CES is always one of the most closely watched tech events of the year, and 2019 is no exception. From January 8-11, more than 4,000 companies and 180,000 attendees will gather in Las Vegas to showcase the latest trends in tech.
Artificial intelligence, 5G, autonomous vehicles, cryptocurrency and the internet of things are sure to dominate the conversation at the upcoming CES. But we wanted to take a look at the local companies you should have your eye on if you're traveling to the annual tech show in January.
Here are 12 Chicago companies to watch at CES 2019.
Cedar Electronics has developed what it calls the first radar and laser detector designed for the connected car. The Chicago company's MAX 360c product is Wi-Fi connected and communicates with your vehicle's infotainment system to alert drivers to the latest ticket threats in real-time. The technology lets you know when nearby drivers report getting speeding tickets, and it gives drivers access to local speed limit data.
Mapping technology company HERE is one of the leading digital mapping companies in the world. Officially based in Berlin, the company has a large presence in Chicago. It was acquired in 2016 by an auto group made up of Audi, BMW and Daimler for $2.8 billion.
Naperville-based ConnectSense has created a smart outlet that allows users to control devices using their existing home Wi-Fi network. The smart outlet works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Home to let users control their IoT devices with voice commands.
Chicago startup InContext Solutions uses mixed reality to help retailers simulate real in-store shopping situations in order to test merchandising, display, layout and other shopping experiences. The company works with a slew of well-known brands like Walgreens, Walmart and Home Depot, and it has raised more than $40 million in venture funding to date.
Moline-based John Deere has increasingly focused on bringing advanced technology like AI and robotics to its agriculture equipment business, and it recently launched a program to foster better relationships with upstart tech companies. Deere's Intelligent Solutions Group is a division of the company that creates advanced AI, machine learning, IoT, mobility and other high-tech solutions.
Chicago-based MemoryWeb has created a digital photo organizer for family historians. The app lets users manage current and historic images in one place, allowing users to tag photos with approximate dates, add captions to old photos, and build interactive family trees.
Chicago-based Clove is a kitchen technology device that provides cooks with a smart kitchen scale and app to help cook delicious meals. Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Clove's how-to videos help you with each step of your recipe and its smart scale keeps you from needing any measuring cups.
Chicago startup ProxyPics created a platform for on-demand photography. Users can request a photo at a certain location, and they're matched with a photographer who completes the assignment in 30 minutes. The app is aimed at real estate, banking and insurance companies to assess the condition of properties and assist in the home inspection process.
Springfield-based Sensible Innovations is creating audio solutions for the blind and visually impaired. Working with iBeacons, it provides indoor and outdoor turn-by-turn navigation for visually impaired individuals in real time.
Chicago startup WellNest Tech has developed LUMI, a smart sleep light that helps people fall asleep easier, while tracking and analyzing their biometric data. Its accompanying app helps users track their sleep patterns and adjust their routine to improve their sleep quality.
Champaign-based Petronics has created the Mousr, an artificially intelligent mouse robot designed to keep your cat busy. Mousr has the ability to understand its environment and your cat's behavior, adjusting its movements to keep cats running in circles.
Ovie makes circular smart tags designed to attach to food items in a fridge. With a sticky gel backing, they can attach to a piece of Tupperware, a milk carton or even a bunch of bananas. Working with Amazon Alexa, users can press the button on the tag, tell Alexa what they are attaching it to and then Ovie’s connected platform will use estimates it pulls from its database to let users know how much time they have to eat something before it spoils. Ovie's tags turn green to signify a fresh items, and turn yellow and eventually to red when an item has likely spoiled.
