“The IOT” Has Arrived
Any attempt to sum up the gargantuan 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show, ending today in Las Vegas, might be futile, but here we go. Every day, mundane items (washers, ovens, tools) mutate into web-enabled, futuristic devices — this is one way to view what has been described as “The Internet of Things.” Welcome or not, “IOT” has arrived.
Internet of Things Breathes Life into CES 2015
Immutable proof of IOT is CES 2015, which has ebbed back up in terms of credibility for hundreds of thousands of future-age and readily available technologies. CES had been the most reputable innovations display of the last decade and more, but perception of the show had dropped in recent years. Critics bemoaned the same-old, same-old products year after year, with only minor differences.
Automobiles Boost CES Importance & Hype
Not so in 2015, and the reason for the renewed hype is largely due to the automobile industry’s important innovations, both inside and outside the vehicle. From hydrogen fuel cells and self-driving cars, to smart cameras and safety technologies, cars and trucks will never be the same. The show drew an estimated 150,000 people and 20,000 gadgets — all on the square footage equivalent to 36 American football fields. Innovations and devices included the following rough list:
Tens of Thousands of “Internet of Things” Innovations
Hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles, wearables, facial recognition camera for home security, cameras in LED light fixtures and bulbs, stress-reducing headware, hover boards, smart washers, driers and ovens for smart homes — even smart forks and smart rings.
Plus: treadmills with scenic screens, drones in all areas of life, bendable and flexible tablets, 3D printers, heat-sensor cameras, privacy and security devices, smart mirrors, 4K ultra high definition TVs, immersive entertainment, 4G antennas for cars.
Finally: mind-soothing headware, hover boards, smart washers and driers for smart homes, treadmills with scenic screens, drones in all areas of life, and bendable/flexible pads and readers.
And much more.
Greg Goaley, President of WinCommnications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a digital content strategist and provider, and Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.