A new version of the foldable mobile phone. Expensive toilet sensors that monitor moisture and vitamin levels. And an oven with AI.
The Consumer Electronics Show, now in its 56th year, opens in Las Vegas this week, combining cutting-edge technology with familiar quirks. The biggest consumer tech conference of the year, the event is known for robots roaming the exhibit floor. Eye-catching presentation on next generation TV. There are also quirky products like yesteryear’s bright bulbs and moisture-wicking earplugs.
But the event will facilitate trade between executives, manufacturers and retailers from multiple industries and set the stage for the biggest technology trends of the year. This year’s event in particular could show how companies are thinking about their products amid lingering recession fears while pandemic fears have eased for some consumers.
The Consumer Technology Association, which hosts annual CES, expects nearly 100,000 in-person attendees this year, up significantly from 45,000 in 2022 due to concerns over the Omnicron variant of Covid-19. (CTA is once again offering a live stream for attendees who prefer to follow the event remotely).
This year’s speakers include executives from traditional tech companies such as Samsung, Sony and Amazon, as well as other brand executives such as John Deere, Delta and BMW. CES has traditionally been a gadget show and there’s no shortage of gizmos this year, but this year about 60% of his Fortune 500 companies are in attendance, with more diverse product announcements and announcements in all areas of technology discussion is possible.
Gary Shapiro, president of the CTA, which hosts the event, told CNN ahead of the event, “Despite a pretty tough economy, the companies we’re seeing [attending] are really strong.”
Foldable Phones and Artificial Intelligence
Key topics at this year’s CES include sustainability, artificial intelligence and foldable devices.
Among the products announced ahead of CES 2023 is Samsung Display’s Flex Hybrid prototype. It features a foldable and sliding display (the right side slides out to give you more screen real estate). Laptop maker Acer is showcasing a bike stand called the eKinekt. This allows users, both working and pedaling, to generate kinetic energy that is used to charge smartphones and laptops through the stand itself.
Health and wellness companies will once again dominate showrooms, even as pandemic concerns ease. Kohler previously unveiled her aromatherapy shower system, which attaches to a showerhead and infuses the water stream with scents like lavender and eucalyptus to soothe the skin. Meanwhile, fitness wearables are also in strong demand.
Meanwhile, the $500 Withings U-Scan device tracks urine flow to detect vitamin deficiencies, checks hydration, and monitors metabolism (an additional device called the U-Scan Cycle Sync , track your period and ovulation cycle).
Cars, trucks and boats are also in the spotlight this year. Stellantis will show the direction of the brand with a concept version of its upcoming all-electric Ram pickup truck. Meanwhile, BMW unveils a completely new user interface for its cars. Because in today’s luxury car market, this is at least as important to consumers as engine performance and handling. The boat company will also showcase the latest technology in electric and autonomous watercraft as this market is also greener.
“CES is getting away from being a Consumer Electronics Show and getting more and more into being a Consumer Experience Show. We may see a new device pop up here and there, and it is easy to expect big televisions, cool cars, and gadgets galore. But the secret sauce is what the software can do,” said Ramon Llamas, a director at IDC Research.
In particular, he believes artificial intelligence will enable businesses to “understand consumer behavior and tailor device experiences to best suit their needs.”
Goodbye Metaverse?
But at least one of last year’s hot topics may not have received as much attention. It’s the metaverse, or meta’s idea of the metaverse.
In late 2021, Facebook will join the Metaverse by announcing plans to change its name to Meta and make significant investments to continue developing virtual and augmented reality technologies to support more immersive online experiences. sparked a wave of interest.
A few months later, at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, everyone was talking about the Metaverse. As Axios reported at the time, “many CES observers suggested a drinking game in which keynote observers would fire shots whenever the metaverse was mentioned, but that would have been a recipe for alcoholism.”
Iin immersive virtual worlds as Facebook struggles to gain mainstream traction for its VR products.
That said, the topic of virtual reality products will continue to be a hot topic for some companies. HTC is set to unveil his Metaverse-focused Vive Focus 3 at this week’s show.
CES runs through Sunday, January 8th.
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