CONNECTED HOME

Dave Carlson, Director of Software Engineering

CES 2015 TRENDS

APP CONTROLLED DEVICES

There's an app for that. And that. And that. Apps know no limit and are controlling products from cars to shoe insoles. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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Your device may be just what people need. Does your app meet that same need? Does it display relevant information that users can understand and act upon?

George Guffey, Director of User Experience Development

DRONES

An entire section of CES was dedicated to drones this year. With FAA regulations on the horizon, the potential applications for drones are still up in the air, but we expect to see this market continue to expand. come into focus over the next couple of years. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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I think drones are still finding their niche in the consumer space. Applications, particularly as they pertain to safety, are really useful. Inspecting a roof or chimney for example could prevent a lot of accidents. However drones also present a new set of safety concerns. Expect to see the FAA step up regulations before the air traffic gets too out of control.

Mark Schwartz, CEO

CARS OF THE FUTURE

Vehicle manufacturers are working on everything from highly efficient electric motors to increasingly connected vehicles that push the limits of in-car information overload. Attendees were particularly awed by the latest in self-driving technology. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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I believe the auto industry has started to focus on Millennials and what this generation finds desirable. Gen X and Baby Boomers have always regarded control of a vehicle as a method of power and freedom. Millennials regard vehicles as transportation or entertainment. So as we read about google autonomous cars and see Mercedes Benz present a concept that removes effort/power of driving and creates a platform for which you are driven and entertained or allowed to multi-task, we mark the start of an enormous fundamental shift in industry and culture.

Gil Cavada, Director of Industrial Design

BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

All of this technology is great...but not without the batteries to fuel it. There were a few notable new power sources displayed at CES. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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How do you provide enough energy to last a lifetime? Shape and structure has been the primary advance in innovation more so than the energy density of batteries. Moving forward, it will become critical that new chemistries will provide the "next big thing."

Stephen Lingle, Director of Electrical Engineering

INTERNET OF THINGS

The "Internet of Things" was the big buzzword at last year's CES, and 2015 saw the hype start to settle down into practical applications with exciting possibilities. Everyone wants to make their product "smart," with the ability to communicate with a variety of other devices in a limitless technological ecosystem.  Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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Our role as designers is now focused not just on tangible elements and aesthetics, but also the economics and usage of a connected product (will the Nest thermostat really save me money over time?). Just like working with engineers, Industrial Designers have to play well with UI/UX designers in order to create a great overall product experience.

Tom O'Connor, Industrial Designer

TABLETS

It can be difficult to find something notable in the sea of tablets at CES, but we saw a couple that deserved a little shout-out. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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We are seeing a convergence between a person's use of their phone, tablet and laptop. There are more phones today that look like mini-tablets and laptops that are designed to be more versatile. Consumers are looking to purchase a tablet that operates as their traditional personal computer. One that is feature-packed with things like USB connectivity or a sophisticated interface that can easily transform between a working laptop and a device on the go.

John Morici, Mechanical Engineer

IPHONE / IPAD ACCESSORIES

iPhone and iPad accessory development show no signs of slowing. As these devices become ubiquitous partners in our lives, manufacturers see growing opportunities in this market. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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Phones having semi-professional camera lenses? Wow. It's crazy to think that designers are no longer looking at the photographer's typical setup, but now focusing their attention on our devices as the home base for camera lenses and photography equipment. Going further, designers and engineers alike have their work cut out for them for years to come with consumers asking for device protection against wicked mother nature.

Matt Dean, Industrial Designer

WEARABLES

Wearables continue to be among the hottest and most hyped categories at CES. As with other technologies, we saw 2015 as the year the market matured to offer truly practical, effective and economical solutions for the average consumer. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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Technology continues to become more intimately integrated into our lifestyles. Wearables are uniquely personal items and their design requires a refined and careful approach. In addition to the normal functional requirements, the design of a successful wearable product must consider human behavior, style preferences, safety and innovative user interface. Look for wearable products to increase in subtlety, sophistication and intelligent biometric sensing.

David Carhart, Director of Prototyping

FITNESS

As CES starts the first week of January, most attendees are still committed to their New Years' resolutions of exercising more and losing weight. Manufacturers oblige with a focus on new ways for technology to supercharge our workouts. Some of these are no doubt effective, others probably fall into the novelty category. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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The fitness segment provides product developers ample opportunity to eliminate all of the excuses people have for not working out. The goal is to solve the riddle of how to seamlessly incorporate a fit for life" lifestyle into a hectic schedule. The solution is to use technology to integrate entertainment and data collection and automate reporting of fitness metrics to maximize the results of time spent on fitness. It's not just the design of the equipment but designing the experience.

Scott Semenik, Mechanical Engineer

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The meeting of classic, traditional, and at times iconic designs with modern and forward looking technology comes together seamlessly in these products. With iconic designs as the Gibson Les Paul guitar, new developments can be met with criticism from traditionalists at first, but it shows that designers should not be afraid to be progressive in their thinking, and look to the future for new technologies to challenge previously unmet needs. Additionally, retro, classic styling enhanced with modern materials and finishes can make any product relevant in today's highly competitive market places.

Andy Last, Designer, United Kingdom

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held annually in Las Vegas, always gets our team excited for the new year. The show continues to be a whirlwind of eye-catching innovative technologies, novel ideas and thought-provoking concepts. We invite you to see the show through the eyes of PDT's product design and development team.

Connected home gadgets were around every corner. From cameras to appliances, manufacturers keep finding unique ways to apply technologies to connect and automate our households. Roll over the products below to learn more about what we saw:

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Security, privacy, convenience and the delicate balance between them all. With the explosion of devices and do it yourself wireless platforms, almost everything in your home can be controlled remotely. Being able to find that delicate balance between the convenience these products can offer while protecting the user and their privacy. These products will really highlight what the customer values most and what they are willing to sacrifice to incorporate these items into their homes.