CES stands for Consumer Electronics Show and is an international event that’s been taking place since 1967. Unlike other events, CES only invites industry-specific people such as journalists, electronics product developers and tech bloggers. Majority of major electronic companies use the event to launch new and innovative consumer products. We highlight some of the interesting, somewhat impossible to believe, technology at the event this year.
Voice Control everything
It seems that voice-controlled home assistants are changing the way we run our homes. And CES highlighted this with the bulk of announcements revolving around devices such as Alexa and Google Home. From voice-controlled toilets (and showers!) to stove tops that recognize your voice and the food that you’re cooking. The future seems to be voice-imbued.
Smart Family Planning
Using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to monitor your baby’s health seems to meet a need that we didn’t realize was so important. Miku, a military grade baby monitor does just that – it uses machine learning and AI to create a very detailed health portrait of your newborn. Another company helps you do the same before the baby is born with their baby bump monitor, Owlet Band. The band wraps around an expectant mother’s tummy and uses ultra-thin sensors to track her baby’s health from the womb.
Yes – wearables are still a thing
Smartwatches, fitness trackers and all sorts of things we stick on our bodies to measure our health had a big year at CES. Big watch brands have finally jumped on the bandwagon of wearables – giving us more style options than previously. And they didn’t just focus on style majority of the wearables from the likes of Fossil came with improved smartwatch functionality that competes with Samsung and Apple. Another interesting, yet fun, wearable were the Sphero Specdrums. These are little plastic rings that let kids create music with a few taps of their fingers.
The future of gaming really is virtual
With the technology being around for decades, you would think that it would of redefined the gaming market. Unfortunately, it hasn’t really been a hit with gamers due to poor adoption of the technology. However, over recent years the negative perception is beginning to lift and CES proved it. Game developers have taken a liking to the medium thanks to devices such as the Oculus Rift, HTC vive and especially the PlayStation VR. HTC Vive announced a VR headset more powerful than your average gaming PC called the HTC Vive Cosmos.
