While I only had a limited time at the International Consumer Electronics Showcase, and there was no way to see everything, here are some of the things that intrigued me most. Of course, it’s not a complete list due to still sorting through thousands of photos and hundreds of business cards, and several open bars, but here’s what I remember.
Fitness monitors
Several companies have come out with new models that not only monitor you but control your every action. OK, not really, but they’ll let you know when you need to get up and wander around for a minute so your metabolism doesn’t slow down. Evidently sitting still for too long is the new smoking, I’m told. After looking at several different offerings from various companies, we’ve got some pretty awesome ability to monitor ourselves and gamify exercise, which is what people who get bored during exercise have been in need of for a long time in my opinion.
Fitness monitors are not where I want them to be yet, but I’d imagine in about six months they will be. As a note, they come in watches, headbands, neck bands, arm bands, and under-bra clip on these days, so options are expanding.
Portable charging cases
While things like the ChargeKey require a computer, or USB adapter, this skips that requirement and plugs right into the wall.
More screen space
No need to get a super phablet just to go one size up.
Green transportation technology
A Formula-E racing car was also introduced at CES 2014, which I believe was the world’s first 150mph+ racing vehicle for a new class of vehicle/race, but due to bad directions to the event I managed to miss some of the speech. Perhaps with the adoption of some of the alternate passive energy collection methods (solar, wind, water), we can actually have a somewhat green vehicle post manufacturing.
Reverse charging
It’s also an absurdly funny marketing gimmick if Huawei ever manages to get its brand name in the US. It is currently the #3 smartphone manufacturer in the world, but due to not having a brand in the US, only about 9% of Americans have a clue who they are.
The Brick
Phone charger/car jumper/flashlight
Keyboard case to turn iPhones into Blackberries
Basically this a case with a keyboard attached that gives tactile feedback, so you can feel what you’re typing. I wish they’d had something like this when I first got into Android, but I’m good with Swype-style things now.
3D in the form of a plastic sheet
As opposed to purchasing a 3D device, you can lay a sheet on a tablet and convert it to a 3D tablet. It looked pretty good from what I saw, and doesn’t look like it should be limited to the iPad either.
Bitcoin payment stations
No more bartering bitcoins for beef sticks – exchange for non-meaty goodness.
5K TVs
Because 4K was so two hours ago.
There was more, so much more.