Thanks to Siri, Alexa and the wide array of access we have to technology I find myself regularly stating we live in the future. It’s not the kind of future with hover boards (although those do exist) or Rosie from the Jetsons but it is pretty close.
A few weeks ago I received the opportunity to get an insider peek at the hottest tech coming to CES this winter. CES or the Consumer Electronics Show is an annual event showcasing the best of the best in tech for the coming year. For Tech nerds, CES is the holy grail of events! The event I attended was a sampling of the amazing things that will be announced during the January event.
This spring, you can expect to see more devices using the Voice Effect [Hey Siri], more tools working towards full connectivity, and more ways to engage on three screens [computer + tv + phone]. Ten Years ago in 1998 the technology landscape was a bit different. The top electronic item was a Color TV and the second most popular home device was a VCR. Flash forward 10 years and you’d be surprised to find a home without a TV, Smartphone and Laptop. Technology has become increasingly accessible and it’s integration in our day-to-day lives has become indispensable.
I had the opportunity to demo a few of the highlights we’ll see at the January event and I have to say I am excited about the direction technology is going in. The theme of the event I attended was Home and Health tech and there are some exciting new products headed our way this spring.
I love learning about things that help make life a bit easier and the technology coming out around living healthier lives fascinates me. Like most people, I love listening to music when I work out but as a woman, most workout gear is without pockets. I have yet to find a pair of headphones I really enjoy, since in ear headphones get gross with sweat and cords make me feel tangled.
After the event I received a pair of the Aftershokz Trekz Air to demo and I have to say I LOVE the thought that went into these headphones. These wireless headphones sit over the ear [not in] so that you can hear what is going on around you. This is perfect for runners who might need to be aware of cars. Note: I received a pair of Aftershokz to keep and demo.
As a night owl, I’ve found that sleep doesn’t naturally come easy so when I heard of the Philips SmartSleep system I was intrigued. The first wearable technology that has been clinically proven to enhance sleep, the SmartSleep headband uses customized sound tone to naturally improve the wearers ability to obtain deep sleep. Initially it looks somewhat difficult to wear but the device is actually very light and would be easy to sleep in.
I first heard of TENS devices a few years ago and I love that these easy to use medical tools are finally making it out into the consumer market. The Omron Avail is a wireless TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) designed to provide management of pain or sore muscles, completely without drugs. The unit works similar to acupuncture by trigging the muscles to relax with low intensity electronic pulses.
Smart Homes are going to be the big buzz of the next year and I am excited to see how voice activation becomes more integrated with smart home products. The iDevice Instinct is taking home automation to a new level and embedding the power of Alexa directly into light switches so there’s no need to waste limited counter space. I love keeping my counters clean so this is such a great way to get to use Alexa without actually having another speaker in the house.
I am not joking when I say that a smart garage opener would be a game changer in my house. I regularly have to loop back around to make sure that my garage door is shut. The Senclo Fi is a new high-end garage door opener that allows you to fully automate your garage and even open the door as your approach the home, all through GPS tracking. The best part, it attaches directly to your existing unit so you don’t have to mess with installing an entirely new opener!
This was such a fun event to attend and I can’t wait to hear more about what amazing technology comes out of the official CES event this January!
Disclaimer: I was invited to attend this event and received an Aftershokz Trekz Air during this event. All writing and opinions are my own.
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