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Wearable technology is dress code at tech expo CES 2014: Why wearable technology is the new dress code
(about 9 hours later)
If you laid all the wristbands, smartwatches and head-mountable cameras at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) end to end, they would probably run the length of the Las Vegas strip, where the show is in full swing.If you laid all the wristbands, smartwatches and head-mountable cameras at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) end to end, they would probably run the length of the Las Vegas strip, where the show is in full swing.
But what the firms showing off "wearable" technologies this year would dearly love to know is: will anyone buy them? Because if wearables – devices with computer chips that can monitor your heart rate, steps taken, and even location – don't take off, then the consumer electronics industry will have to fall back on its reliable sellers: big TVs, tablets and PCs.But what the firms showing off "wearable" technologies this year would dearly love to know is: will anyone buy them? Because if wearables – devices with computer chips that can monitor your heart rate, steps taken, and even location – don't take off, then the consumer electronics industry will have to fall back on its reliable sellers: big TVs, tablets and PCs.
Or it might just grab your attention with this year's other surprise: household appliances you can text – so you can ask your washing machine how it's getting on.Or it might just grab your attention with this year's other surprise: household appliances you can text – so you can ask your washing machine how it's getting on.
CES opened its doors on Tuesday to thousands of visitors hoping to see the future products that they will be using and, perhaps, wearing.CES opened its doors on Tuesday to thousands of visitors hoping to see the future products that they will be using and, perhaps, wearing.
The huge Convention Centre is home to thousands of companies touting their wares – or, in many cases, wears. The biggest fad right now is for wearable devices that measure some sort of detail about you, and log it. Sony announced a "SmartBand" allied to a "LifeLog", which head of mobile sales Dennis van Schie explained would "capture more quantifiable information about your life, because you never do one activity in isolation".The huge Convention Centre is home to thousands of companies touting their wares – or, in many cases, wears. The biggest fad right now is for wearable devices that measure some sort of detail about you, and log it. Sony announced a "SmartBand" allied to a "LifeLog", which head of mobile sales Dennis van Schie explained would "capture more quantifiable information about your life, because you never do one activity in isolation".
Netatmo meanwhile offered "smart jewellery" which monitors your skin's ultraviolet exposure and sends it to a smartphone app. The Wellograph is a smartwatch with a heart monitor that also tracks your movement. And for the truly fitness-obsessed, Runphones has a sweatband which tracks your performance when running.Netatmo meanwhile offered "smart jewellery" which monitors your skin's ultraviolet exposure and sends it to a smartphone app. The Wellograph is a smartwatch with a heart monitor that also tracks your movement. And for the truly fitness-obsessed, Runphones has a sweatband which tracks your performance when running.
Also on show was Samsung's Galaxy Gear, a smartwatch released last September to general indifference. Pebble, which raised $10.2m to build a smartwatch in 2012 – and delivered it in 2013 – announced the Steel, a new version with a multicoloured screen and metal surround.Also on show was Samsung's Galaxy Gear, a smartwatch released last September to general indifference. Pebble, which raised $10.2m to build a smartwatch in 2012 – and delivered it in 2013 – announced the Steel, a new version with a multicoloured screen and metal surround.
There's no sign yet though that anyone is actually buying them in significant numbers. "The market for smartwatches is getting crowded before there is even a real market of smartwatches," commented Ben Bajarin, analyst at Creative Strategies.There's no sign yet though that anyone is actually buying them in significant numbers. "The market for smartwatches is getting crowded before there is even a real market of smartwatches," commented Ben Bajarin, analyst at Creative Strategies.
But Ben Wood of CCS Insight says this is a necessary evolution. More than $100m has been invested in wearables through crowdfunding sites, which he cites as evidence of their huge potential: "Technology companies are feeling their way in the dark, but we expect innovative features to appear first on wearable devices that will be integrated into smartphones and other consumer electronics devices."But Ben Wood of CCS Insight says this is a necessary evolution. More than $100m has been invested in wearables through crowdfunding sites, which he cites as evidence of their huge potential: "Technology companies are feeling their way in the dark, but we expect innovative features to appear first on wearable devices that will be integrated into smartphones and other consumer electronics devices."
He cautions though that "many wearable devices will have their five minutes of fame at shows like CES before disappearing into oblivion".He cautions though that "many wearable devices will have their five minutes of fame at shows like CES before disappearing into oblivion".
Certainly last year's $100 "smart fork" from Hapilabs, which promised to monitor how much you ate (but mystifyingly hasn't become commonplace), has been supplanted by this year's star – a Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush from Kolibree, which will tell your phone how "efficiently" you've been brushing your teeth, and for how long. "Personal health and wellbeing will be important factors in all wearable devices as consumers try to rationalise buying 'gadget bling' under the pretext of it improving their health and fitness," said Wood.Certainly last year's $100 "smart fork" from Hapilabs, which promised to monitor how much you ate (but mystifyingly hasn't become commonplace), has been supplanted by this year's star – a Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush from Kolibree, which will tell your phone how "efficiently" you've been brushing your teeth, and for how long. "Personal health and wellbeing will be important factors in all wearable devices as consumers try to rationalise buying 'gadget bling' under the pretext of it improving their health and fitness," said Wood.
The other CES staple that could be laid along the length of the Las Vegas strip is TVs. In previous years, attenders have been bombarded by 3D TV, Google TV, and "smart" TV – none of which have grabbed the popular consciousness. This year it is the turn of 4K TV, which promises to offer four times the resolution of HDTV.The other CES staple that could be laid along the length of the Las Vegas strip is TVs. In previous years, attenders have been bombarded by 3D TV, Google TV, and "smart" TV – none of which have grabbed the popular consciousness. This year it is the turn of 4K TV, which promises to offer four times the resolution of HDTV.
The problem now is finding content for such super-detailed screens. Netflix's boss, Reed Hastings, announced that series two of House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey, will be streamed in 4K – for those with a special version of the Netflix app, and a suitable TV. The World Cup final will also be broadcast in 4K, though it is unclear how many broadcasters will be able to transmit it.The problem now is finding content for such super-detailed screens. Netflix's boss, Reed Hastings, announced that series two of House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey, will be streamed in 4K – for those with a special version of the Netflix app, and a suitable TV. The World Cup final will also be broadcast in 4K, though it is unclear how many broadcasters will be able to transmit it.
Meanwhile two of the world's largest TV makers, the South Korean companies LG and Samsung, vied to be first to show off the biggest – and smallest – curved screens. Samsung flaunted an 85in LCD set which starts off flat but with the touch of a button curves in from the shorter sides.Meanwhile two of the world's largest TV makers, the South Korean companies LG and Samsung, vied to be first to show off the biggest – and smallest – curved screens. Samsung flaunted an 85in LCD set which starts off flat but with the touch of a button curves in from the shorter sides.
But when Transformers director Michael Bay was brought on stage to enthuse about this real-life transformer, it turned instead into a scene from another of his films – Armageddon – as the teleprompter failed and Bay, unwilling to improvise, simply walked off.But when Transformers director Michael Bay was brought on stage to enthuse about this real-life transformer, it turned instead into a scene from another of his films – Armageddon – as the teleprompter failed and Bay, unwilling to improvise, simply walked off.
Nor was the idea of a curving screen received with undiluted enthusiasm. "Like a lot of concept demos at CES, the bendable TV is more a novelty with little practical application," remarked David Katzmaier, who has reviewed TV sets for the website CNet since 2002. "The housing [of the device] is larger than a typical TV, and I can't begin to imagine how much it would cost." Samsung hasn't released pricing.Nor was the idea of a curving screen received with undiluted enthusiasm. "Like a lot of concept demos at CES, the bendable TV is more a novelty with little practical application," remarked David Katzmaier, who has reviewed TV sets for the website CNet since 2002. "The housing [of the device] is larger than a typical TV, and I can't begin to imagine how much it would cost." Samsung hasn't released pricing.
LG too offered a curved TV, prompting US head of new product development Tim Alessi to announce that "our curved screens, impossibly thin screens, are the future of televisions offering unrivalled immersive pictures."LG too offered a curved TV, prompting US head of new product development Tim Alessi to announce that "our curved screens, impossibly thin screens, are the future of televisions offering unrivalled immersive pictures."
One theme that keeps returning to CES, year after year, is the "connected home". The "internet fridge" made its regular appearance, this time from LG, whose US head of appliance brand marketing, David VanderWall, proclaimed: "You can text the fridge to find out what you need to buy" – though he skimmed past the detail of how your fridge will know what's inside it.One theme that keeps returning to CES, year after year, is the "connected home". The "internet fridge" made its regular appearance, this time from LG, whose US head of appliance brand marketing, David VanderWall, proclaimed: "You can text the fridge to find out what you need to buy" – though he skimmed past the detail of how your fridge will know what's inside it.
Washing machines too will answer to your texts, he explained: "For the first time you'll be able to text your washing machine 'What are you doing?' and it'll let you know how it's getting on." He explained: "You no longer need to learn machine commands. Just speak naturally and your oven will understand you. Simply text it to find out what you need for a recipe."Washing machines too will answer to your texts, he explained: "For the first time you'll be able to text your washing machine 'What are you doing?' and it'll let you know how it's getting on." He explained: "You no longer need to learn machine commands. Just speak naturally and your oven will understand you. Simply text it to find out what you need for a recipe."
Will we have smart ovens by Christmas that will know how to cook turkey while we watch football on 4K TVs, monitoring our sofa habits with wristbands? At least two of them look unlikely. But CES is always about the promise – not necessarily the product.Will we have smart ovens by Christmas that will know how to cook turkey while we watch football on 4K TVs, monitoring our sofa habits with wristbands? At least two of them look unlikely. But CES is always about the promise – not necessarily the product.
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