CES 2016: Looking for the weird and wonderful microtrends
2. SAMSUNG - WE KNOW YOU WERE HERE
Samsung dominated most of the brands during CES with its outdoor activities. Starting with huge
buses driving around the city, through intensive branding in the respective exhibition halls, ending
with covering a strategic building close to the show's main objects.
3. SEGWAY: CATCHING THE SECOND BREATH
The manufacturer of popular two-wheeled vehicles really wanted to be noticed again during CES with
its big stall, wide range of new products and above mentioned effusive slogan.The questions is how
adequate and close to truth it is?The answer should be revealed to us during the next edition of CES.
4. THE CULT BRANDS RETURN TO FAVOUR
During this year's CES one of the main topics were comebacks of those few brands which disappeared
a little throughout the years as they were unable to catch up with the fast development of technology.
One of them is Polaroid which presented this year many novelties.
5. THE MOST VISIBLE INDUSTRY DURING CES
It might be confidently said that CES 2016 was dominated by the car industry. Presence of several
manufacturers and over 150 brands connected to the broadly understood car industry was a clear
indignation that we will witness many significant changes in this sector in the near future.
6. DRONES CAUGHT IN THE NET
Due to the safety concerns during the show, all of the exhibitors presenting their new drones in
action had to place them behind a special net fencing. Despite the big number of presented
models, the drones definitely weren't able to spread their wings.
7. A WAY OF ATTRACTING THE MEDIA
CES is a gigantic show. Crowds are literally everywhere, it's really difficult to find a moment to rest.
Netflix decided to make use of it - its space was available only to those, who got an appointment
with the company's representative earlier. It was quiet and peaceful inside.
8. SNAPCHAT'S UNUSUAL PROMOTION
This popular application's owner decided to go crazy in LazVegas by placing a huge logo of his
product on a very characteristic building - Hotel Luxor - which is shaped like a pyramid.This unusual
action was one of the hot topics connected to this year's CES.
Luxor Hotel
9. LYFT VS. UBER
During the show both UBER and LYFT strongly encouraged visitors to use their transportation services
with huge discounts for a single ride. LYFT moved even one step further in attempt to "take over"
some of the CES participants using the official and free transportation.
10. KEEP YOUR LANE
CES means 170 thousands visitors gathered on 450 thousands m2 of exhibiting area. If you don't have
a specific plan for your visit, the whole show can quickly overwhelm you with its scale. It's worth to
visit these technology sectors which you find interesting and to "lose your way" from time to time.
11. UP TO ONE'S EARS IN VR TECHNOLOGY
One of the most mentioned tech buzzwords during this edition were theVR technology solutions in
a broad sense. It seemed like almost every exhibitor develops a project which will adapt that trend
shortly.
12. PERSONAL ROBOTS STAYED AT HOME
Personally I was expecting a flood of these appliances this year. But I was really surprised as there was
a relatively small number of interesting home robots.The manufacturer of the robot JIBO didn't appear
during CES, but I came across few solutions very similar to Cynthia Breazeal's project. Almost mates!
13. KODAK DISCOVERS SELFIE
The appearance of Kodak on this year's CES with a large stall and many novelties (along with
a resurrected Super 8 Camera) might be considered a big event.The question is whether the so-called
"Selfie Spot" is able to gather the interest. For me it was "soooo 2010!".
14. ROBOT FOLDING OUR CLOTHES
A lot of solutions presented during the show might be considered insignificant or not very useful in the
long perspective. But no robot (yes, that wardrobe is a robot!) attracted such crowds as the Laundroid -
an appliance which sorts and folds clothes messily put in it.This robot took 10 years to be completed!
15. WIN OVER THE JET LAG WITH LIGHT
Finnish companyValkee proposes a light therapy as a solution to the tedious problem caused by
changing the time zones. All one has to do is to use its device called Human Charger and the LED
earbuds according to a plan scheduled by the application. It’s a shining iPod for over 200 EUR.
16. BRILLIANTS AND TECHNOLOGY
It has been known since long time that technology is connected to the beauty industry and products
which are considered luxurious. But as I was passing by Swarovski's stall I wasn't really convinced that
the wearable gadgets offered by the company had any sense.
17. SIMPLE APPLIANCES BECOME "SMARTER"
One of the most interesting appliances in the "Smart Home" section was, well, a thermometer.
Withings' appliance which allows one to measure the body temperature within few seconds by
touching one's forehead with it gathered great interested amongst the visitors. Price: approx. 100 USD.
18. TECHNOLOGICAL NOSTALGY
By seeing some of the stalls, one could feel that many manufacturers had a proper look back recently
and now they want to revive some of their more successful projects. Vinyl record adapters, analogue
recorders, cameras printing photographs, 8-bit computer games - the list is very, very long.
19. RUNNING ON PRINTED OUT SOLES
New Balance presented the first model of shoes with soles partially printed in the 3D technology.
Even though the idea was interesting - this solution allows one to adapt the shoes better to
runner's feet - the shoe itself was a little bit heavy and not aimed at sprinters
20. FEEL THE OLD AGE ON YOUR OWN SKIN
Thanks to Genworth's R70i suit it became possible to experience how does it feel when our bodies
grow old as our age progresses.Weakening hearing and eyesight, sore joints, slowed down motility
- those are only few of afflictions which this special suit can make us experience.
21. NIKON’S YELLOW BAGS EVERYWHERE
Distinctive yellow Nikon bags could be seen in the whole LasVegas already since the first day
of the show. Because of this clever yet simple idea all printed materials handed out during CES quickly
ended up in that bag, which later came back home with thousands of participants.
22. DIGITSOLE SMARTSHOE 01
French company Zoch-Tech presented shoes with smart ventilation system controlled through an
application. Moreover those shoes can monitor the way we walk every day and how do we do sports.
A special version of these shoes is also equipped with a system of self-tying.
23. BAD PRODUCT, BAD COMMUNICATION
One of the companies which attempts to get a good position in the market of smart wearable
technology tried to convince everyone that its solution for monitoring might be used the same way
both for children and dogs.
24. ROBOT FOR ESPECIALLY LAZY PEOPLE
It's one of the funniest solutions which I've seen during this year's CES. I called it a BBQ Roomba
and it's simply a small robot which can, without our interference, clean even the most dirty grill grate.
The questions is - can it cook a good steak?
25. LOTS OF GADGETS - LESS USEFULNESS
Solutions dedicated to our four-legged friends had an especially strong representation this year.
However, aside from collars which allow one to locate a dog or cat in real time and monitor their state,
I haven't spotted anything really useful to the pet owners during this year's show.
26. THE BRAIN OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
Most of the autonomous vehicles currently being developed use the "engine" created by NVIDIA -
Drive PX platform. During CES 2016 a very promising version PX 2 was presented.Thanks to it
NVIDIA can become the most important supplier of the key hardware for the cars of future.
27. ROBOT, DOUBLE ESPRESSO, PLEASE
Bosch was exceptionally active during this year's CES. Aside from its futuristic vision of an autonomous
car, by one of this brand's stalls one could drink coffee which was served to everyone by a specialized
robot. It tasted as it should :).