9 IoT Highlights from CES
The Internet of Things was a star of CES 2017.
January 9, 2017
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Apple’s Siri may have launched back in 2011 and Google its impressive smart speaker technology, but the consensus seems to be that Amazon is now winning the virtual assistant wars. Case in point: Amazon’s Alexa is beginning to look not just like a smart speaker, but an operating system for the Internet of Things. As CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal observes: “Alexa – Amazon’s artificial intelligence (AI) voice assistant rival to Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant – was everywhere [at CES]. The U.S. e-commerce giant integrated Alexa with a number of devices and products including Ford cars (pictured above), LG’s new refrigerator, and Huawei’s Mate 9 smartphone.”
The company Powervision hopes to bring drones to the recreational fishing industry. Its submarine drone can swim 30 meters beneath the surface of a body of water and detect fish up to 40 meters away. The drone uses sonar to locate fish. It can beam their coordinates—along with underwater snapshots or video and temperature data—to a user up to 80 meters away. The gadget also includes a fish-luring light.
There’s been something of a Tower or Babel problem with the Internet of Things, with many IoT devices speaking distinct languages. ZigBee is hoping to tackle the problem with the debut of the dotdot language, which enables connected devices to work together on a network.
For decades, the design of electronics was limited by rigid electronics and batteries—especially in the world of wearables. While several tech vendors have promised flexible electronics, the technology hasn’t yet become mainstream yet. At CES this year, Panasonic announced its plans to help change this state of affairs with the launch of a flexible battery. Capable of working after repeated bending, the battery could give more flexibility to designers of wearables. The company debuted three prototypes of the technology, measuring 40 by 65, 35 by 55, and 28.5 by 39 mm.
The next-generation mobile network, 5G, reared its head at CES with Intel launching a 5G modem and Qualcomm’s chief executive playing up the potential of the technology in a keynote. 5G will help make the vision of the Internet of Things a reality, said the company’s CEO Steve Mollenkopf. “Entire industries will change and emerge as data speeds go up and data costs come down,” Mollenkopf explained.
For years, many tech vendors have proclaimed that their products were “smart” because they were bundled with sensors and were connected to the Internet. In recent years, it has been exceptionally rare for most IoT devices to have anywhere near the same level of computer power as a smartphone. Intel hopes to remedy the situation with its Compute Card—a credit-card-sized device that includes a processor, memory, storage, a GPU, and wireless connectivity hardware. The company envisions that the technology will enable makers of devices to add IoT functions by merely installing its Compute Card, which could be replaced at a later date if an upgrade is required.
Companies like Samsung and LG have sought to convince consumers to upgrade to so-called smart fridges that feature Wi-Fi enabled touchscreen technology. LG’s latest devices InstaView also incorporates Amazon Alexa technology. But the company Smarter Applications is offering consumers a less expensive option to upgrade to a smart fridge: install a camera within the fridge rather than swapping out the whole refrigerator. Known as a FridgeCam, the device enables consumers to view the contents of the fridge via an app. The system also can help track expiration dates, suggest recipes, and auto-replenish its contents when they run low.
Panasonic debuted a smart table that the company proclaims will represent “the future of UX.” While that may be a bold proclamation, the device does offer an array of novel features. It can sync with your smartphone to allow you to interact with text messages and perform internet search queries. You can take video calls via the table. The device also enables users to manage and interact with smart home devices.
You likely have about a half dozen remotes in your living room. The company Sevenhugs says you really need just one. The company showed off a smart remote that can connect devices throughout the home. The device can detect which type of device the user is pointing at, so that, if you want to change, say, the TV channel, it can do that automatically if you point and click the remote at the TV. The same thing applies if you want to dim a smart light bulb or perform any other function in the house that works with remote control.
You likely have about a half dozen remotes in your living room. The company Sevenhugs says you really need just one. The company showed off a smart remote that can connect devices throughout the home. The device can detect which type of device the user is pointing at, so that, if you want to change, say, the TV channel, it can do that automatically if you point and click the remote at the TV. The same thing applies if you want to dim a smart light bulb or perform any other function in the house that works with remote control.
The Internet of Things seemed to be nearly everywhere at CES this year. In 2017, there was a parade of new IoT devices, ranging from connected cars to wearables. In addition, Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant technology is beginning to emerge as a sort of operating system for connected consumer devices. It is now employed in everything from cars, smart fridges, robots, and smartphones.
Read on to learn about several IoT products and services showcased at the event:
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