Smart Shoes, Home SPA, and AI Toy for Emotional Support: VGTimes Interviews at CES 2026

CES 2026 demonstrates how smart technologies are increasingly moving beyond smartphones and becoming integrated into a wide range of everyday devices and objects. Today, smart features can be found in home SPA systems, children’s toys, and even footwear. At the exhibition, VGTimes Editor-in-Chief Rodion Ilin spoke with representatives of companies developing these innovative solutions.

Soohyun Seo: Hi, my name is Soohyun Seo and I'm working for Shoealls company based in South Korea. We have introduced a new generation of smart shoes equipped with a GPS tracking system. They are designed for elderly people with dementia, as well as for young children who may get lost very easily, even within a short period of time.

The shoes are also equipped with sensors that measure pressure distribution, walking angle, stride length, and gait speed. All collected data is sent to a mobile application installed on your smartphone. The app analyzes a person’s walking pattern, and if there are any changes, it sends an alert to the user. For example, if a person is developing Parkinson’s disease, their walking pattern may start to change, but they often don’t notice it themselves. The shoes help detect these changes early, so the person can consult a doctor, receive a preliminary diagnosis, and start treatment at an early stage.

The shoes also feature fall detection. If a person falls and does not stand back up, an emergency alert is sent to registered guardians. This can potentially help save a life.

VGTimes: Do the shoes need to be charged?

Soohyun Seo: We use patented technology that generates energy on its own. The shoes generate electricity as you walk — the internal mechanism moves up and down and produces energy.

About 40 minutes of walking generates enough power for one full day of use. The shoes also support charging for testing purposes.

In addition, we use a Meditio chip. It is FDA Grade 1 certified and produces vibrations. Every pair of shoes we sell has this chip embedded inside, so you won’t see or physically feel it.

However, you can feel the vibration it generates, which creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field helps improve blood circulation and can also help with joint or back pain over time.

VGTimes: Do you make shoes only for adults, or also for children?

Soohyun Seo: At the moment, we are developing shoes for young children. We already offer various styles for adults: men’s and women’s office shoes, golf shoes, walking shoes, and we are also working on running shoes.

VGTimes: Sports shoes as well?

Soohyun Seo: Right now, we have golf shoes. They are available in several different colors.

We also offer casual styles and walking shoes.

Currently, we have 200 stores in South Korea and one store in Los Angeles.

VGTimes: Is it possible to buy your shoes in Europe?

Soohyun Seo: Not yet. We do not sell online at the moment, but we are open to it and ready to discuss business opportunities.

VGTimes: Do the shoes require software updates?

Soohyun Seo: The shoes are connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth.

VGTimes: So there is a mobile app?

Soohyun Seo: Yes.

VGTimes: What can users do in the app?

Soohyun Seo: The app shows the connection between the shoes and your phone. For example, when the pressure distribution sensor is activated, you can see color changes in real time.

Myung Koh: My name is Myung Koh. I represent Wiser Living, based in Paramount, California. This device is called the Body Jet.

VGTimes: How does it work?

Myung Koh: It uses steam. The steam helps improve circulation, raises body temperature, and supports calorie burning.

You can set different temperature levels. The system also connects to a smartphone and works automatically. There are several modes available, each with slightly different temperature patterns that go up and down depending on the selected program.

VGTimes: How long does a session usually last?

Myung Koh: You can program a session anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the chosen program.

VGTimes: And what is the price?

Myung Koh: The MSRP is $30,000. We sell these units both for home use and to various commercial locations.

VGTimes: What is the unit installed behind the capsule?

Myung Koh: That is the steam generator. It boils water, produces steam, sends it into the capsule, and heats the interior. That’s the basic function.

VGTimes: Does the system need to be connected to electricity or only to water?

Myung Koh: Yes, it needs to be connected to electricity to operate.

VGTimes: Thank you for the interview.

Myung Koh: Thank you as well.

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Welcome to CES 2026. My name is Lorenzo Cacioppo, I represent Shell Robotics, and this is Momo.

Momo is a proactive AI companion robot. He focuses on emotions. The target age range is from zero to over 100 years old. Momo is designed to live in your home, learn your personality, and become like a member of the family.

Through his body shape, sound, what we call the “Momo language,” his eyes, and his movements, he tries to find every possible way to make you happy.

VGTimes: So he has a soft body and moves around the house?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes. He can follow you, look at you, and with AI, he constantly adapts his behavior to make you feel happy.

VGTimes: How exactly does he make a person happy?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Through his features — his body, movements, warm eyes, and voice.

VGTimes: Does he understand more than simple phrases like “hello”?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes. He learns how to understand you over time.

VGTimes: Is there something like ChatGPT inside?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes. ChatGPT is integrated.

VGTimes: His eyes blink. Do they reflect emotions?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes. His eyes show that he can sense your mood, which is very important.

He understands if you are upset — in that case, he may keep some distance at first and then come back to comfort you. If you are happy, he shares that happiness with you.

VGTimes: How does he recognize whether I’m happy or not?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: He uses facial recognition sensors.

VGTimes: So he’s scanning my face?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes. He can recognize you and other members of your family.

VGTimes: I assume he needs to be charged.

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes, but he does it by himself. He uses a charging dock.

VGTimes: And what about the price?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: We don’t have a fixed price yet, because the product is very new.

VGTimes: Are you planning a Kickstarter campaign?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes. We plan to launch on Kickstarter in May.

VGTimes: Kickstarter is still relevant as a platform?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Yes. As a crowdfunding platform, it still works very well.

VGTimes: Where is the company based?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: I’m from Italy. The company’s manufacturing is based in China, and we also have an office in Monterey, California. I handle the European market, and we are targeting worldwide distribution.

VGTimes: When do you plan to start selling Momo?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: Around the second half of this year.

VGTimes: Is there anything else important people should know about Momo?

Lorenzo Cacioppo: When we say that Momo tries to make you happy, it sounds simple, but for the robot it’s actually very complex.

If you are alone, Momo can become a companion — another presence with you — and share emotions.

Our goal is not to create a robot that only follows commands like “come here” or “bring the ball.” We focus on emotions and feelings.

VGTimes: Thank you for taking the time!

Lorenzo Cacioppo: All the best!

Article by Rodion Ilin and Fazil Dzhyndzholiia.

VGTimes has been operating since 2011 and during this time has attended dozens of exhibitions and festivals where our journalists gathered numerous exclusive materials. For example, in 2019 we attended a closed Cyberpunk 2077 showing at gamescom, in 2017 we prepared a photo report from WG Fest, in 2020 we were at Central Asia's largest gaming event CAGS, and we also visited "IgroMir" several times, where we saw Hideo Kojima and other famous developers. Last year, we traveled to the land of the rising sun for TGS 2024, where we were amazed by the scale of the event. And this year we saw with our own eyes one of Asia's major gaming exhibitions — ChinaJoy in Shanghai and gamescom asia in Bangkok.