Should you spend your money on a smart backpack?

Last week, I attended a smartphone launch event at a five-star hotel in New Delhi. With this write-up at the back of my mind and a room full of technology journalists and fans around, I turned to a few friends after the presentation was over, asking a simple and pointed question: “Have you ever used a smart backpack?” One person responded by pointing out a OnePlus bag in the room and saying he had used one in the past. EUME Ease backpack with in-built massager The Carriall Smart Laptop Backpack has an AirTag like tile to track your device when it is “missing” or just “away” from you. “Imagine a backpack that can wirelessly recharge its built-in battery pack when you're home and charges your gear when you're on the go, one that gently alerts you if you accidentally leave it open while walking around, locks all key zippers at the push of a single button, keeps your info secure with RFID-shielded pockets, even acts as your camera mount when you want to take a picture; and, looks sleek and beautiful in your choice of great colors and so many thoughtful features.” The Barracuda Konzu backpack The big bad world of smart backpacks and airport security Amazon, Flipkart, and other websites that ship within India turned out to be a colossal disappointment. Makadiya had a more forward-thinking vision: “Here are some predictions from my end: fingerprint-enabled locks, an in-built tracker, a smart display to show a message, backpack cases to change colour and theme to match your clothes and a lot more.” In a world where airport security lines are chaotic, spending those extra five minutes may make or break your day.