Welcome to the year 3013- Thousands of techies flocked to Las Vegas for a chance to get a sneak peak at the latest gadgets and gizmos. The conference opened Jan. 8 and was on display through Jan. 11.
The International Consumer Electronics Show kicked off the new year with a showcasing of new and emerging technologies sure to bring the world of tomorrow to the consumer of today.
The event, which took place in Las Vegas from Jan. 8 through Jan. 11, was a techie playground of awe-inspiring gadgetry and electronic doodads that are soon to hit the market and empty our wallets. From upgraded TVs and tablets to self driving cars and massage robots, there was something for everyone to look forward to at CES.
Televisions, smartphones, tablets and computers allhad a big presence at CES, boasting faster speeds, bigger screens and thinner profiles. One of the more interesting innovations in this market has come from Sony, which introduced the upcoming Xperia Z, a smartphone that is water resistant. Sony claims that the phone can survive being submerged in nearly ten feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
Continuing the trend of faster and better, CES saw the introduction of 4K resolution OLED home televisions, which nearly doubles the screen resolution and quality of common 1080p televisions on the market.
LG also introduced new era televisions with finger-gesture capabilities, allowing users to control their television in a completely hands-free way, using only their hands and fingers. Similarly, the Tobii Rex for Windows 8 allows users to navigate and control their PCs using their eyes to track and select objects.
Display screen technology has also undergone a transformation for CES. Samsung introduced its new Youm screens, promising a new way to develop and use traditional screen technology. Made of plastic rather than glass, the Youm screens are extremely thin, highly flexible and nearly unbreakable. This new technology not only provides higher protection for our devices, but it also allows for the creation of various screen shapes and sizes that could lead to phones and monitors breaking away from the rectangular format to which we have grown accustomed.
Displair also introduced a revolutionary new screen, described as an airborne interactive display. This display uses vapor in the air to project a holographic image capable of reading and reacting to touch. Tablets and televisions also amazed attendees –– companies showcased tablets of up to 20 inches in size and televisions spanning more than 100 inches.
New devices in the world of video gaming have also made a splash at CES. The Razer Edge gaming tablet aims to provide consumers with a high quality gaming experience coupled with the functionality and portability of a Windows 8 tablet.
Nvidia’s Project Shield takes portability a step further by providing a handheld controller (similar to an Xbox controller) with an attached screen for gaming on the go. The Oculus Rift headset brings virtual reality to a whole new level, allowing users to experience gaming in a fully 3-D world. Valve software also introduced new gaming technology via their Steam Box, which brings high-end PC gaming to the living room.
Automobile innovations were abundant at CES as well, with many manufacturers showcasing new hybrid concepts as well as better software integration for smart vehicles. One of the more interesting ideas shown at the event were concept cars from Lexus and Audi showcasing self-driving vehicles. Although this technology is still a long way from being integrated into the consumer market, it is interesting to see it in action, with Audi demonstrating a parked vehicle driving toward its owner, who simply sent the car a command from a smart phone.
CES also provided its fair share of not-so-common gadgets to pique the interest of techies far and wide. The Pebble smart watch is a stylish time piece that uses Bluetooth 4.0 to communicate with smart phones, allowing users to control their music, check text messages, email, Facebook and Twitter right from the watch itself.
The ZBoard electric skateboard combines the thrill of skateboarding with the ease of motion control found in Segways. Trakdot is a device no bigger than a deck of cards that tracks your luggage while you travel. The device is airplane safe, thanks to a feature that automatically turns the device off when the airplane reaches a certain speed, then turns it back on when the airplane has landed, ensuring that you will never lose your luggage again. Sensus is a plastic iPhone case that uses sensors to add touch-screen sensitivity to the back and sides of the iPhone, allowing users to control certain aspects of their phone by touching the case rather than the screen. Hapilabs has created a set of utensils designed to monitor the rate at which you consume food, indicating whether or not you need to slow down by gently pulsing. Tactus introduced their morphing touchscreen technology, which creates inflatable tactile keyboards on a touch screen for greater precision. And of course, robots. There were a lot of robots.
CES had another great showing at their 2013 event, ensuring that the future is here today. Be sure to check online for some of the other great devices and tech innovations showcased at this year’s event.
