Tag: CES

CES 2018 introduced the world to some downright interesting (and some absurd) electronics. The Consumer Electronics Show gives the technology industry just the outlet to showcase the best and brightest of what manufacturers have to offer. Here are some of the more interesting highlights from Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Interesting
In case your home television system isn’t big enough already, Samsung introduced the world to “The Wall,” a television that measures 146-inches diagonally. It uses technology similar to those used by scoreboards at sporting events, scaled down to meet the size of the screen. The Wall still has some challenges facing it, but if anyone can overcome them, it’s Samsung.

Another technology that has recently seen an increase in popularity is voice-responsive tech and connected homes. Amazon’s Alexa device was a huge hit at CES, but perhaps the most notable benefit of it is the sheer number of applications and services that can be used through voice commands. Even more services have been offered this year, which makes Alexa an interesting and valuable voice companion for everyday life.

Finally, there was a technology created with the intent of helping older generations. ElliQ is a digital companion that can help meet the needs of older users. ElliQ can remind users of upcoming appointments or allow them to hold conversations with them.

The Practical
One of the more practical uses of technology in the consumer technology market is fitness. As such, CES had a showcase where the best of fitness technology was on full display. Peloton, known for its connected indoor cycles that stream fitness classes, introduced a new treadmill that allows the user to view pre-recorded classes or live classes. This device, called the Peloton Tread, features many fitness classes and some other strength/circuit classes as well.

Taking the concept of fitness one step further is the Spire Swim Tracker, the first smart swimsuit. This automatically measures your swimming metrics. It then connects to the swim.com app, where the user can view the information. Furthermore, you don’t even have to charge the tracking tag, as it is purposely designed so that it lasts longer than the suit.

Finally, virtual reality is making a splash in the fitness community. Black Box gyms will soon have VR capabilities that can make going to the gym a bit more interesting. Basically, it turns something like a resistance workout and transforms it into a video game, allowing for an entertaining and satisfying 30-minute workout.

The Strange
Some of the devices introduced at CES 2018 were a little unorthodox or designed for a specific audience. For example, the device Keen allows for an inertial measurement to help those with bad posture better their bad habits. It basically lets users kick bad habits in due time. Another interesting technology was Moodo, which allows you to use a diffuser to throw scents into the air via a smartphone app. Other gadgets, like the self-driving store and a ping-pong-playing robot, also made appearances at CES, but one of the weirdest was the Somnox Sleep Robot, a device that is basically a glorified body pillow that simulates breathing and helps users fall asleep.

What are some of the devices that you would like to see at future CES conferences? Let us know in the comments.

If there is one thing you know about technology, it’s that it meets its demand. No matter if you are talking about the millions of Internet of Things products being created today, video games and entertainment, or business tech, demand drives the technology market.

The results of this demand were presented at the 2018 International Consumer Electronics Show, an event that took place from January 7th to the 12th in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the focus was admittedly directed toward consumer products, there were quite a few technologies present that could prove impactful to the business realm.

Perhaps most impactful to businesses was the continued discussion surrounding 5G wireless connectivity. Already discussed at length at CES 2017, 5G could prove to be of significant benefit to businesses that rely on cloud-based applications and wireless devices. Wireless carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, have plans to incorporate 5G in some markets by the end of 2018.

However, the question remains how much hardware will be able to support 5G connectivity in the coming year, and how quickly the term ‘5G’ will be adopted to describe something it isn’t.

There was also interesting news concerning laptops, even with the recent discovery of Spectre and Meltdown, the chip vulnerabilities that affect almost every single computing and mobile device in existence. Despite this setback, there was a noticeable trend in the laptops displayed at the event leaning more heavily on the kind of technology one would find in a mobile device. As a result, these devices could boast faster operating speeds.

Not everything at CES made very much sense, however. London-based Planet Computers launched the Gemini, an Android-powered mobile device that basically functions as a miniature clamshell laptop. While it is an effective device for what it does, it doesn’t make much sense in the business setting–but it may be an option for someone who often needs to take business on the road.

Overall, events like these just go to show that even if a device is labelled as a consumer product, it may just have a place in a business setting. Even if it doesn’t, it may inspire the development of a similar device that is more focused on a business user’s needs.

What would you like to see developed in 2018? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to our blog!