The document summarizes some of the major technology trends seen at CES 2016 in Las Vegas. Virtual reality saw increased participation and moved closer to the mainstream. Health and fitness technologies grew substantially, including smart mattresses and exoskeletons. Personal drones for transporting humans were showcased, though not yet ready for public use. Smart appliances advanced as well, such as refrigerators that can automatically place grocery orders. Green technologies like hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and solar cookers were also highlighted.

1. BEST OF CES
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS FROM
THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
SHOW FOR 2016
2016 | fredcuellar.net | fredcuellar.org

2. THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW (CES FOR
SHORT), IS A YEARLY HAVEN FOR TECH INVENTORS
AND ENTHUSIASTS. THE SUPERBOWL OF
INNOVATORS, IF YOU WILL. 2016’S CES IN LAS
VEGAS HAPPENED IN JANUARY, AND ALLOWED
GREAT MINDS IN TECH TO COME TOGETHER WITH
A COMMON PLATFORM, TO SHOWCASE
INNOVATION, BRAINSTORM IDEAS, AND GET UP
CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT
OF IDEAS THAT CREATORS ARE PRODUCING.

3. WHILE IT IS NEVER A SURE BET WHICH
TECHNOLOGIES THAT COME OUT OF CES WILL BE
THE ONES THAT GET FUNDING, RESONATE WITH
THE PUBLIC, OR MAKE WAVES IN THE INDUSTRY,
THERE ARE SOME COMMON THREADS THAT YOU
CAN USE TO REASONABLY GUESS WHAT THE NEXT
BIG THING WILL BE FROM CES.

4. VIRTUAL REALITY: THE VR FLOOR SPACE AT CES
2016 SAW ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF
PARTICIPATION. WHILE IT’S BEEN ON THE
PERIPHERY OF TECHNOLOGY FOR SOME TIME
NOW, TWICE AS MUCH PARTICIPATION PUTS IT
PRETTY CLEARLY ON THE BRINK OF INCHING INTO
THE PUBLIC SPHERE. LOOK OUT FOR AFFORDABLE,
ENJOYABLE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE ACTUAL
VALUE AT HOME OR AT WORK IN THE VIRTUAL
REALITY VEIN TO COME OUT IN THE NEXT YEAR.

5. HEALTH AND FITNESS: FROM FITBIT, TO SMART
MATTRESS COVERS THAT KNOW THE
TEMPERATURE AND HOW MUCH YOU TOSS AND
TURN IN YOUR SLEEP, TO AN EXOSKELETON THAT
LETS YOU EXPERIENCE THE EFFECTS OF AGING TO
PROMOTE AWARENESS OF CONDITIONS AND
SYMPTOMS, THERE IS A LARGE SPHERE OF HEALTH
TECH OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WITH EXHIBIT
SPACE FOR THIS CATEGORY GROWING 40% THIS
YEAR AS WELL.

6. PERSONAL DRONES: THESE MADE A STRONG SHOWING AT
CES, WITH SEVERAL PERSONAL DRONES MEANT TO CARRY
A HUMAN PASSENGER. THE EHANG 184 WAS ABLE TO
CARRY A HUMAN FOR A TABLET-CONTROLLED FLIGHT FOR
UP TO 20 MINUTES, AND CAN REACH UP TO 60+ MILES AN
HOUR. WHILE NOT QUITE READY FOR PUBLIC
CONSUMPTION, THERE IS CLEARLY A LOT OF EXCITEMENT
AROUND DRONES AND THE CAPABILITIES THEY HAVE.
PARROT ALSO SHOWCASED A PERSONAL DRONE THAT
SEEMED A LITTLE MORE REALISTIC FOR PERSONAL USE.
EXPECT TO SEE LOTS OF CONVERSATION ABOUT
LICENSING, OWNERSHIP, SAFETY, AND REGULATIONS AS
THIS GETS CLOSER TO A REALISTIC OPTION FOR TRAVEL.

7. CURRENTLY WE ARE SEEING GROWTH IN THE
FIELD OF DRONE FIRST-RESPONDERS,
SUPPLANTING EMERGENCY CREWS SUCH AS
FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTS UNTIL THE SEVERITY OF
THE SITUATION CAN BE ESTABLISHED, AND TO
MONITOR THE STABILITY OF THE SITUATION,
HELPING SAVING THE LIVES OF THE LIFE-SAVERS.

8. SMART APPLIANCES: THE SMART HOME TECH HAS
BEEN TAKING OFF, FROM LIGHTING TO
THERMOSTATS. THERE WERE SEVERAL
SHOWCASED AT CES 2016, INCLUDING A SHOW
STOPPING SMART REFRIGERATOR. IT CAN
RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR FRIDGE IS GETTING EMPTY
AND PLACE ORDER FOR GROCERIES ON IT’S OWN,
AND HAS A CAMERA IN THE FRIDGE YOU CAN
ACCESS WITH YOUR PHONE SO IF YOU FORGET
YOUR LIST IN THE GROCERY STORE, YOU CAN
LOOK AT THE CONTENTS IN REAL TIME. IT HAS A
HD TOUCHSCREEN YOU CAN SEND MESSAGES TO,
TO KEEP THE WHOLE FAMILY UP TO DATE
WITHOUT STICKY NOTES.

9. GREEN TECH: FROM THE TOYOTA FCV PLUS,
WHICH IS A HYDROGEN FUEL-CELL CONCEPT CAR,
TO THE GOSUN GRILL, WHICH IS A SOLAR COOKER
THAT GETS UP TO 232° CELSIUS IN TEMPERATURE
TO FRY, BAKE, AND BOIL HARNESSING SOLAR
ENERGY, GREEN TECH WAS ONCE AGAIN A
HIGHLIGHT OF CES 2016.