Interpreting CES 2015

3,600 exhibitors

160,000 attendees

205,000 square meters

“The Internet of Everything makes every company a tech company”

John Chambers CEO Cisco

“Technology and consumer experience for us are two sides of the same coin”

Mayur Gupta, Global Head of Marketing and Innovation, Kimberly Clark

2015: Evolution not revolution

Key Theme

Everything that Can Be Connected, Will Be Connected

What Does It Mean For Us?

New Consumer experiences: that generate dataNew touch-points: to inform, engage and entertain consumersMore platforms for messagesNew opportunities for co-creationNew ways of measuring success

Sensors, sensors everywhere

The ubiquity of sensors allows a wide range of devices to talk to each other and to consumers

Systems such as Qualcomm’s AllJoyn or Apple Homekit are providing the infrastructural glue that allow devices to talk to each other

But amid all the possibilities, in our opinion, many Connected World solutions remain solutions looking for a problem to solve. The end benefit to consumers may not be compelling in many cases

We have highlighted some examples where we believe the consumer benefit is clear

The Connected World

Qualcomm AllJoyn

Mother by Sen.se

Whirlpool Smart Kitchen

Connected Cars

Car manufacturers continue to be major exhibitors at CES. Most major manufacturers had a presence at CES and many software providers exhibited their connected car products

Driverless cars are a focus for many manufacturers – but until these become a reality, there are many applications to help drivers improve and monitor the performance of themselves and their cars, and help with difficult tasks like how to park

Connected Cars

BMW iValet

Mercedes F015

Intel Perceptual Computing

3D Printing gets consumer-friendly

In 2015 more consumers will take up 3D Printing

3D printing vendors continue to make meaningful improvements in their products, while at the same time making them easier to use and less expensive.

Makers like MakerBot are adding new materials to the printing palette – and starting to form partnerships with consumer brands .

Even consumer services were being showcased, like 3dplus’s offer to make a superhero action figure by warping a model of your head onto a custom-printed base (seen to the right).

A particular focus is on 3D printed food - with makers such as ChefJet and XYZ presenting dedicated 3D food printers

3D Printing

Maker Bot

ChefJet

Taking Selfies To New Heights

There were more than 30 booths at CES showing drones or some other remote controlled flying device. They even had their own zone, the not very sexily named “Unmanned Systems” zone

Drones come in many sizes, from those that can fit in the palm of your hand to much bigger units. Most can be controlled from a smartphone, and a good number will follow you around

Most manufacturers appear to believe that the primary use of drones will be for creating content – either through transporting Go Pro or similar action cameras or simply for the taking of elevated selfies.

We have included examples from both the expensive and cheaper end of the market – and some other selfie innovations

Drones

AirDog

Zano

Panono

Prynt

The Selfie Brush

Augmented Reality

Google Glass may be delayed, but smart glasses technology is still progressing.

The most promising examples at CES looked more like real glasses — and that would seem to be the key to any potential.

The Moveiro (showed in the previous page) by Epson, is a particularly strong entry in this field – in way of comfort and ease of use.

Not surprisingly CES showcased significant innovation in the area of Virtual Reality especially, but not exclusively in relation to gaming

Virtual reality

Vuzix

Facial Recognition Arrives

CES 2015 showed considerable innovation in the facial recognition software

A focus of these innovations was on home security – although we feature the Panasonic Smart Mirror as an example of facial recognition software with obvious consumer benefit and a clear potential for brand overlays.

Facial Recognition

Panasonic Smart Mirror

Netatmo Welcome

Wearable Tech is everywhere (just not being worn)

Wearable technology was one of the main focuses of CES 2015, with an entire exhibition hall devoted to wearables

Two technologies predominated:– Smart watches, which were everywhere

other than on people’s wrists and – Health and technology related wearables

Wearables

What can smart technology do for us?

Teach me

Adidas MiCoach Smart Ball

SmartMat

Muse: The Brain Sensing Headband

Regulate me

Wellograph

Belty

Protect me

Sunfriend: UVA + B Monitor

Tellspec

Make life easier for me

Edyn: Garden System

Parrot: Pot

Parrot: Pot

Screens

Pretty much everything that can be done to a TV screen or monitor has now been done.

They have been bent, and stretched, we’ve included 3D and removed it. We’ve gone from HD to UHD (4K) to Super UHD (8K).

Given that there is very little 4K content, 8K may seem superfluous - but it represents the next frontier in picture clarity

Other than this there was very little screen innovation

Screens

LG G FLEX 2

Kodak Android Phone

Interpreting CES 2015