1.
2016’s CES ATTRACTED 170,000+
ATTENDEES AND 3,500 EXHIBITORS FROM
AROUNDTHE WORLD: MANUFACTURERS,
DEVELOPERS, SUPPLIERS,
TECHNOLOGISTS, CREATORS, CMOS,
MARKETERS AND MANY MORE.
TheConsumerTechnologyAssociation’s Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) is the annual international forward-
focused consumer electronics and technology conference in
LasVegas.The show offers a glimpse at (the very near)
technological-driven solutions of tomorrow.
Historically,CES has been home to major innovation
announcements such as Blu-Ray, DVDs and Xbox. 2016 was
no exception, featuring a slew of sexy, eye-catching
technologies for the car, body, home and pretty much
everything else you can connect to a smartphone or sensor.
This year we also saw a move from bright shiny objects to
genuine, real user utility, going beyond the gimmick to
enhance and optimize everyday life.
Major themes included connected living, the Internet of
Things, smart technology, automated cars and higher caliber
content, with 4KTVs taking main stage.

2.
MEC@CES
Our annual MEC@CES thought leadership series was an intimate and
interactive day of debate around the hottest topics at CES, including
the rise of (and realities around) virtual reality, the future of natural
language, an emphasis on emotional intelligence, and an exploration
of our data-driven future and its impact on our everyday lives.
Facebook andOculus joined us for hands-on demonstrations of their
new virtual reality devices.
Overall, one thing stood true. “It’s not about the shiny objects
but how the technology helps us all connect,” as GroupM Chairman,
Irwin Gotlieb put it.
It is critical to look beyond the devices and the data they offer, to
understand the invisible dots between them and consumers – to
leverage the tools coming to market and provide genuine, positive
experiences that offer true utility and value for consumers .

3.
At this year’s show, wearables proved that, despite the inevitable
proclamation by some that “they are just a fad”, they are very much here to
stay. According to the organizers, the square footage of CES’ wearable tech
section quadrupled this year, and the number of wearables exhibitors tripled
to 41 (not including companies in the health and fitness category).
Overall the wearables seem to be getting smarter, going beyond simple data
collection to offer tangible insights and advice to its users, from how to work-
out more efficiently to manage mental fatigue at work.
Another hot topic was the notion of smart garments: Clothing with wearable
technology at its core, from LED lights to screens, sensors and more.
While attention is often placed on the physical device (e.g. FitBit), the
software available on and for the device (e.g. Under Armour UA Record), it is
as critical to ensure user utility combined with data collection.
FACT:THE GLOBAL WEARABLES MARKET IS FORECASTTO REACH
111 MILLION DEVICES SHIPPED IN 2016 (SOURCE: IDC).
WEARABLES ARE DEAD,
LONG LIVE WEARABLES

4.
WELT
Samsung’s C-Labs R&D division unveiled a healthcare and lifestyle tracker designed to look
like any other leather belt. This belt is a discreet way to monitor your health, including eating
habits and steps taken. It then analyses the data, to offer personalized healthcare
management plans.
UA HealthBox
Under Armour introduced the first Connected Fitness system designed to measure, monitor
and manage the factors that determine how people feel. They also announced a connected
shoe, the UA SpeedForm Gemini 2 Record Equipped, that has an embedded activity tracker
and stores data for up to five runs, connecting with Under Armour’s MapMyRun app.
Moff
The smart slap-on bracelet turns everything you touch into an instrument. Moff’s wearable
smart band snaps around a wrist and an Android or iPhone app triggers a sound every time
the wearer touches something.
Blaze
Fitbit’s latest generation of smart fitness watches features customizable accessory options
for the bands and casing, a color touchscreen, smart notifications from the user’s
smartphone for text, calls and calendar notifications, and music controls like volume and
front/backwards skipping directly on the device.
OMBRA
The world’s first smart bra is designed to measure a wearer’s biometrics in real-time,
delivering the data automatically to their smartphone. Offering maximum support and
performance, Ombra adapts to the body and its sensors are intangible.

5.
We knew virtual reality (VR) and augmented realty (AR) platforms would be
big, considering how many major consumer device launches are coming this
year, including Microsoft’s HoloLens, Facebook’s Oculus Rift, Sony’s
PlayStation VR and HTC/Valve’s HTC Vive. Yet, advancements in this space
also saw the introduction of a range of VR cameras and accessories.
Spherical cameras, known as 360-degree/3D video cameras, allow content
creators to capture VR-ready content and thus go beyond basic storytelling to
create immersive storytelling with the potential for distribution across more
platforms.
The medium is allowing brands and consumers to truly transport audiences,
gaining their full attention with an experience for all the senses.
What the future holds for VR/AR will depend on consumer and industrial
adoption. One thing is for sure, 2016 will be the year to prove whether VR and
AR are the next big thing or the next big gimmick.
THERE WERE OVER 40 EXHIBITORS FOCUSED ONTHIS IMMERSIVE
MULTIMEDIAWITHTHE GAMING ANDVIRTUAL REALITY
MARKETPLACE EXPANDING BY 77%.
VR/AR EVOLVING STORYTELLING

6.
3D Rudder
A foot-controlled VR and 3D navigation and motion controller for PC and VR games.
Users simply tilt the device in the direction they wish to move to allow for game play
without fatigue.
Rink
Samsung’s C-Labs R&D division unveiled rink, an advanced hand-motion controller for
mobile VR devices, offering an intuitive way to interact with the virtual world. The small
band worn around the palm of the hand gives control and provides a deeper level of mobile
VR immersion.
VisualCommerce
Marxent’s virtual product platform is mainstreaming VR and AR with practical, interactive
applications that allow users to configure 3D home improvements via tablet and export to
Oculus Rift and YouTube 360 for viewing. It’s being called the “Minecraft for shopping”.
Voxelus
Voxelus is a platform that allows anyone anywhere to create, share and play VR games and
experiences without writing a single line of code. The VR content creation platform made
headlines before CES when cloud-based financial service Uphold announced that it is
allowing members to purchase Voxels (VOX), Voxelus’ official currency. Voxels can be used
for purchase, sale, payment and settlement of all content, products, services and awards in
the Voxelus platform.
Vive Pre
HTC announced new developments to the Vive VR system with redesigns that offer
enhanced comfort, ergonomics, and performance. Vive Pre brings elements of the real world
into the VR realm with a front facing camera that allows users to blend physical elements
into the virtual space.
KeyMission 360
Nikon’s first ever action camera shoots 360-degree video in 4K.

7.
Auto is always a major part of CES and 2016 was no acceptation. This year
automotive exhibits covered over 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 25%
increase. Here automakers showcased driverless, electric and energy-efficient
vehicles with enhanced in-car connectivity.
Interestingly, the relationship between humans and automobiles seems to be
evolving. Similar to how we’ve partnered with our smartphones and apps like
Google Maps to streamline travel and commuting, companies are
offering increasingly efficient opportunities to partner with cars to outsource
aspects of driving.
Apple's Car Play and Google's Android Auto apps demonstrate how far
connected cars have already come. In both cases smartphones assume control
over a car's infotainment experience, including music streaming, navigation
and voice recognition messaging.
It will be fascinating to watch the media experience evolve, for example when
people are given the choice of more image-heavy content. It is very possible
that the same experiences we access in our living rooms – watching movies,
playing games – may soon be possible in our car too. For marketers this
means new opportunities for media partnerships and content creation.
AUTOMOTIVE:THE FUTURE LIVING ROOM

8.
Concept 26
Volvo’s concept car, named after the 26-minute average commute, illustrated the future of
this seemingly mundane experience. Through a partnership with Ericsson, the company
announced plans for developing intelligent, high bandwidth, streaming capabilities to
ensure drivers and passengers get the most out of their time in an autonomous Volvo.
Netflix anyone?
SiriusXM CommanderTouch
SiriusXM’s touchscreen radio is designed to integrate into a vehicle without replacing the
factory-installed radio. It features the latest satellite radio technology and is designed to be
easy to operate with simple tap and swipe gestures.
VirtualGuide
Hyundai has reinvented the owners manual, demoing an augmented reality app called
Virtual Guide, allowing owners to use their phones to get familiar with their cars and perform
basic maintenance.
Drive PX2
Nvidia introduced a new computer for tomorrow’s cars that combines deep learning, sensor
fusion and surround vision. It’s powerful enough to process the inputs of 12 video cameras,
plus lidar, radar and ultrasonic sensors. Volvo is its first partner.
Volkswagen’s new car features an advanced gesture controlled touch screen with an
interactive interface that mirrors smartphones and tablets. The screen includes configurable
tiles to control phone functions, music, navigation or smartphone integration platforms like
MirrorLink or Android Auto. Volkswagen also introduced an all-electric plug-in van with 373
miles range, next-gen vehicle architecture and a gesture-control interface.

9.
We’ve seen smart home solutions for a few years now but ultimately
none of them have been all that intelligent. This year companies pushed
beyond the hype of past years to bring together fragmented smart home
platforms that work together to truly make our lives easier.
We saw prices begin to drop for WiFi connected devices like refrigerators and
security systems. Also, the device types continue to increase, resulting in a
growing number of opportunities to make your home (and, with the
connected lawn mover, even your backyard) smarter.
Many products also leverage the power of voice command, something we saw
evolve and enhance this year.
So if you thought it was funny when Bluetooth headsets appeared and people
seemed to be talking to themselves, you’re in for plenty of entertainment as
new opportunities to talk to inanimate objects emerge.
With more ways to command our devices to work for us and with us (and with
each other), we’ll see partnerships evolve between hardware and software
suppliers, including automotive partners, to find new ways to make life better.
45% OF ALL AMERICANS EITHER OWN SMART HOME
TECHNOLOGY OR PLANTO INVEST IN IT IN 2016 (SOURCE:
COLDWELL BANKER® SMART HOME MARKETPLACE SURVEY).
CONNECTED HOME: LEARNINGTO
TALK AND HEAR EACH OTHER

10.
SengledVoice
(2016 CES InnovationAward in Smart HomeTechnology)
Sengled Voice is a LED light bulb with integrated speaker and microphone. This device
brings voice control and home security to every room through the light sockets: It enables
voice control of devices, voice interaction with the cloud and can pick up sounds like a
baby crying.
Lowe’s Professional Monitoring For Iris Smart Home Solution
Lowe’s partnered with central monitoring station United Central Control Inc. to offer
professional monitoring services for Lowe’s DIY Iris smarthome solutions. For an all-inclusive
month-to-month fee the station will dispatch emergency responders in the event of for
example intrusion, smoke or carbon monoxide.
iDevices
iDevices announced new HomeKit voice recognition products that fully integrate with the
home, including in-wall light switches, dimmers, power outlets and a connected light socket.
Its key differentiator, switches, don’t need to be on to work.
LG Signature
This new LG fridge has two key features. One is the door with LG’s Knock-On feature that
allows users to knock on the door to reveal what's inside. The other is Auto Door; the fridge
detects when a user’s foot is nearby and opens the door – but is smart enough to differ
between a user and a pet or a baby.
Ford/Amazon
Ford announced a partnership with Amazon to bring together the car and the home with the
Amazon Echo smart home hub. The result is a fully connected car that for example opens
the garage door and controls the thermostat from your home.

11.
4K Ultra HD TVs (the heir to 1080p, the current high-definition resolution
found on modern TVs) have been acclaimed for incredible color, physical
thinness, spectacular resolution and undetectable refresh rates. This year the
news went beyond the tech to focus on content.
While providers such as Netflix are already offering 4K content, others, like
Direct TV, are bulking up on their efforts. And 4K TV providers didn’t just talk
this year. They showed their content, with for example LG and Samsung
sponsoring local 4K UHD over-the-air broadcasts to transmit 4K video onto
the CES floor.
The UHD Alliance (UHDA) even unveiled a new logo to help consumers
identify the devices, content and services capable of delivering the premium
viewing experience.
We will continue to hear more about 4K TVs, with price decreases and new
features, but the real value is in the content.
With announcements like the LG and Netflix offering prepaid access to
Netflix’s 4K video as an early example, we will see more providers up the
quality of their content (both the story and aesthetics), helping to drive this
screen’s future.
TV will continue have a place in the home but if it’s going to compete with
smart devices like smartphones and tablets, it must continue to evolve.
IT IS ESTIMATEDTHAT US SHIPMENTS OF 4KTVS WILL DOUBLE
TO 12 MILLIONTHISYEAR (SOURCE: IHSTECHNOLOGY).
THE BATTLE FORTHE SCREEN HEATS UP: 4K, 4K, 4K

12.
Ultra-D
Stream TV networks showcased Ultra-D, its award-winning proprietary hardware and
software solution that lets users watch content in adjustable 4K glasses-free 3D. The
technology is now shipping and available for pre-order.
LG Partnership to Proliferate 4K HDRTechnology and Content
LG Electronics announced a slew of partnerships with content providers, film studios and TV
technology companies to deliver high-quality high dynamic range (HDR) content to
consumers. This will allow users to make the most of LG's new OLED TVs as the perfect
platform for HDR content. For example, LG, Dolby and Netflix collaborated to create
high-quality 4K Dolby Vision HDR footage from Netflix's highly acclaimed Daredevil series
for LG OLED TVs – viewable to CES attendees at the LG booth.
G6 Signature OLEDTV
LG Electronics’ Signature G6 TV range feature incredibly flat-screen design and the
ground-breaking design is rightly dubbed ‘picture on glass’. It’s also mind-blowingly thin;
less than a tenth of an inch.
NASA/LG Partnership
LG Electronics announced a partnership with NASA for its Signature 4K OLED TV, giving
NASA its own channel to showcase high-dynamic-range video clips from space shot by
NASA and produced by Harmonic.
Atmos
Sony Pictures announced a partnership with Dolby to bring Atmos’ multi-directional
sound platform to some of Sony’s Ultra HD Blu-Rays. The first releases in early 2016 include
The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Salt, Hancock, Chappie, Pineapple Express and The Smurfs 2.

13.
Thermo
Withings’ Thermo is a WiFi-connected temporal artery thermometer with a revolutionary
16-sensor array that provides one of the fastest, most accurate, non-invasive temperature
readings available. By measuring temperature at the side of head, it provides a reliable figure
while ensuring a comfortable and sanitary process.
ROBO 3D
The company demoed its latest 3D printers with 3D Prosthetic Print Kits as part of a
partnership with e-NABLE, a global network of passionate volunteers that use 3D printing to
“give the world a helping hand”. Every prosthetic hand and arm that was 3D printed at CES,
will be donated to the e-NABLE community.
Rokid
A smart family technology device based on advanced artificial intelligence and deep
learning. Rokid proactively delivers information and performs tasks for the entire family
through engaging two-way exchanges. Rokid interacts with each family member serving as
a resource, an entertainer and an intelligent addition to the home.
DVR DJ-Style Headphones
Altec Lansing revealed the first DJ-style headphones with a camera, allowing users to record
hands-free through the built-in DVR camera and then stream the video in real time to the
closest flat screen available, allowing the crowd to see the DJ’s POV.
WeDo
LEGO Education’s latest robotics kit is designed to help elementary school students
learn robotics, engineering and programming. The set comes with LEGO bricks, a
Bluetooth low energy-based hub that connects to a motor, motion and tilt sensors as
well as a school curriculum.
LG Electronics
Bucking the ‘hurry up and wait’ tradition for the first time ever, LG Electronics made its
brand new products unveiled at CES for sale to consumers before the official roll out at retail
stores. Five of their products introduced at CES were available for pre-order through
Amazon.com and other participating online retailers.

14.
Self-driving cars need three things:
software, supercomputers,
and “deep learning”.
- JEN-HSUN HUANG,CEO, NVIDIA
Technology is becoming
more emotional; we’re about being there
for our consumer’s journey.
- MIKE LEE, SVP,
UNDERARMOUR CONNECTED FITNESS
We're completely rethinking how we
approach the business, with one foot
in today, and one foot in tomorrow.
- MARK FIELDS, CEO, FORD
The car will be the most important
device on the Internet.
- HERBERT DIESS, CEO,VOLKSWAGON

15.
For questions, contact:
Whitney.Fishman@mecglobal.com
Nathalie.Haxby@mecglobal.com
To find out what our delegates thought of CES 2016, see
the story here:
http://bit.ly/MECatCES2016
For more about MEC’s predictions for 2016, see Review
Preview No. 6, our collection of global essays that
explore the changes and trends that will impact 2016:
http://meccontent.com/RP6