The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was back for 2026, from January 6 – 9! The biggest annual technology trade event took place last week in Las Vegas, where companies from around the world presented new consumer products, prototypes and software updates. CES 2026 featured hundreds of announcements focused on artificial intelligence, consumer electronics and smart home upgrades, but the event also included several technologies that may support accessibility, independent living and health monitoring.
Here’s been our look at what’s been going on:
Several companies revealed robots intended to assist with household tasks. ReviMo showcased Niko, a robotic lift designed to help users transfer independently between a bed, wheelchair or chair. SwitchBot demonstrated its Onero H1 robot performing tasks such as picking up clothes, loading washing machines and serving food. These systems are positioned as home assistance technologies, with potential benefits for users with physical disability.
Health and monitoring devices also appeared throughout the show. Withings announced the Body Scan 2, an updated smart scale capable of tracking up to 60 biomarkers. Throne and Vivoo introduced toilet-based health monitoring products designed to track urination and bowel activity, with the aim of providing insights into hydration and gut health. These devices were presented as consumer health tools rather than medical devices.
Smart home software updates were another area with potential accessibility implications. Amazon announced a redesigned Fire TV interface with performance improvements of up to 20 to 30 percent, along with continued voice interaction. The company also revealed a browser-based version of Alexa+, allowing users to access the assistant without a dedicated Amazon device.
Google detailed upcoming Gemini-powered features for Google TV, including the ability to adjust TV settings using voice commands, search Google Photos by people or moments, and automatically generate slideshows. These features reduce reliance on on-screen menus and remote controls.
Philips Hue introduced SpatialAware, a lighting feature that coordinates multiple lights in a room to work together when creating scenes. Philips also announced upcoming Apple Home support for its Hue Secure cameras, doorbells and contact sensors, allowing device management through a single platform.
Samsung, during its CES First Look presentation, emphasised expanded automation and voice-enabled controls across home appliances such as refrigerators, laundry systems and vacuums, reducing the need for repeated manual adjustments.
Wearable and vision-based accessibility technology also stood out at CES 2026. Hapware demonstrated Aleye, a haptic wristband designed to work with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to help users interpret facial expressions and nonverbal cues during conversations. The system uses the glasses’ computer vision capabilities to stream video to an app, which detects facial expressions and gestures and translates them into distinct vibration patterns on the wristband.
Aleye is aimed at people who are blind, have low vision or are neurodivergent. Users can customise which expressions and gestures they want to receive feedback for, and the app helps users learn the vibration patterns. Hapware reports that many users are able to learn several patterns within minutes. The app can also provide vocal cues using Meta AI, though this option may be distracting for some users.
Hapware has begun taking pre-orders for Aleye, with pricing starting at $359 for the wristband, or $637 for the wristband plus a year of the required app subscription. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are not included.
CES 2026 also featured experimental hardware concepts exploring new ways people interact with screens. Lenovo showcased its XD Rollable Concept laptop, continuing its work with rollable display technology. Based on the same core engineering as last year’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, the XD Rollable features a 13.3-inch flexible OLED display that can expand to 16 inches at the touch of a button, providing around 50 percent more screen space in a few seconds.
Instead of hiding the unused portion of the display beneath the keyboard, the XD Rollable’s panel wraps up and over the laptop’s lid, creating a “world-facing” display on the back. This rear display can mirror content from the main screen or act as a small secondary display visible to people sitting across from the user. The laptop is protected by a 180-degree Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover, and its motors and rails are visible beneath the glass design.
While the device includes a space-themed animation when the display extends, the world-facing display may have limited everyday usefulness. It is not visible to the user during normal operation, though it could be used for meetings or presentations. The exposed display does provide some value when the screen is not extended, and touch controls along the edge of the panel can be used to manage widgets or expand the screen. The XD Rollable also features a comfortable keyboard and a reasonably sized touchpad, though the glass lid adds weight and connectivity is limited to two USB-C ports. Lenovo has not announced plans to bring the concept into production.
Tools for labeling and identification were another accessibility-focused area at CES 2026. Mangoslab showed the Nemonic Dot, a Braille label printer designed to help people who are blind distinguish between everyday items such as medication bottles. The device is intended as a lower-cost alternative to traditional electronic Braille label makers, which can cost upward of $1,250. Nemonic Dot is expected to be priced at $995.
The Nemonic Dot is a small, rectangular plastic printer about the size of a stack of drink coasters that wirelessly connects to a smartphone. Using a proprietary app, users speak the label content aloud, which is converted to text and then translated into Braille before being printed onto a sticky strip. These labels can then be attached to items like pill bottles, food containers or household objects.
Unlike conventional Braille label makers that rely on typed input using Braille buttons or a QWERTY keyboard, the Nemonic Dot uses an entirely voice-based interface. At CES Unveiled, Mangoslab demonstrated labels on items that are often easy to confuse, including salt and pepper shakers and identically sized medicine bottles. During demonstrations, the app occasionally struggled with longer medication names, though it was able to correctly translate spoken words after being restarted.
Mangoslab originated as a spin-off from Samsung’s internal C-Lab research department and previously developed a sticky note printer under the Nemonic brand. The Nemonic Dot is positioned as a tool for family and friends to create Braille labels for blind loved ones. The printer is expected to go on sale in the second quarter of 2026. Standard sticky tape refills are priced at $5 USD, and firmer copper tape will also be available, though pricing has not yet been finalized.
CES 2026 showcased tech trends leaning into voice control, automation, assistive hardware, wearable intelligence and experimental form factors, potentially boosting accessibility and independence. The big question is: will these innovations translate to real-world impact? Affordability, availability and real-life functionality will be key.
Still, it’s always exciting to see the progress!
To see everything that happened at CES 2026, take a look at the official CES website.