The Tech We Cannot Resist From the 2023 CES

This week, those of us who are in Las Vegas will see the most amazing array of new tech. For me, here in New Jersey, I’ve selected my favorites from the reporters that are there.

Please let me know if you agree.

New Tech From the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

A Flying Car

I was mesmerized by the flying car. Seating four, with folding propellers, it has a range of 250 miles in the air but also fits into a normal parking space. Because the vehicle still needs FAA aprovals, we can’t buy it yet. But we can place a preorder with a $5,000 deposit. Then, delivery will cost another $789,000. While the vehicle’s maker, Aska, currently suggests ride sharing and a pilot, a future prototype will be fully autonomous. The current model is powered by a gasoline and battery combo and can do a vertical (maybe from a parking space?) or runway takeoff.

Do watch this mind boggling 3:15 minute video:

A Projector

One day I could have the Mona Lisa in my living room or it could be Guernica. Thinking of the giant artwork I might have on my wall, Samsung’s projector is really cool. In addition to the size ( a 150 inch diagonal), its most appraling feature is where you place the projector. Do look at the following picture. It is tucked against the same wall as the image.

Heat It and the Steambox

Finally, I wanted to include two practical items that could come in handy. Their link is heat. Using hypothermia to prevent mosquito bite itch, we can use a $39.95 device that plugs into a smartphone or attaches to a keychain. Called heat it, the maker said it was “the Ingenious Insect Bite Solution America’s Been Itching For.”  Also, a Steambox could be useful. It’s the newest version of a lunchbox that will heat its contents:

Our Bottom Line: Production Possibilities Frontiers

As economists, we can illustrate the boost from new technology with a production possibilities frontier. The frontier is the curve that shows the maximum amount that a society’s land, labor, and capital can produce. The only way to move that curve to the right is through some change. We need extra land that had not existed before as with the Louisiana Purchase. We could access more labor through immigration. Or, we can develop new technology.

The curve moves to the right because of new land, labor, or capital:

And certainly, a flying car could expand our country’s potential output.

My sources and more: For a firsthand report of CES 2023, I recommend CNET, The Washington Post, and Wired.

Please note that parts of today’s Bottom Line were in a previous econlife post.