Once again the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is the first highlight of the year. It allows us to peek into the future and to learn what to expect of the New Year. Wearables, Virtual Reality and drones were the three main topics.

Even in their third year wearables are a huge trend. Of course the well-known fitness tracker and smart watches weren’t missing. The features haven’t really changed in the last years but they do get more beautiful by the day. Plastic changes into metal or leather. And the designing resembles more and more accessories than a fitness tool.

The wearable technology for the smallest of us was surprising indeed. For example, the “Child Angel“, a gadget using GPS, wifi, mobile network and Bluetooth to locate the child. An app can be used to control the location of the kid and it even sets off an alarm, when the child is too far away. Allowing parents to let their children play outside without constantly fearing that they wander off is a quite useful tool. Obviously it does not replace watching the youngsters but it is an innovative idea.

We all know gadgets for adults and meanwhile we even got used to electronic devices for children. But the company Rest Devices goes further than we’ve expected. They launched the ”Mimo Smart Baby Monitor“ which is a wearable for babies. You can attach it to the baby’s romper and it will control breathing, motion and temperature of the new born. The sensor in this device collects all the information and sends it to the basis via Bluetooth. The basis uses wifi to get the information on the parent’s phone. If on any occasion the breathing of the child stops, the parents will be alerted. One could summarize the use of this gadget by saying that it is a baby phone 2.0.

The car industry has discovered the CES just one year ago and is obviously still thrilled. Huge companies like VW, Audi, General Motors, Daimler and BMW used the show to promote their newest cars, especially self-driving and electric cars. Next to the all-known companies, visitors could watch the birth of a completely new firm: Faraday Future. Specialized on electronic cars the start-up has presented the „FFZero1“. However the prototype does not fulfill the expectations. The sport car is run by electricity and drives with the power of 1000 horses. However one couldn’t see it in motion and it does not seem to be fitted for daily use. However, all the presented cars were stunning and the design resembled the futuristic technology. One almost felt like being in another galaxy.

The most yearned products by gamers were probably the virtual reality glasses. The relatively new technology does not decrease the variety of versions already presented. „VIVE PRE“ by HTC or Samsung’s „Gear VR“ are just two of them. However, the first VR glass for sale is the Oculus Rift. The first packages will be delivered by the end of March. Unfortunately the price is still very high: 750 Euros. Many users will be willing to pay the price – given that it is one of the most exciting new technologies. It is just too fascinating to be able to walk and talk in an unreal and designed world. Testers even claimed to have gotten afraid, during a simulated rollercoaster ride. The VR technology tricks our brain into believing the weirdest things. Nowadays we still need a special computer and a various number of cables but maybe someday we all can visit places all over the world while be seated comfortably on our sofas. Wouldn’t that be exciting?

Also very impressive is the category Internet of Things. One of the promoted products was the „Family Hub“ by Samsung. It is a refrigerator with four doors and – now the special part- it contains a huge entertainment program, supported by Nuance’s voice recognition. On the full HD touch screen, fixated on the outside of a door, one can use handy apps such as writing shopping lists, ordering ingredients, managing your family time schedule as well as streaming the television program and music. Not just the outside contains exciting features. Three cameras inside the refrigerator are photographing the contents regularly. By doing so the costumer can check the inside of his Family Hub, during his grocery shopping, and can make sure not to forget something. And if you need more space the flex zone technology will come in handy. Allowing you to run the freezer on refrigerating temperature it increases the useable space. The Family Hub is a good example how much technology is already a part of our life- and how practical that can be.

Drones are expanding the most at this year’s CES. The main reason for that is that in the US and in Asia the little unmanned airplanes aren’t banned as much as in Germany. So the excitement is very high and you can find them all over the area, flying in cages. The variety is high: drones, which can steer themselves, with and without cameras, in thousand different colors. The “Lily Camera“ for example is more off a water approved, flying selfie camera than a drone. With a top speed of 25 km/h it will follow your every move. This is possible because of a little sensor connecting the costumer and the drone. Hopefully there won’t be more regulations – that would decrease the development of new ideas and technology, which might come in useful in the future.

The CES 2016 was, as were all the others before, very spectacular. Old trends were further developed – new trends were set. We are excited about all the new things and are thrilled to be in the middle of it.

https://www.hbi.de/en/2018/08/07/events/?preview_id=5959&preview_nonce=ecb54013b4&_thumbnail_id=5961&preview=true