While we all love big names and huge launches, one of the best things about CES (Consumer Electronics Show), which takes place every year in Las Vegas, is the opportunity to experience weird and wonderful technologies.
Enter Nimble’s device. That’s what it’s called: the Nimble Device.
The Nimble Device does one thing. He paints your nails, which he does using a robot arm holding a small bottle of nail polish. Does it do this job well? We haven’t seen it in person, but given the advances in robotics in recent years, nail technicians might want to start dusting off their resumes.
Why can’t we see what’s going on in the box?
What we do know is that, like almost everything touted at CES 2024 this year, it uses “advanced AI” (artificial intelligence), or at least machine learning described as such. In this case, AI is used in combination with 2D and 3D scanning to know the size, shape and curve of your nails. What he paints next, as we have clearly stated.
Agile beauty
According to Nimble’s website, it will give you “a rich, glossy, effortless manicure” in two or four coats and its “fully automated drying technology means ready-to-use nails as soon as you remove your hand.”
Why does the phrase “take your hand off” make us nervous? Perhaps because there is something intrinsically disturbing about inserting your hand into an opaque box, which you will have to do here to take advantage of the robotic nail polishing service. And that only invites more questions.
Why can’t we see what’s going on in the box? Is the robot arm shy? Will a member of the Bene Gesserit appear behind you with a poison pin in case you flinch?
Warner Bros.
Dune Similarities aside, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this technology. Go back to 1997 or throw your browser at IMDB if you weren’t born then. In the science fiction film The fifth Elementthere’s a throwaway scene in which a PA answers a phone while also applying nail polish using a remarkably similar albeit smaller kit.
The creators of Nimble Beauty have not acknowledged the work of Luc Besson as the inspiration for their invention, instead more prosaically attributing a dinner party that was disrupted due to a manicure mishap.
However, the instant nail device isn’t the only inspiring makeup technology to appear in the film. There is also a scene in which the tangerine-headed heroine Leeloo uses a Chanel brand eye makeup applicator.
While this mostly seems like an excuse for a bit of Chanel brand placement, YSL Beauty has come up with its own tech-based instant makeup solution. Le Rouge Sur Mesure is a connected device that matches and mixes lipstick shades.
Take a photo of the desired shade on your phone’s camera and the device will create it by mixing the pigments from three cartridges inside. You can buy it at Yves Saint Laurent Beauté for $350/£260.
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty
Still, it’s a small change from the Nimble Device. It costs $599, down from $699, and you can pre-order it from Nimble Beauty with a $99 deposit. Orders will be shipped on March 15.
Product dimensions aren’t mentioned on the site, but it doesn’t look like the sort of thing you might throw in your bag and take to work like in The fifth Element.
