Bendable smartphones, clothing that thinks and automobiles that drive themselves were some of the items on display at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show held last month at Las Vegas Convention Center and World Trade Center, The Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and Venetian. While many of the products were prototypes, they offered a glimpse into what consumers can look forward to in the not-too-distant future.
More than 3,600 exhibitors wowed the 150,000-plus attendees by featuring hundreds of innovative devices. Several products will interest event professionals who travel frequently. Those seeking a super-skinny tablet will love Dell’s paper-thin Venue 8 7000, which measures just 6 mm. For presentations, Epson’s Cinema 600 is a compact digital projector that can scale up its display to 25 times larger than a 60-inch TV screen. For printing on-the-go there is ZUtA, a portable, pocket-sized unit that connects to a smartphone and runs across any size paper.
Speaking of running, what event planner wouldn’t want Rocketskates when racing through a busy airport? The strap-on, motorized roller skates are now in production.
Startup Digipas launched eGeeTouch, the first smart luggage lock (pictured). With the tap of an NFC-enabled smartphone, tablet or smartwatch, travelers can get into their luggage without fussing over combinations and dials. EGeeTouch, which is waterproof and can handle extreme hot and cold weather, is approved by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. It also includes a TSA-accepted key lock, to allow authorized airport personnel to access the luggage.
Wearable technology portends to be huge. Tiny sensors embedded into athletic shirts or socks can track movement and act as fitness coaches. T-shirts monitor blood pressure, and baby clothing helps reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A host of gadgets monitor/manage health conditions such as asthma and diabetes.
