house number display flashes for better visibility, detects emergencies, and notifies contacts or first responders—creating a vital community safety net that supports quick help during falls, health issues, or other incidents, directly aiding secure aging in place without constant supervision.
To see our complete list of 20 innovative products for the home from CES 2026, click here.
PS: Our previous newsletter can be found here and our archive here. Not a subscriber? Signup here!
We love hearing from our subscribers — if you have any feedback on this newsletter or have any recommendations for other topics to cover, simply reply to this email!
