While there have been a lot of early adopters willing to tinker with smart thermostats, lightbulbs and wearables, the adoption of such technologies may slow down if most consumers don’t see the point of these gadgets – or feel safe using them.
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The company is expected to reveal bigger and brighter televisions as it showcases the latest 4K (or Ultra High Definition) format.
“We are in the sweetest of the sweet spot in the TV market”, NPD analyst Stephen Baker told AFP while discussing CES.
An interesting trend that appeared in CES Unveiled was the number of food and drink based products that were on display.
It’s worth bearing in mind that CES is first and foremost a venue for promoting the tech industry – at least the non-Google/Apple/Amazon/Microsoft part of it. Sometimes the promotion falls flat; 3-D screen technology unveiled at CES in 2010 went from the next big thing to a mostly unused feature. Cybersecurity firm Rapid7 gave a failing grade to eight of nine popular baby monitors for simple and obvious weaknesses like failing to encrypt Internet-streamed video to prevent eavesdropping or using unchangeable passwords that malicious types could easily find online. “And that is what a lot of drone manufacturers have been doing”. It also works because of its ability to link up with other devices used by other vehicles, including pedestrians. All that is putting a damper on growing categories like wearable fitness bands, smart home devices and drones.
According to HTC, the Vive Pre’s “very, very big technological breakthrough” teased ahead of CES is a front-facing camera that allows users to toggle between their VR experience and the real world.
Mark Boyadjis of IHS Automotive referred to cars as a “core pillar” of the show. Lyft rival Uber also is working on self-driving auto technology.
“In the long run, it means maybe delivering cars without steering wheels, or steering wheels that can be moved or put away”, Boyadjis said. I saw a kitchen scale from a company called ideal created to help consumers make the flawless smoothie by directing them to weigh each ingredient one at a time and telling them, through a tablet app, when they’ve got enough.
Another notable device that may turn heads during the CES is the Roboking Turbo Plus, in its CordZero vacuum cleaner product lineup, equipped with virtual reality technology.
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Seattle Times technology reporter Matt Day interviewed Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which puts on the show.
