5 Takeaways from CES 2018
At Mobelux, one of our key goals is to support and champion our partners in whatever way we can. When I heard that our long-term clients iHome and Ford were going to have a presence at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), I found myself getting up at three in the morning to jump on a flight to Vegas.
This was my first time at CES, and I was curious to see what I would learn from such a massive event.
It was a crazy, jam-packed two days.
CES is the largest technology show in the world, and this year’s was the biggest in its 51-year history, with close to 4,000 exhibitors covering more than 2.75 million square feet across Las Vegas. This is the tech event of the year, where the latest technology companies showcase their vision for the future — everything from smart cars to robotics to the newest thing in televisions.
I wanted to experience CES through our clients’ eyes, looking out for anything that could benefit them (and Mobelux, of course) in the coming year.
What did I learn?
1. Never forget about Google. The big brands are competing. I mean seriously competing. Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, and a few other players are constantly looking to stake their claim in defining how we connect to the world. Google made the entire city of Las Vegas feel like it belonged to them. From the moment you stepped off the plane, their brand was everywhere. Big displays on all forms of transportation, integrated products within the booths, and what seemed like thousands of Google employees sporting their t-shirts.
My immediate takeaway is that we can’t afford to forget about Google Voice. Voice integration should not just be looking to Amazon’s Alexa for immediate implementation. There were quite a few Google Voice products featured with other companies at the event, and it’s clear that Google is not going to concede to Amazon anytime soon. I’d look to Google to make some significant growth in the market over the next 12 months.
2. Augmented and Virtual Reality are Here to Stay. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) tech was everywhere this year. Experts predict that the AR and VR industry will make over $1 billion this year alone, and seeing all the companies (taking up a total 45,000 square feet on the floor) vying for everyone’s attention and money was intriguing, to say the least.
I’m personally more interested in AR at the moment, but the idea of putting my face into the same headset as thousands of other people was enough to stop me from actually trying the new products on offer.
From a business perspective, it would be crazy to ignore VR and AR. That industry is going to explode in the next three to five years. Start paying some serious attention to these technologies in the next 12–36 months, and think creatively about how they can benefit your company. Just watch — it’s going to affect so many areas of our life — medicine, design, education, entertainment, and more.
3. Being connected has its advantages. Smart cities were a big topic at the conference sessions. Ford had a large, compelling Smart City display aligned with their version of a smart car. It may still be a while before we get to experience an actual smart, connected city, but our homes could be a different story. Multiple companies are offering a variety of easy integration points that we can start playing with in our homes.
We’ve heard for a long time about smart thermostats, lightbulbs, and sensors for the house, but now the products are finally becoming widely available through mainstream vendors like iHome, and with voice products like Google Voice and Alexa, it won’t be long before you start seeing your neighbors’ homes become more and more “smart”.
My recommendation? Get a Google Voice or Alexa product now, and pick up a smart plug or two while you’re at it. Start by connecting your music or your favorite lamp, and learn how fun and easy it can be to have these connected devices around you. That way, you’ll be ready for your next big thing: a connected car.
You don’t need to think about getting a smart car just yet — more immediate next steps are found in vehicles that make your existing technology easier to use and access within the car. Apple CarPlay and Ford’s Smart Device Link (SDL) are going to make your commute way more enjoyable, and they’re coming at you very soon. For me, sitting in a car and having Waze run and display inside the car monitor instead of on my phone was already a huge improvement.
4. Your next TV needs to be the LG OLED TV. Seriously, start saving your pennies now. LG is killing it when it comes to making beautiful TVs. Your family will gather around this TV with their mouths wide open. Life is meant to be experienced at a high level, and yes, that now means a big beautiful TV. Ok, ok, I’ll admit I’m pushing a bit in case my wife is reading this, and I know that this isn’t completely groundbreaking news to many of you, but luckily the curved TV fad is over. Clear beautiful OLED displays are now becoming affordable at a great size. (Well, affordable compared to last year, that is.)
The LG booth was honestly my favorite. It began with a curved walkway with walls that had to be 20 feet tall, displaying stunning footage was nothing short of incredible. It’s displays like this that make CES so different from any other shows. It feels like you’re stepping into the future. LG — just go ahead take my money.
5. Nikon is still my favorite camera brand. Nikon truly set themselves apart from the crowd. They kept the focus on being human, not robotic. In the middle of their showroom, Nikon set up a stage and invited some incredibly talented photographers to teach and inspire us in-person. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Joe McNally — one of my all-time favorite photographers — take the stage to share an amazing story about how he pulled off a recent shoot. It was refreshing to see a group of individuals at a tech conference engage so fully with an actual person instead of with a piece of tech. It reminded me how important and powerful it is to share human experiences with each other, and it was truly a standout event of CES.
The last item, which didn’t make my top five but still makes me chuckle when I think about it — the selfie drone. Be prepared to kick that selfie stick to the curb and get those angles that only a drone can provide.
In closing…
Google seriously knows how to market.
If done right, AR/VR will have a huge impact on your business.
Get started on your connected home now.
Don’t forget that human connection will always stand out.
Start saving for that new OLED TV today.
Reach out and let me know if you went to CES this year — or if you’re planning on making the trip next year. I’d love to hear some of your takeaways and compare notes.
