Trendspotting at CES 2023: Key Insights and Innovations in the World of Consumer Technology

CES is back and thriving. CES 2023 drew over 115,000 attendees and over 3200 exhibitors and I was happy to be back at the big show after a 3-year absence. This time I brought my daughter Caroline who is studying to be an electrical engineer and excited that she may be working in this industry when she graduates.

The first question I am asked from everyone when returning from another CES is “What was the most amazing product you saw at CES?”?It is hard to pick one product as there are so many to choose from. Since I go to CES every year I will share trends and insights on what I saw at this year’s show.

Here goes:??

Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Loop

I had heard about the LVCC loop system and was excited to try it when we needed to get from one hall to another. The underground loop transports you from the Central Hall to the new West Exhibit Hall or to the new Resorts World Las Vegas via Tesla cars. The three station transportation systems consist of 1.7 miles and provided me with a glimpse of the future where we may be able to travel autonomously underground from place to place.?The Tesla’s were not self-driven but nonetheless turned the normal 30-minute walk into a 2-minute ride.?

TVs

TVs are always a CES highlight for me, so I was surprised when Samsung and Sony did not feature any TVs in their exhibits.?The biggest TVs trend I saw was manufactures deemphasizing 8K TVs. This is probably because of the dearth of 8K content and the fact that 4K TVs provide excellent pictures, feature rich and becoming more economical for every household budget. The next biggest trend was OLED TVs are starting to close the brightness gap with high-end Mini LED LCD TVs. LG says its new G3 OLED is 70 brighter than conventional OLED TVs of the past. Samsung announced their second generation QD-OLED which could prove a challenge to LG’s dominance as the leader.

LG introduced its Signature OLED M 97-inch TV that uses proprietary wireless tech to receive all of its audio and video data wirelessly from a small black box that can be placed up to 30 feet away. LG says the system can transmit 4K video at up to 120Hz. This product garnered best of show from CNET, Engadget, PCMag, TechRadar and more. LG also showcased a Transparent OLED screen and a Flex OLED monitor that will be loved by the gaming community. TCL and Hisense had a large presence and rolled out a number of new products including the first 8K laser TV.

Roku will begin selling its own lineup of TVs later this year and will be available in 11 models ranging from 24 inches to 75 inches.?Roku is also going aggressive on price; the 24-inch entry model will run $119, and the 75-inch TV will cost $999. They will join Amazon who launched their Fire TV branded 4K sets in 2021. It will be interesting to see if other TV manufacturers will continue to support Roku in the future.?

Autonomous, Connected and Electric Vehicles?

This year auto manufacturers were less focused on autonomous driving and more on advanced driving assistance systems and connectivity that will continue to help us in everyday driving.?Many auto manufacturers also introduced new EV concept vehicles. I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that consumer autonomous vehicles are taking much longer to come to market than I had hoped. Companies have been investing in this technology, but costs have stacked up for electrification, broken supply chains, and ballooning energy bills, not to mention regulations that still need to be developed.

Overall, the number of auto manufacturers at CES was down or had a much smaller presence but there was still plenty to see. The BMW iVision Dee was one of the highlights for me. The innovative E ink technology lets you change the car's exterior color whenever your mood changes via an app. Another notable feature was the Mixed Reality Slider on the dashboard that provides driving related information and augmented reality projections on the windshield. #bmw. Sony and Honda are co-developing a premium car brand called Afeela that will leverage each other's expertise into one platform, but it is not set to launch until 2026. Ram introduced its first electric pickup called the 1500 Revolution BEV and will also be available as a Hybrid for those that are only willing to half commit to EV vehicles. The move to EV is evident as I saw lots of new battery powered products including electric scooters, e-bikes, and boats.?

There is hope however for other types of autonomous vehicles.?Various large autonomous truck technologies and commercial electric vehicles took center stage. The Freightliner Cascadia was equipped with a fifth generation Waymo Driver and we may see driverless trucks on the road soon. Paccar showcased its latest hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with the next-gen T680E cab with a 350-mile range and a DC fast charger with a three-hour recharge rate. #freightliner . Caterpillar’s centerpiece of their impressive exhibit was an autonomous 100-ton Cat 777 off highway (think really big) dump truck that towered over every other display.?It was amazing to see real-time remote operation of a Cat large dozer and Cat excavators without a driver on board. #cat

Whole-Home Backup Power systems

Portal batteries were omnipresent throughout the show floor as the van life and home backup systems are creating a huge demand. Zendure was the winner of the 2023 CES innovation Award for the SuperBase V. This portable and expandable system can provide backup power as an emergency backup or for use outdoors.

EcoFlow had a full range of products including Solar generators, lawn sweeping mowers, portable AC units, portable refrigerator and freezer and stay cool for up to 24 hours.?EcoFlow debuted its first ever whole-home backup power solution which is great for people like me that live in the Pacific Northwest where outages are a fact of life with tall trees and power lines.?The backup system can provide up to a week of essential power with an impressive 7,200W output when you connect if to your power inlet box/transfer switch. These backup systems are an environmentally good option compared to gas powered generators. I expect to see more of these types of products at your local retailer soon. EcoFlow had a roadshow at my local Costco this weekend promoting their Delta and Pro Line.?

Digital Health and well-being gadgets

CES was packed again with digital health gadgets this year, as technology continues to make huge advancements when it comes to helping consumers gain a better understanding of their general well-being. I was disappointed that big brands like Fitbit and Under Armour decided to not exhibit at CES this year.

The Cray x exoskeleton suit from German Bionic won a CES 2023 Best of Innovation award with its AI-supported power suits that can help you with almost 70 lbs of additional lifting capacity reducing back injuries and repetitive stress injuries. I personally could see using something like this around the house, but the real application will be for warehouse workers whose jobs typically require heavy lifting.

MedWand introduced a new device that will provide live monitoring, remote clinical-grade vitals capture, and support for external AI-based vitals data analysis. The device has a built-in thermometer, stethoscope, ECG/EKG, pulse oximeter and has accessories for ear/nose, throat and skin. You may see this in your next physical exam.?

Kohler took the wraps off three new smart toilets. Each of them featured an integrated bidet, motion detection to open and close the lid, ultraviolet lights for self-cleaning, emergency backup flushing (so you can flush during a power outage), and even a nightlight.?The $11,500 Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet even has Alexa Integration.?Kohler also featured a $119 (plus the cost of the pods) aromatherapy system that brings the spa to your bathroom. The showerhead infuses the water it sprays with essential oils and calming scents through its collaboration partner Spig. You may never want to leave your bathroom with all these great products.

Urine scans were the rage with Smart toilets from Withings and a device that scans your urine. According to the manufacturer it provides an immediate snapshot of the body's balance by monitoring and detecting a large variety of biomarkers found in urine. The device is just 9 cm in diameter and sits inside most toilet bowls. Results?are then delivered to a smartphone app, providing analysis and its recommendations based on the data.?

3D printing

3D printing companies have continued to take a larger presence at CES year over year. Formlabs, Peugeot, Neutrogena, Kokoni, Handddle, Hyperz and other companies launched new 3D products. Formlabs had the largest presence and launched its Automation Ecosystem that combined with a 5-liter resin supply can print around the clock without operator assistance.

Neutrogena unveiled its latest application of personalized 3D printed skin health supplements.?Customers will be able to complete a facial self-scan and get recommendations on gummies that are designed to meet their specific skin needs. The orders will be fulfilled by Nourished, a specialist in 3D printing supplements made up of individual nutrient layers.?

Web3 and the Metaverse

There was a dedicated Metaverse area on the show floor for the first time. VR headset sales have slowed, but companies are still releasing new models. HTC unveiled their high-end VR headset called the Vive XR Elite and is a true Meta Quest Pro competitor. ?

There were several startups showcasing augmented reality glasses and sensory technology that will help users feel and even smell in a virtual environment. ??OVR Technology displayed the OVR ION 3, a cartridge that can be integrated into a headset with eight primary aromas that can be combined to create thousands of scents. Imagine being able to virtually smell a bed of roses or marshmallows roasting over an open fire.

Smart glasses that display real-time captions for people with hearing loss will soon come to market from a company called Xander. I demoed the Microsoft HoloLens 2 product that assisted me on installing a brake pad.?I can see an enormous potential for these devices and technology in manufacturing or healthcare environments soon.?I did not have time to explore the world of Web3 but hope to add this to my list next year.?

Robots were MIA for the most part

Every year I look forward to the next generation of robots, but I was disappointed. Oh, Rosey the Robot where are thee. There were a few Robots scattered around the show floor such as Aeo, by Aeolus Robotics that you may see in a hospital environment someday disinfecting high contact areas in healthcare facilities or serving as a night patrol. There was the EcoFlow Blade robotic lawn seeping mower which won a 2023 CES Innovation Award.?Maybe one day we will see the Robots that are highly advanced and human like as seen in the movies at CES!

This year featured a large exhibit area by AgeTech Collaborative from AARP that focused on showcasing startups and their products that can potentially improve our aging population. According to AARP, People aged 50 and older generate more than $45 trillion in annual economic activity, and this is projected to increase to $118 trillion by 2050.?

An example of this technology was a protype from Labrador Systems who are developing a new generation of assistive robots that are designed to help individuals live independently. The prototype looked more like a mobile cart and demoed going to the refrigerator and bringing back a drink and can remind you to take your medications. I expect to see lots more products targeted at this growing demographic at CES in the future.

Drone Technology

There was no Drone zone this year. DJI, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial drones was missing from the exhibitor lineup due to the company's blacklisted trade status by the U.S. government. Autel Robotics had a good presence at CES and launched the Autel EVO Max 4T drone targeted at business and prosumer applications with an impressive 42 min flight time and camera with advanced features firefighting support, mapping and inspection. Ring introduced a small drone that could be used to augment surveillance inside your home where cameras might not be installed. I would wait for a second or third generation before I adopt this product based on the prototype that I saw in action.?

5G

5G was no more than a whisper at CES this year. Most phones today operate on a 5G network, so telecom companies no longer feel the need to sell the premise of the technology as most people are using a 5G network in the US. 5G still has an immense potential to impact our lives beyond the phone and apps we use.

Honda and Sony’s new electric car brand, Afeela that is set to launch in 2026 will be loaded with sensors that will use 5G to communicate. TCL is working on AR and VR headsets with Qualcomm’s XR2 5G chip.?So, when is 6G coming out? Well, it does not exist yet. But this next phase of wireless technology may incorporate edge computing and AI to potentially create a new type of internet. More on this later.?

That is a Wrap!?

CES is back and thriving as attendance exceeded my expectations. Sure, there were fewer exhibitors than in the past but that did not stop companies from launching incredible products and making major announcements that will help us all live a better life. I hope you enjoyed my insights and trends based on my many years of attending this great show.?My biggest highlight was the opportunity to spend three days sharing the CES experience with my daughter as she begins to formulate where she will take her skills once she graduates.?If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.?Until next year! CES 2024, January 9-12th.