From selfie mirrors that predict risk of disease to gadgets to help the elderly, health tech is big trend at CES

From gadgets for the elderly to selfie mirrors that can predict the risk of heart attack, health tech is a big trend at this year’s CES tech show. The innovations make monitoring health simpler and more portable than ever — with AI powering many of the devices. There’s a smart bed designed for older people, with safety rails but also hidden technology such as anti-snore features and biometric sensors to monitor health metrics. There’s also a toilet seat that can measure heart rate and blood oxygenation. And of course, AI has been integrated into several of the devices, including something that looks like a normal weight scale. “We have a device that you can stand on that works much like a weight scale, but it actually can predict whether or not you will have a serious fall in the next 12 months. And we know that for older people, falls is one of the main things that they fear to be able to go through,” explains Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons). AI also powers a little cube that acts as a companion and personal assistant, prompting its users to remember to take their medications. The Anura Magic Mirror takes a video of the user’s face. It uses reflective light to see blood flow patterns and make estimates about the person’s health. It’s aimed at pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and fitness centers. The device can measure a whole host of health metrics, including blood pressure, pulse and breathing rates, facial skin age, and mental stress. It can also tell users their risk of developing certain health conditions, such as T2 diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes, thanks to the power of AI. Fitness wearables are here to stay and they’re getting smaller and smaller. One of the fitness tracker rings being showcased at CES this year is called the Evie and is aimed exclusively at women. Users can track all the familiar data for wearables but the Evie ring uses AI to put all that information together to spot patterns and tell the user why they might be feeling a particular way and what they can do to feel a bit better. This article was provided by The Associated Press.