This week, the largest technology fair of the year, CES (Consumer Electronics Show), is being staged in Las Vegas. Not only are the largest technology companies presenting their latest products here, it is also THE place for start-ups to network.

53 Start-ups from the Netherlands are at the show to present their technologies to visitors – mostly managers of technology companies, but also investors and journalists. A particularly interesting public for companies who think that they have an exceptional product for which they undoubtedly need more money in order to grow further.

The Dutch start-ups are all located close together in the Holland Pavilion. Here is a small selection of the coolest products.


Sun protection

The Eindhoven-based UVisio has developed a small device that you simply attach to your clothes to measure the amount of solar radiation. If a certain limit is exceeded, the wearer receives a signal on his or her mobile phone to put on more sun cream or to get out of the sun.


Virtual exhibitions

At CES2018, Ikonospace is presenting software for setting up exhibitions. It allows you to present digital pictures in an attractive virtual environment. This means users wearing VR glasses walk around enjoying the art in a pleasant environment (see illustration below). Available for computer, tablet and smartphone. The Amsterdam-based company is already working together with museums, galleries and collectors.
 

Illustration Ikonospace

 

Trainee surgeons

Another virtual product, but of a completely different kind, is that being presented by Incision. The company name already betrays the target sector here: incision means 'surgical cut', and this start-up has developed an app that helps surgeons during operations. The app belongs to an online platform on which experienced surgeons share their know-how and skills with surgeons undergoing training. In this way, doctors learn tips, tricks and best practices from each other faster and easier. At CES2018, the company is presenting a few virtual reality tools that help student surgeons in their training.


Glove with feedback

Sense Glove from Delft is also active in the virtual domain (just like so many others in 2018): the company has developed a glove that makes working with your hands in virtual reality more diverse and more lifelike. The Sense Glove allows users to really touch and hold an object in VR. The device (see photo above) serves on the one hand to provide input for the computer (by telling the device what movements the fingers are making), and on the other hand it gives force feedback. The user therefore gets the feeling of holding an object in VR. The first version of the Sense Glove is intended for professional developers, but the company is planning to produce a less expensive version for gamers.


Crowd simulation

Finally, we would like to sine a light on uCrowds (see photo below). The company’s software simulates large crowds, such as at airports, pop concerts or events in the centre of large cities. If a certain stimulus occurs (something unexpected happens or a route becomes blocked), large groups of people all start moving in one direction. With the uCrowds software, such movements can be calculated and predicted. Local authorities or event planners can thus study different scenarios before a possible problem occurs.
 

Photo uCrowds

 

CES2018 will produce a whole host of technology news. Check out the American technology media for this, such as Digital Trends, Wired, TechCrunch, Engadget and Mashable.


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Opening picture: The Sense Glove