What I'm here to do is uncover the truly new and interesting categories of products and services that are relevant to our clients. I aim to report on novel technologies and new uses of old technologies that can often be found in the small booths, where the startups are, in the back corners of the expo."
From quirky to practical, Joel's twitter feed featured this year's standouts at CES. And looking back on the show, many of these products had something in common: a focus on well-being and personal happiness. This report highlights the gadgets, devices and technologies which set the trends in markets beyond the exhibit halls.
01
While manufacturers have targeted health and wellness for many years, this year's crop of new gadgets were more focused on discreet aspects of that market than ever before. From sensor-laden devices for bodybuilders to high-tech bad breath detectors, it seems most every area of our lives and lifestyle can now be enhanced through technology.
Bringing mobile tech to the bedside... Good thinking on the specialized medstand for @Standzout
Most beautiful fitness tracker at #CES2016 hands down @fitbit Blaze. That tan leather band is calling to me
Spoon helps rapidly growing demographic with less than steady hands eat without stress @gyenno
Mint by @Breathometer measures kissability and oral health, integrates with @PhilipsSonicare
Medical grade EKG for everyday tracking of heart health by @getqardio takes wearables to new market
Smart-B Trainer from @Sony tracks performance and adjusts your playlist to maximize workout
Go activity and sleep tracker by @Withings uses #eink display, super friendly #userexperience
Savvy workout tracker by @MYZONEmoves builds loyalty to fitness clubs... Great business model
#mHealth #Wearables supported by big insurance presence at #CES2016 @myUHC
Sleek device @skulpt_me is first to focus on muscle building rather than aerobic fitness
Activity tracking and safety alerts with real #fashion cred, @wisewear hits Bloomies next month
Ultimate running fitness tracker by @SensoriaInc, first fully developed line of smart clothing
Thermo by @Withings, most elegant and accurate wireless thermometer at #CES2016
Bewell connect by @Visiomed, comprehensive
New entry in connected fitness @underarmour with bold red branding, real sports cred
02
Connected Home
2016 was the year the "Connected Home" went from Jetsons to Johnsons. A wide variety of systems promising easy integration and affordable price points were presented, and we're betting features like keyless entry, smart thermostats, automated lighting and the like will soon become the norm in new homes. Most intriguing, though, were the ways these technologies are beginning to interface with our homes away from home - the potential for driver's seat / living room connectivity is huge.
#smarthome category really matured at #CES2016 Monitor and improve home energy use and comfort with @Ubiant
health and #wellness now for your home, @netatmo measures air quality and other factors
Gorgeous mySight WiFi cam... @iLuv_world really gets the value of remote video in people's lives
Smart solution to minimize water use when washing clothes from @LGUS
This lovely device makes the wired phone relevant again... Family friendly connectivity
Smart service by @ADT & @Samsung tweets seamlessly integrates every device you need for a #smarthome
New Smart remote by @Sony uses #eink to personalize functions to control anything in your house
SengLED: Smart Bulbs connect your home with built-in JBL speakers
Savant smart remote is powerful, sleek and $$$ at #CES2016
New COR thermostat from @CarrierAtHome is serious competition for Nest
I've now seen it all at #CES2016... I present Laundroid, world's first automated laundry folding system
03
Auto
Much has been written about the increasingly car-focused nature of CES's famous North Hall, and most of it is probably true. We're getting jaded by all the video game dashboards and instead found interest in autonomous driving and similar advances, we found more excitement in the subtle technologies and promising ecosystems beginning to emerge in this market.
After some head scratching last year, Windows are back on @MercedesBenz featured #CES2016 car
Personalized, convenient urban mobility and car sharing by @letsdrivenyc... very smart solution
FCV Plus from @Toyota generates power for your house and shares to the grid. And it also drives.
Every #CarAudio firm showing road mounted products to take your tunes into great outdoors
Will driving in the future really be like a bad video game? Please count me out.
The Control4 smart home app for the connected car.. One-touch smart home integration from any Android phone
Honda Clarity fuel cell car, to be first sold in California, and Power Exporter 9000 vehicle-to-home charging system lets your car power your lights when parked in the garage
#blackberry introduces new driver interaction, connectivity and automation system @QNX_Auto
#CES2016 is officially becoming an auto show... @ZF shows how cars will interact with drivers
First digital license plate... Very cool concept with genuine near term potential @verizon
Smart connectivity for any car, well executed idea from @Voyo starts shipping next month
Ford's Sync Connect lets you talk to Amazon's Echo, and Alexa to talk to your car
Audi's VR dealership lets you truly shop for your next car from the comfort of your couch
BMW's Air Touch system
04
Cool Tech
CES is known for showcasing new concepts which push the envelope of practicality, but 2016 had fewer "out there" ideas than any CES in recent memory. Perhaps a result of increased scrutiny and expectations prompted by crowdfunding, or a growing awareness of the need to guide product development by identified user needs, the array of device introductions by smaller companies and startups was surprisingly grounded in sensible solutions and realistic price points.
I'm finally blown away by a TV at #CES2016... @LGUS Picture on Glass is remarkably cool
Many have tried to perfect the folding keyboard, but I think @LGUS absolutely nailed this design
Bring your device along for the ride, and light the way with a smart USB headlight from @iOttie
Antimicrobial cleaning and care for your tech... Wonderful branding and they've hit on a need
If you jump out of a plane and land on a bike driving over a waterfall but aren't wearing a #GoPro, did it really happen?
Serious new competition in #ActionCam market, from @NikonUSA's keymission360
Tiny camera may change the way we capture and share experiences... @360fly is GoPro on steroids
Swoosh... ShotTracker smart ball by @Spalding helps you achieve your best on the Bball court
Kinda cool... @my_wraps make a great bracelet, and a handy set of earphones
Triby messaging and music-playing gadget by @Invoxia connects your family via @Amazon's Echo
Garmin's Varia Vision: Google Glass focused on the needs of bicyclists
Gemio smart bracelets: new tool for social networking teens send secret messages via light patterns
Cute Nima from @6sensorlabs has serious function: tests for gluten in food in under 2 minutes
Deeper connected fish finder takes the guesswork out of fishing, maybe some of the fun too?
Waking up to sound is so last year... SensorWake uses scent cartridges to gently start your day
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