At the electronics mecca that is CES, it’s easy to get caught up in all the big ideas–things like Ultra HD, connected cars and natural input–that aim to transform the world. But sometimes, the neatest gadgets can be found on the fringes of the show floor, where the goal is simply to make life a little easier. Here are a few of my favorite small-scale, clever ideas from CES 2013: Wi-Fi-Connected Light Bulbs (pictured above) Greenwave Reality has gotten rid off all the electrical work required to remotely control your house’s lighting, and instead just stuck Wi-Fi chips in its light bulbs. That allows users to turn lights on or off–either by room or individual bulb–through a free smartphone and tablet app, or with an included remote control. Users can also set lighting profiles, such as “Work” or “Away,” and program daily lighting routines. The up-front price is a bit steep, at roughly $200 for a starter kit with four bulbs, a wireless gateway and a remote control, and each additional bulb costs $20. But GreenWave claims that a well-configured home would save $150 per year on energy costs. Greenwave is working with distribution partners instead of selling the bulbs directly, and hopes to have them on the U.S. market within 60 days. Jared Newman / TIME.com SleepPhones You like listening to music before bed. Your spouse does not. A company called AcousticSheep has the solution: SleepPhones is a headband with two small speakers located around the ears, so it’s more comfortable to wear in bed than earbuds or headphones. The headband can double as an eye mask and custom phone cases as well. Although the wired version of SleepPhones has been around for years, AcousticSheep is just getting around to releasing a Bluetooth version in April, so you won’t have to worry about strangling yourself with an audio cable. It’ll also have a built-in button that controls volume and playback, and should last between 5-7 hours per charge when listening to music. The company’s hoping to hit a price of $80.![]()
