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Highlights of CES [Part One]        

Connecting + Monitoring + Curved Displays

January 21, 2014

CES 2014 proved to be one of our favorite Consumer Electronic Shows to date. We walk the show each year looking for the most innovative products, the coolest concepts, and new trends in the technology world. It wasn’t that any one product made the show extra special, but, rather, the wide array of products and services – which used new technology and new ideas – really made it stand out from the rest.

Connectivity was buzzing all over the floor and seems to be even bigger than in years past. Sensing, talking, monitoring, and listening were all around us. Whether it was a device installed in a fixture for the home, a gadget you wear on your body (or put on your pet), or sensors embedded in sports equipment, we couldn’t walk anywhere without seeing something that was in one way or another connected to create a complex and powerful web of data transfer.

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The following is a two part series where we discuss the top 10 trends (in no particular order) that we saw at CES 2014.

Wearable Tech & Digital Health
Wearable tech is bigger than ever. Wearable devices that allow the user to capture data about their activity levels and other information, especially in the health and fitness subset, were everywhere. Wearbles are no longer for just the casual user, but for medical professionals as well.

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The DigitalHealth sector of CES was the biggest we have seen. Health and wellness are becoming increasingly consumer-oriented as a younger, more health-conscious population enters the market and the older generation looks for better ways of managing their health.

iHealth, which makes mobile healthcare devices, unveiled three wearable medical devices – including an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (which they said is an industry first). The monitor connects to a user’s mobile device (iOs or Android) via Bluetooth and is worn inside a vest. The idea is that it offers round-the-clock monitoring without requiring a user change anything about their lifestyle or routine.

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Ultimately, iHealth wants its patients to see the benefits of giving that kind of consistent information to their doctors, especially given the changes in a person’s blood pressure over the course of a day. This is key for understanding potential causes of hypertension. Wearables are a great way for health companies to monitor and explain a person’s health status with real data.

While most wearables at CES were geared toward humans, one company, i4C Innovations, is aiming its tracking device at dogs. Voyce is a collar that tracks a dog’s activity, heart rate, and calories burned each day and allows owners to keep an eye on their pet in order to detect potential problems early on.

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Beyond the DigitalHealth sector, there were a lot of competing companies in the smartwatch category. However, the Pebble Steel was one product that really stole the show. An upgrade to the original Pebble that was introduced last year, the Pebble Steel is a more glamorous, stylish, and grown-up version of the smartwatch (with the same functionality).

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In addition, we came across the Netamo June Wellness Bracelet – a beautiful digital pendant that measures the sun’s impact. The jewel on the wristband syncs with an iOS device and alerts users when the skin has had too much sun exposure.

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The Spree caught our attention because it wasn’t a wrist-based fitness tracker, but rather, a headband. Spree pairs with your iPhone via Bluetooth and records your workout progress by measuring temperature, heart rate, and motion. The headband is currently used by NFL players to prevent overheating and ensure optimal training.

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Embedded Technology in Sporting Equipment
Sensors are being placed into sporting equipment to help analyze a player’s accuracy, technique, and power. InfoMotion Sports Technologies introduced a smart basketball, the 94Fifty, which communicates directly with a smartphone or tablet via a free app that helps to analyze shooting, dribbling, and other aspects of the game. The ball is embedded with sensors and Bluetooth communication with the goal to get users to shoot the ball with optimal trajectory.

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The Zepp sensor works for three sports – golf, tennis, and baseball. You just put the sensor onto your club, bat, or racket and it captures, measures, and analyzes your swing in three dimensions.

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Babolat introduced the first connected tennis racket, the Babolat Play. Intended for both beginners and advanced players, sensors on the handle collect data about the player’s swing, power, endurance, technique, and ball impact. All of the information is collected in an accompanying app that allows users to easily record their performance during practices and matches.

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In addition, Sony displayed a prototype tennis sensor that attaches to a racket and analyzes and records your swing speed and ball spin.

4K TV’s and Curved Displays
While 4K (also known as Ultra HD) TV’s made their first appearance at last year’s show, the technology wasn’t fully formed. Today, the 4K picture is much more clear and all the major TV manufacturers unveiled their own 4K television.

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Perhaps the most talked about television at the show was Samsung’s 85-inch “Bendable 4K TV”. The TV can switch from a flat screen to a curved screen with the push of a button. The idea is to enable improved “immersive” viewing.

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LG also introduced its own curved television, a 77-inch curved OLED 4K TV, which uses a remote to switch between flat and curved. They are both in prototype stages at this point; however, Samsung has plans to make the TV a reality later this year.

In addition to their curved television, LG also showcased their G Flex bendable smartphone. It has a unique form factor and is said to be more comfortable – both when resting in your hand and holding it during a conversation. Another cool idea introduced by LG is a self-healing plastic that with a little heat and hand rubbing, makes minor scratches disappear.

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Changing the Definition of Driving
Automobiles were bigger at this year’s show than they ever have been – there were a couple that can drive themselves, those that are said to keep you safer, and even a few that look very little like your typical vehicle. Audi introduced their Sport Quattro Laser Light concept car while BMW showed off their i3 Self-Parking feature that requires you to hold down a button (and nothing else) in order to park.

The Toyotal i-Road looks less like a car and more like a small, futuristic transport pod. The all-electric vehicle is part motorcycle/part car and its wheels tilt instead of turning. The big downfall is that the top speed is 30mph (not sure how that would work getting around the city).

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Lit Motors, the electric car startup that launched last year with its first vehicle called the C1 (an all-electric, two-wheeled vehicle that has an enclosure to make it look more like a smart car), has debuted another sleek looking electricity-fueled vehicle called the Kubo. The Kubo is designed to operate much like a Vespa, but allow for storage space. We still like the look and functionality of the C1 – it uses an electronically-controlled gyroscopic stabilizing system to stay upright when stopped, or even when struck from the side in an accident.

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Another car worth mentioning for its design is the Mercedes Benz. It had amazing chrome super-slim sideview mirrors – extremely sleek and elegant.

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Home 3D Printing
More and more companies are stepping into the 3D printing realm – offering less expensive options and making it a reality for those who want a 3D printer in their home. MakerBot introduced three new models of their Replicator desktop 3D printer – one of which, the Replicator Mini, won Digital Trends’ coveted Best in Show award.

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3D Systems (DDD) is launching CubeJet, a unit about the size of a microwave that prints full-color plastic objects. One of the most intriguing printers at the show was the ChefJet, which uses water to melt sugar and spin delicate shapes that would otherwise be impossible.

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The Form 1 3D printer from Form Labs is the first high-resolution, desktop SLA printer. It produces more detailed models – and we really like the simple design. Other companies tried making a sound with a full set of drums, 3D printed in multiple parts and assembled to make a loud noise.

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For a look at more highlights from CES, check out our CES 2014 Highlights [Part Two].

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