People like to call millennials "lazy" when in fact we're just a bunch of tech-savvy innovators who increasingly show that you don't have to do everything the same way your parents or grandparents did.

Case in point: You don't have to have cable. You don't actually have to call people on the phone, ever. And splitting monthly bills with strangers can actually be normal.

Adults born in the 1980s and early 1990s have practically become experts at finding alternatives to everyday tasks so they can get more done with less physical exertion. We have very little patience for inefficiency.

And if that's what you call lazy, then perhaps "OK, boomer" is fitting.

The technology industry responds to society's call for innovation annually with a parade of products that relieve your burdens, free your hands and allow you to make the most of your idle time.

At CES 2020 in Las Vegas, forward-looking startups and young adult-focused companies showed off what the future could look like as AI and robotics become even more commonplace.

What if you never had to touch filthy trash when prepping the garbage for takeout? Or what if you could coddle a cuddly robot when you don't have the time or patience for a real pet?

The following products shown at CES show what's possible when you can let tech takeover your mundane tasks.

Townew

Townew is an automated garbage can that makes taking the trash out less messy.

No, it won't roll your garbage out to the street, yet. But it at least seals up the bag once it's full. And it replaces the bag automatically when you take out the trash, so you no longer have to struggle to separate the opening of a fresh trash bag.

How does it work?

With the touch of a button on the outside of the can, Townew will take a few seconds to seal the trash while it's still in the bin. After you remove the bag, the lid will close and automatically pull, and blow a new trash bag into place.

It has a rechargeable battery, so you can run it wirelessly for about a month before you need to recharge it and replace the bags. You can purchase it on Townew's website for $119.95. There's a CES special going on now for $99.95.

Ovis

While actual autonomous cars have yet to lift the burden of driving, self-rolling suitcases have moved out of the prototype stage.

Ovis, which has rolled around CES in years past, is shipping nationwide if you want to shell out about $800. Its makers, ForwardX, put cameras and sensors all over it so it identifies you rather than following strangers at the airport.

Embedded GPS tracking lets owners can track it down if it's been misplaced, or stolen. Ovis is TSA-approved, ForwardX claims, and you'll find it on Amazon later this year.

Rollbot

Picture this: You're sitting on the toilet. You reach for toilet tissue and the cardboard roll is empty. So, you make sure no one is around before scuffling out of the bathroom to grab a replacement.

We've all been there.

Charmin created a concept robot that solves this very specific and very relatable dilemma. Rollbot will bring toilet paper to you when you're stranded on the commode without toilet paper, but only if you have your smartphone with you to summon it.

The self-balancing autonomous robot can't grab the toilet paper out of the cupboard, so you may just be better off asking a loved one to do you a solid.

---

---

(c)2020 U.S. Today,
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.