Results of CES 2016: main trends and best gadgets

Sport, smart robots and virtual reality - the four main areas held in Las Vegas, the main technological exhibition CES 2016. And if virtual reality, artificial intelligence, her companion, and a variety of drones (flying well, or only down break) the interests of users (and, hence, developers), for obvious reasons, smart gadgets have become a breakthrough and a disgrace CES.

One of the main trends last exhibition in Las Vegas has become a diverse wearable electronics. All the smart gadgets can be divided into three broad categories: the device for sports, augmented reality devices and intelligent medical equipment. True, the latter gradually flows into the more general niche of smart electronics, actually become the elements of a smart home, not yet integrated into the overall chain of home devices.

wearable Electronics

Sports bracelets and smartwatch in 2016 promises to be a smarter, richer and often cheaper. So, a very interesting gadget was introduced by Withings - branded

Activity Tracker Go for only $ 70. All the other manufacturers of such devices have tried to define its activity and also presented at the exhibition for at least one gadget. Even Casio Fossil and diversified its product range, adding to the already popular line of watches news with clever functionality.

Unfortunately, mass wrist fitness gadgets with monotonous function completely erases any distinction between the devices. And looks quite strange copy of the Mi Band of Misfit called Ray. Especially when a substantial difference in the cost of new items not in favor of the more eminent manufacturer: the court of the unfolding crisis and expensive gadgets are not too popular.

The other side of the device sports a variety of steel headset functionality with fitness trackers. Here we note even eminent audiokorporatsiya Harman, who introduced the headphones with a heart rate monitor. From it does not lag behind Misfit (author of many beloved Shine), but if the creation of Harman still headset with excellent sound quality, the Misfit Spector - a quality gadget for athletes and only then the device to play music (on this side of the representatives of the company and at all while trying to remain silent).

A real breakthrough in the field of intelligent audio technology was a project Bragi Dash. Two separate earphone synchronized with each other and are Bluetooth-headset with "shumodava", heart rate, activity tracker.

Medical smart appliances for household use

But in the field of smart electronics stood out medical devices. These gadgets are really needed in the house, and some of the new products are trying to solve a very serious problem.

One of the best medical gadgets became Owlet Baby Monitor - smart booties with integrated monitor the amount of oxygen in the blood and heart rate. The device transmits information about the baby's condition at parents smartphones. Theoretically, such an approach would make it more rare cases sudden infant death for unclear reasons.

Note and intelligent thermometer Withings ThermoThat can also measure pressure and specially designed to create a digital magazine of treatment. All measurements are synchronized with the software for the smartphone, which you can also specify the dosage and time of reception of medicines, and then send the collected information to the attending physician.

Another interesting device in this area has become Nima from the company 6SensorLabs. The device is able to test food samples on the gluten content, as well as a variety of allergens.

smart house

Very widely it was presented at the CES 2016 and features a smart home, to be precise - ready kits and so called hubs - device for controlling the various sensors and compatible household devices. Common system presented many developers from different countries. Unfortunately, most of the systems have their own software and totally incompatible with the other developer products, which reduces the relevance and applicability of even the most interesting gadgets.

From the developers of such devices available it is worth noting PeanutCombining a single management system and a set of sensors for monitoring, measuring and performing certain actions. Despite the fact that Peanut is not compatible with many other concepts, it is worth paying attention to because of fairly low cost, acquisition opportunities sensor individually, and, most importantly, control using IFFT-computer systems, which allows a certain freedom in the integration in concrete conditions.

As demonstrated by the exhibition, competitors Peanut is not so much, although many companies try their hand in the creation of smart home devices. Among them was, for example, LG, which brought to CES 2016 Smart Security Device - harvester of surveillance cameras and a hub for smart home systems (of course, with a proprietary unique algorithm based communication LG operating system). Although the device can shoot 152-degree video overview of the premises, to respond to movement, to monitor temperature and humidity, as well as transmit data to a smartphone owner, the question of compatibility with other gadgets remain open.

Solve the problem come from Samsung, which announced about the same space of the Internet of things (IoT) based on its own open platform SmartThings. This technology enables you to control a wide variety of devices, including CCTV cameras, thermostats, sensors and other necessary pieces. Already this year, the basic software for the use of this technology will begin to be installed in every smart TV Korean giant.

In the same area it was noted by Qualcomm, demonstrated by reference Snapdragon 212 platform prototype smart home and the application to manage all processes. Currently, the system is able to work with external speakers, control hubs, home appliances, multimedia devaysa and set-top boxes. The novelty is already available to OEM-manufacturers.

Apple-hysteria

Clones of the MacBook - a separate story on the CES. Virtually every reputable notebook manufacturer tried to create a competitor to this model notebook. And I must admit, many have succeeded. But you can read about it (because of the large volume) in a separate article.

Robots copter and cars of the future

A significant part of the exhibition occupied a variety of projects devoted to learning the basics of programming and robotics. But all sorts of robots, no matter what function they may have, no longer produce the impression that before. In this area, there is a certain stagnation, and it's primarily in high-value projects and their isolation from the real desires of the people. Too small part of the robot is able to benefit: most are directed only to the entertainment.

Another thing - the copter. They were presented a great variety: small and large, to entertainment and even for use as personal transport.

In the past year a lot of noise was made Tesla with his autopilot. In this it tried to compete with other companies. Although first place is still necessary to give electric vehicles. General Motors introduced the crossover Chevrolet Bolt EVWhich is able to travel 200 miles on a single battery charge. But Faraday Future showed hypercar FFZERO1 with an electric motor, whose power reaches thousands of horsepower.

Do not stand aside, and many others, including Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Ford and even the Volkswagen Group. So unmanned vehicles is not far off. Especially thanks to innovations from NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Harman, which we have already said.

A virtual reality

Virtual reality - an old dream of mankind. And it is to CES 2016, we waited for the main unit of real samples for its creation and the mass of its clones. That's just the total cost Oculus Rift together with the necessary for its operation of the computer more than $ 1 500, in view of the current rate puts an end to the spread of technology in Russia.

But the device market to create VR-content replenished with new names. Small, but still should be called a breakthrough video camera for filming VR-panoramas as from 4K Kodak. A pair of cameras provides a full 360-degree view and it only costs $ 900, which is several times cheaper counterparts. For those who have this much or little, as part of CES it was presented many such gadgets such as Lytro Immerge.

Oculus seems a good alternative to Samsung project - glasses Gear VR. Of course, they are simplified, but still not to the level of google CardboardWho own the lion's share of the market VR-devices due to the maximum availability. The more that a variety of controllers to control virtual reality gestures, movements, and also sets created for Oculus, most of them can be used in other developments.

Surprisingly, the wave of VR-devices tried to even catch the Garmin, presented a augmented reality glasses for cyclists varia Vision. They are in the form of sunglasses with two displays on top of the lens and the side touchpanel, and is synchronized with the locator (!) For the rear hemisphere review. The gadget can display trip statistics and route incoming notification. Unfortunately, despite the clear benefits of the gadget, its total cost is $ 500, and it again makes you wonder.