David Savastano, Editor01.26.16
When it comes to consumer goods of all kinds, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the most intriguing shows out there. Held in Las Vegas in early January, CES highlights some of the hottest trends and showcases technologies that may or may not become game changers. CES 2016 was no exception.
It’s kind of like the annual Auto Shows that travel from city to city. I used to take my oldest son to these shows, and we’d see cars that were amazing. We are talking about 10 years ago, and I still remember seeing a Mercedes that operated with a joy stick, which would be ideal for left-handed people who could drive the car from the passenger seat. That never reached the market, but it did draw attention ot the booth (I don’t recall seeing any self-driving cars a decade ago - that was too far out)!
From the flexible and printed electronics side, past CES shows have had products as focal points. A few years ago, Plastic Logic’s touch screen was named a top product, and even more recently, Samsung showed a video detailing its Youm, a flexible cell phone. Neither of these products reached commercialization, but they did give an idea of what might yet come.
Returning back to CES 2016, some of the top trends that were observed touch on flexible and printed electronics. In the display and touch screen field, OLEDs won a few CES Editors’ Choice Awards, and are making headway in the market. Quantum dots are earning more attention. 3D printers are becoming more common. Samsung showed a refrigerator with a 21.5-inch touch screen, and touch screens are becoming an everyday part of cars. Sensors and wearables are becoming mainstream: Sensoria (smart socks) and Altria (sensors in sneakers) were just two of the products on hand.
Thinking about the changes we are all seeing in every day products, the CES can be a harbinger of what is to come.
It’s kind of like the annual Auto Shows that travel from city to city. I used to take my oldest son to these shows, and we’d see cars that were amazing. We are talking about 10 years ago, and I still remember seeing a Mercedes that operated with a joy stick, which would be ideal for left-handed people who could drive the car from the passenger seat. That never reached the market, but it did draw attention ot the booth (I don’t recall seeing any self-driving cars a decade ago - that was too far out)!
From the flexible and printed electronics side, past CES shows have had products as focal points. A few years ago, Plastic Logic’s touch screen was named a top product, and even more recently, Samsung showed a video detailing its Youm, a flexible cell phone. Neither of these products reached commercialization, but they did give an idea of what might yet come.
Returning back to CES 2016, some of the top trends that were observed touch on flexible and printed electronics. In the display and touch screen field, OLEDs won a few CES Editors’ Choice Awards, and are making headway in the market. Quantum dots are earning more attention. 3D printers are becoming more common. Samsung showed a refrigerator with a 21.5-inch touch screen, and touch screens are becoming an everyday part of cars. Sensors and wearables are becoming mainstream: Sensoria (smart socks) and Altria (sensors in sneakers) were just two of the products on hand.
Thinking about the changes we are all seeing in every day products, the CES can be a harbinger of what is to come.