Cool stuff I saw at IFA 2023
World's biggest tech show, meet the world's sweatiest nerd
It’s over! After spending 11 days in Berlin throughout the event, IFA 2023 has come to a close.
And if you don’t know IFA? Well, it’s the world’s biggest consumer tech event. Over the five days it runs, around 180,000 people attend, alongside over 2,000 exhibitors.
It’s a hallowed land for tech nerds, with IFA’s 2,000+ exhibitors showing off the latest gadgets and gear.
Now, pretty much all my time at the show was spent either hosting video podcasts or moderating sessions on the main stage. This meant that I didn’t have as much time as I would’ve liked to explore, but I did manage to slip out occasionally and take a peek at some cool-ass shit.
So that’s what this edition of The Rectangle is all about: a glimpse into a few badass things I saw at IFA 2023.
Let’s begin. Entering the venue via the South Entrance, one of the first things you see is the world’s first TV:
Yeah, I had no idea that it was a German company called Loewe that made the first television, but there it is.
After a bit of research, I became slightly dubious of this claim (just read the Wikipedia page on how many people were involved over its evolution), but Loewe is listed as a vital pioneer, so that’ll do.
I wonder if black-and-white or antique-looking televisions will ever come back in vogue? Seems like something ripe for a hipster-ish revival.
Anyway, in terms of actual new tech, take a look at this gadget from a company called Gulp:
I had a couple of conversations during IFA with people specialising in raising awareness of microplastics. These put into perspective just how much the materials are damaging both the world and our health.
It’s estimated, for example, we consume around 6g of microplastics a week, the same weight as a credit card.
Then, once microplastics are in the environment and oceans, it’s effectively impossible to remove them. They’re there forever.
With clothes responsible for a gamut of microplastics, our laundry is pumping waterways full of them.
Gulp is trying solve this problem. It plugs into the outlet pipe of washing machines (it fits any European model) and filters out microplastics.
Hell yeah, tech, you’re doing it again.
On the topic of pumps, have a look at this:
This machine lets you brew and then serve beer all in a single machine. You whack the ingredient pack in, then the machine does the rest until it’s ready to drink — including cooling.
Ideal for the lazy man who likes to drink. It may as well have been made for me alone.
And while we’re talking cold beverages…
This is one of those new-fangled machines that can cool a drink down in a matter of minutes.
Admittedly this one from Ritterwerk is mad expensive (like €550?) but it’s a bit of technology I’d love to see getting more popular. There are increasingly cheaper models out there, but I can’t wait for the day I can get an instant drink cooler for, say, €50.
Having to wait to drink a cold brew is something no one should be forced to go through.
And you know what would go great with an sparkling, icy beverage? That’s right, an entertainment chair:
Those weird hooks? They’re jammed with speakers. Also, the chair vibrated. It was a sensory assault in the best possible way.
I want one. No, I need one. I will harm someone for one.
Hopefully catch you and even more cool things at IFA 2024. In a bit.