The big trends at CES 2019
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an international event in Las Vegas that happens each January. Brands flock to show off their latest tech offerings. The conference isn’t open to the public, and all attendees have to submit credentials that indicate an affiliation with the technology sector before getting word they can come.
Even if you’re not there in person, you can still get an idea of the developments that have people buzzing about what’s been going on at the event.
Smart Home Technology Gets Even More Diverse
People already have a variety of possibilities for controlling things in their abodes via smart home gadgets. CES 2019 indicates they’ll have an abundance of new choices to anticipate soon.
So far, there’s Mui, a smart home display that’s a block of wood. Its built-in LEDs stay hidden until people activate them. Mui, a smart home option from Japan, is ideal for people who want to have smarter homes without being blatant about it.
For households that dislike the drudgery of dealing with their laundry, there’s the FoldiMate. It’s a clothes-folding robot that works with attire for kids and adults, plus linens. The company behind the product hopes to launch it in late 2019 for under $1,000.
Sometimes individuals feel both fascinated by smart home technology and wary about privacy concerns. There’s a gadget at CES 2019 that even caters to that mindset. It’s a voice-activated speaker called the Mycroft Mark II. It doesn’t keep a record of the things people search for or collect any data from them — not even anonymously. The smart speaker is still in the prototype stage, and it should cost under $200 when available.
AI Is a Dominant Trend at the Show
A few years ago, Bill Gates admitted that artificial intelligence (AI) was his “Holy Grail technology,” and he envisioned a future of machines with capabilities greater than human intelligence. If CES 2019 is any indication, we’re not far from that point. CES 2019 includes a dedicated section for AI tech, but those in the know say it features in almost every other category of products at the event as well.
AI took center stage at the tech gathering and impressed people in various ways. Hisense released several TVs with AI chips inside that detect what people watch and adjust characteristics of the on-screen content, such as the motion rate and color, to improve the viewing experiences.
CES also featured an appearance by the Holabot. It’s a food delivery robot that uses AI to interact with humans courtesy of facial and vocal recognition abilities. The Holabot is an Internet of Things (IoT) gadget that can maneuver onto elevators without human input, as well as communicate with up to 100 other Holabots carrying consumables.
Some of the other AI advancements cross over into the smart home market and get more intelligent as people use them. For example, LG has a washing machine with an assistant that gives people advice about how to care for their clothes. There’s also a toothbrush from Oral-B that analyzes the way individuals use the tool and provides tips on how to get cleaner teeth.
People at CES also got the first word about a project involving Intel and Facebook teaming up to work on a new AI chip. It’s reportedly an “inference” type, which means it centers on applying AI to various processes to improve them. One of the ways to use the chip that results from the partnership might be to tag Facebook photos, for example.
Other Notable Trends
Although AI and smart home tech are exceptionally prominent at CES this year, there are other trends to follow. As a start, companion robots are everywhere at the show. Some help users feel less lonely, and some supplement the human caregivers of seniors or stroke victims.
Well-being is another obvious theme. One company showed off two small devices you hold in your hand that give haptic feedback to lessen stress. For people who want to watch their waistlines, there’s a smart belt that tracks steps taken or warns wearers when they have too many large meals. A watch-like measurement device and complementing app help people monitor their blood pressure.
Security gadgets are getting smarter, too, offering advantages that fit with both AI advancements and home tech. Products are available that recognize pets, while others are particularly well-priced to appeal to people who want to protect their homes without spending a lot.
In all, the exciting assortment of CES advancements proves that if people want more chances to benefit from tech, the current and upcoming products present a virtually countless number of ways to get started or add to their gadget collections.