The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the world’s largest electronics show with 3,200 exhibitors and over 150,000 attendees. The Las Vegas mega-event, which took place Jan. 6-9 this year, didn’t disappoint.
The Korean manufacturers were the most dominant this year, specifically Samsung and LG with their curved OLED displays. BMW demonstrated their new, all-electric vehicle while Toyota unveiled a Hydrogen Fuel-Cell vehicle. Lots of wearable computing devices, including smart-glasses and smart-watches, also turned heads.
Photo courtesy of Ramis Sadrieh
Here are some of the highlights I thought would be of interest to Palisadians.
Samsung displayed a range of UHD (Ultra High-Definition) televisions, the largest at 110 inches. These TVs can display a picture at four times the resolution of 1080p (also referred to as 4K), delivering a clearer and more stunning picture than high-definition, if you can believe it.
LG revealed stunning curved 4K OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) TVs as large as 77 inches. In addition to the always-curved sets, both Samsung and LG displayed bendable TV sets that curve and straighten at the touch of a button.
Also featured were several automotive manufacturers, unveiling future vehicles in addition to the technology in these vehicles. BMW unveiled their upcoming i3, an all-electric vehicle, ranging between 80 to 100 miles on one charge.
They were offering about 50 vehicles for test drives, and I immediately jumped on it. During the drive, I found the car to be extremely quiet and super responsive. The car has a large 11” navigation display and a very spacious interior. The cost of the BMW i3 is about $43,000 before government rebates.
Other automotive technology included a hydrogen-fuel cell powered Toyota – the only emission from the car is water. Audi divulged laser diodes powering their vehicles’ high beams. Though not as advanced as LED, they deliver almost twice the brightness.
Sony introduced a prototype of Smart Eyeglasses. These were initially designed to complement the viewing of sporting events by displaying player information as well as replays, but there are definitely other potentials.
Other wearable computing devices included a variety of smart watches. Companies such as Pebble, Sony, Samsung, LG and others have all come out with watches that do much more than just keep time.
The most impressive I saw was by a British company called KMS with a prototype. This children’s watch has a built-in panic button that calls a pre-programmed list of numbers when pressed. The watch also includes GPS tracking, allowing parents to track the child on a map using a website or smartphone app. This watch is scheduled for a September release.
All in all, I found the show this year to be more evolutionary than revolutionary but still highly engaging, just like being in an electronic “candy store.”
Contact Ramis Sadrieh of Technology for You! at (310) 597-5984 or visit technologyforyou.com.
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