Making the right connections in Las Vegas
Print Edition
NEW technology at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show is showcasing the growing number of ways to live a “connected life.”
The so-called “Internet of Things” is leading to a wider range of wearable tech, from sports shirts to smart watches to sleep monitors to connected refrigerators.
The four-day 2015 International CES, one of the world’s biggest electronics fairs, will open in Las Vegas on Tuesday and show how technology is permeating virtually all sectors of life — from entertainment to automobiles to kitchen appliances, in sectors including health, fashion and sports.
“The ‘Internet of Things’ is the hottest topic in tech right now,” said Karen Chupka of the Consumer Electronics Association, which organizes the annual event.
“It’s all about the opportunity to connect everyday items like cars, home security systems and kitchen appliances to networked devices like PCs and smartphones for greater control and management of our everyday lives.”
A separate robotics zone will be 25 percent bigger than last year, with at least 18 exhibitors. Some robots are connected to the Internet cloud, or controllable by mobile devices and capable of seeing, hearing, feeling and reacting to the environment.
A wider range of wearable technology will also be on display at the show.
While smart watches and fitness bands have been on the market, “I expect to see more smart garments, including smart shirts and smart bras,” said Angela McIntyre, analyst at the research firm Gartner.
“We’ll be seeing more traction with smart garments next year.”
These garments are likely to replace more restrictive heart-monitoring straps and bands which are “effective but uncomfortable,” McIntyre said.
More important than the wearable items themselves will be the platform behind them. Users will be looking for ways to use the data in a productive way, said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas.
“A wearable device can tell you that you have walked 10,000 steps. But we need more than that,” Llamas said.
“People are looking for devices which tell us when we need to go to sleep earlier, skip dessert, or get up and take a walk around the office.”
A major battle is taking place to be the software platform for wearables, with Google, Apple, Microsoft and others seeking domination.
“What we will be seeing is a shift from the device and its app to having an integrated account where people can get insights about their fitness and health not just from one device but from several wearables,” McIntyre said.
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