Ultrasonic Kitchen Knife, Sound-Emitting Lego... Unique Finds at CES [Tech Talk]

Products That Stand Out With Ingenious Ideas

From January 6 to 9 (local time), the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, CES 2026, was held in Las Vegas, United States. The event was filled not only with cutting-edge technology but also with products that stood out for their unique and quirky ideas. From ultrasonic kitchen knives to sound-producing Lego, here are some of the most ingenious products that captured visitors' attention at this year's CES.

Ultrasonic Kitchen Knife That Keeps Food Off the Blade

Seattle Ultrasonic's C-200 Ultrasonic Kitchen Knife. Seattle Ultrasonic

Seattle Ultrasonic, a kitchenware manufacturer, unveiled its C-200 kitchen knife at CES. The product's name sounds more fitting for an electronic device than a kitchen tool. When you press the orange button on the handle of the C-200, the blade vibrates 30,000 times per second, generating ultrasonic waves. These ultrasonic waves not only amplify the knife's cutting power but also prevent food residue from sticking to the blade. The C-200 has the advantage of requiring less frequent cleaning after use, and the blade dulls more slowly, allowing for longer use.

The blade vibrates 30,000 times per second, causing foreign substances attached to the blade to fall off. Seattle Ultrasonic

According to Seattle Ultrasonic, the C-200 was inspired by industrial cutting machines. Ultrasonic cutters have already been used in the medical and manufacturing sectors, primarily for cleanly slicing materials like plastic or film. Seattle Ultrasonic emphasizes, "Thanks to ultrasonic technology, chefs using the C-200 can cut ingredients with 50% less effort compared to regular kitchen knives," adding, "Users will neither see the ultrasonic waves nor feel the vibrations."

Lego's Masterpiece After 9 Years of Development: Smart Play

The core of the Lego Smart Play System, the smart brick Lego block. Lego

This year's CES saw the arrival of an unexpected company: Lego, the Danish toy manufacturer not typically associated with tech or IT. Lego introduced a new way to play by integrating electronic devices into its products with the 'Smart Play System.'

Traditional Lego is a toy that allows users to assemble blocks of various sizes into any shape they desire. The smart brick, a component of Smart Play, follows the same principle. While it looks identical to a regular Lego block, it contains a 3D magnetic field sensor inside. The smart brick detects changes in its environment and emits appropriate sounds depending on the situation. For example, when a Lego car is rolled quickly, it makes engine sounds, and when an airplane is flipped over, the pilot screams.

Lego reportedly designed countless prototypes since 2017 to develop Smart Play. The company adopted a design philosophy of 'hiding technology inside the toy' to ensure that, while the toy brings joy to children, it never becomes overly complicated. Smart Play is a technological toy that embodies the designers' intense dedication and thought.

Portable Tester That Detects Food Allergens

Allergen Alert's Portable Food Tester. Allergen Alert

A startup called Allergen Alert developed a 'portable tester' capable of analyzing allergy-inducing foods in real time and showcased it at CES. This tester is about the size of an adult's palm and features an inlet at the top for inserting samples. Whether the food is solid or liquid, you simply place it in the inlet and press a button, and the device detects ingredients that could trigger sensitivities in the human body.

Allergen Alert is a spin-off company from the French biotechnology firm Biomerieux, which specialized in manufacturing devices for detecting microorganisms, pathogens, and cancer cells. Biomerieux established Allergen Alert as an independent entity to expand into the food safety sector.

Wild Bird Feeder for Birdwatching: 'Humm Bloom'

Humm Bloom wild bird feeder designed for bird watchers. Birdpie

Products that creatively combine hobbies and technology also drew attention at this year's CES. 'Humm Bloom' is a bird feeder and camera hybrid that allows users to both feed birds and take photos of them. Developed by Birdpie, a manufacturer of cameras for bird photography, Humm Bloom features a camera mounted atop a flower-shaped feeder. The bud-shaped compartment can be filled with nectar or seeds, attracting wild birds like hummingbirds without making them wary.

Humm Bloom was designed to allow people to observe birds that are usually difficult to spot. Birdpie emphasized, "This innovative feeder allows for 360-degree recording of birds without obstructing the camera's view. It can capture everything from individual feathers to complex movements," adding, "It not only feeds birds but also helps wild birds maintain their natural foraging habits."