This year's annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will shift the tech sector, as various gadgets become seamlessly connected. This is underpinned by the Internet of things, which is fast becoming a reality in homes and lives.
Liron Segev, Swift Consulting CEO and tech blogger, says although today is day zero for CES in that the Las Vegas show kicks off today, there have already been several big announcements, and he expects many more. This year, he notes, will be all about connectivity and the show will "alter the tone of the industry".
He adds: "It will be an interesting year in tech; we're not going to be bored."
Segev notes while much coming out of CES is "more of the same", the items being launched are improvements on what is available in that the new items are better, faster and smaller. CES is a launch platform for the tech world and will set the tone for 2015, he notes. "What we see will hit the shelves in the next 12 months; it's not futuristic."
World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck adds tech is increasingly being made available to the mass market.
Tipping point
Goldstuck says there is a big shift in tech becoming seamlessly integrated into homes, and becoming mainstream, and this seamless connectivity is bringing consumer categories with it, almost unnoticed.
Among the innovations coming out are LG's modular washing machine, which allows two loads to be washed at once, says Segev. He says while people may not get "orgasmically excited" about a washing machine, the modular approach shows companies are thinking differently and will be "new and exciting" in the tech world, because it allows people to convert what they already own.
Segev explains this approach could be rolled out to cars, allowing them to be improved through a software update, without the expense of a whole new vehicle. The modular approach is essentially taking a tech plug-and-play approach into different parts of people's lives, he adds.
There is also much ado about cars at CES this year, such as in-car entertainment, adds Segev. He notes tech is moving from other areas - such as smart shoes - into vehicles. In addition, says Segev, home automation is a big thing and is at a tipping point to become "the real thing", just like cars.
Although wearables are a big deal this year, Segev is not convinced they are en route to becoming mainstream: "There is no usage case besides the cool geek factor."
Among those companies which have launched wearables is Sony, which added to its SmartWear range with a stainless steel edition of SmartWatch 3, new Lifelog collaborations, and concept wearable devices, including a multi-sensor, waterproof headset prototype.
Goldstuck says there has been an "explosion" in wearables and much is happening in the watch and fitness space, but the big focus is on activity, rather than functionality. He expects it will not be long before wearables and "watchables" are combined, as wearables are meeting cars; TVs are meeting phones and content ecosystems; and phones are meeting smart homes.
"The Internet of things is underpinning the revolution that we are seeing."
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