The annual consumer electronics show, the CES in Las Vegas, is famous for highlighting international trends in its announcements and presentations. Here is a selection to remember from the 2017 show:
THE PC IS NOT DEAD:
In view of years of rapidly falling sales, many market observers had written off the trade in notebooks and desktop computers. But at this year’s CES, manufacturers have been falling over themselves to get announcements out.
Lenovo and Acer have presented several notebooks. There are also various special models for gamers – in part a response to the high computing power requirements required for virtual reality applications.
THERE’S MUCH STILL TO COME FROM DIGITAL SOUND:
It has been possible to simulate the acoustics of various concert venues for a while now.
But now, this is also possible in a car. And the individual passengers can now listen to different music simultaneously, without interfering with each other. The noise of the car is digitally filtered out, so manufacturers can save on sound insulation.
Headphones are using software to imitate 3D sound.
The industry has discovered that there’s still much room for improvement when it comes to digital sound processing.
Feel, an intelligent armband from Sentio Solutions, on display at CES. (File photo 05.01.2017 – credit: “Jason Ogulnik / dpa”.) Wearables remain popular but are getting more specialized.
THE NEW USB-C FORMAT IS SPREADING:
A few months ago, Apple caused an outcry among its customers when the new MacBook Pro appeared with its various connectors replaced by USB-C ports. It is now apparent, however, that the format could take on a central role as a standardized connector for various kinds of devices.
This would also mean the end of the current need for various adapters for various formats.
WEARABLES BECOME MORE NICHE:
After the initial hype about smart-watches as the all-rounder on your wrist, a trend to specialization has now set in. Fitness has emerged as a central application. The sales of fitness armbands have so far not been affected by computer watches.
It seems people prefer to strap on devices for particular occasions, rather than for constant wear. At the CES, too, there was a variety of new specialized technology with remarkably narrow applications. One example: a labour sensor for pregnant women.
-dpa
