By Laura Kobylecky

CES is a yearly technology trade show and conference, owned and operated by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Last year, it snuck in under the wire, on January 7-10^th in Las Vegas, before 2020’s wave of coronavirus-related cancelations. This year, like many other conferences, it happens in an online-only format.

The event features a combination of video and some interactive elements. When you log into the website, you are greeted by a short video, explaining the basic functions of the website and accompanied by a jaunty little melody. The Exhibitor showcases begin on Tuesday, January 12. On Monday the 11^th there are live videos available.   Closed-captioning is one of the bonuses of the digital experience.

This year, like many other conferences CES happens in an online-only format
Share on X

One of these live videos is the “CTA’s Tech Trends Live Q&A,” with Steve Koenig, VP of research, and Lesley Rorhbaugh, director of research for CTA.

When asked about what technologies they find exciting for this year, Rorhbaugh mentions that smartphone technology interests her. Koenig mentions Mercedes Benz new high-tech MBUX dashboard.

When asked about expectations for smart glasses, Koenig expresses enthusiasm. Saying “this is definitely the year for AR. He emphasizes that the future maybe be found in “discrete solutions” and “degrees of immersion.” The discretion can be found in wearables that you can wear “all of the time.” These sorts of glasses won’t look out of place in the day-to-day.

The “degrees of immersion” can be found by moving past the segmented world of VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), and MR (mixed reality). Really, these terms describe only how much the “virtual” has replaced or overlaid the “real” world. With this sort of easy-wear wearable, more easily integrated in the day to day, the level of immersion is not perfectly defined and might vary based on your personal usage.

This is definitely the year for AR
Share on X

Rorhbaugh is excited about voice technology. She envisions this as something that could help in-vehicle tech, particularly autonomous vehicles. From her perspective “safety plays a really key role” in that sector and voice technology might contribute to that.

In regard to another hot topic, remote learning, Koenig is optimistic to an extent. He believes in the positive side of “extending opportunities” and feels that universities may “lean into these spaces.” In a “post-crisis” world they will have “manifold options” to continue using this technology to their benefit. He believes that some of the current “friction” in the online learning world will be improved when the world is not in a “panicked rush online.”

Koenig believes that 5G networks will become significant in the near and distant future. He believes they will reach “dense urban areas first.” After that “we’ll be talking about this at CES’s in the next few years, how 5 g is just gonna really overlay the entire global economy.”

5G networks will become significant in the near and distant future
Share on X

The CTE trend forecasting session at CES is a bright take on a complicated year
Share on X

Televisions are another subject of optimism. In Koenig’s opinion, “there’s always something next for TV at CES.” Unfortunately, CES 2021 will require a bit more imagination than years past. There’s really no way to judge the crystal clear realism of a TV when it’s viewed through the window of another screen. But Koenig remains positive that these “massive, massive, TVs” being showcased will delight the public. With 4K and HDR being standard fare at the moment he believes that “we’ll see more 8k displays” and even greater resolution. He also thinks there will be more competition in the “OLED” (organic light-emitting diode) space.

In his opinion, smart TV is another thing that “continues to get better and better.” Touch-less technology will allow greater and simpler command and control. He also has believes AI applications will learn our viewing patterns and enhance the viewing experience as they “serve up content to us.”

There's always something next for TV at CES
Share on X

Other ideas mentioned in this session are smart masks, data dashboards, smart filtration systems, and emergency alert systems that create a more connected world or leverage the Internet of Things.

The CTE trend forecasting session at CES is a bright take on a complicated year. These ideas may serve as inspiration for those curious about what’s new and next for the world of consumer technology in 2021.

Tech Trends’ Digital Consultancy services offer support for companies looking to enhance brand strategy with immersive technologies such as Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality

Laura Kobylecky is a contributing writer to Tech Trends. She is particularly interested in new and emerging technology and culture. Connect with her on LinkedIn 

The post CES: The Online Experience appeared first on Tech Trends.

As the much-missed playwright William Goldman once said, where it comes to predicting success, ‘Nobody Knows Anything’. And that certainly holds for technology as well as screenwriting. In fact, it holds for most things in life, but let’s stick with Tech for now.

Highlighting case studies from global brands, breakout innovators and startup companies, shapiro offers an inside look at the emerging technologies that are shaping our world
Share on X

One of the stories that Shapiro tells in his new book Ninja Future: Secrets to Success in the New World of Innovation (which Tech Trends got an advance peek at prior to its release at the end of the December) refers to the time he met Donald Rumsfeld – at the time when he was secretary of defence for George W. Bush – during a flight and got to talking about the difference between “known unknowns” and “unknown unknowns” and how they impacted a successful strategy.

In any kind of volatile environment successful people are not the ones who know the most about known factors, but those who can most quickly and dynamically adapt to new ones as they emerge
Share on X

I won’t spoil it for you, but the moral of the story here is essentially that in any kind of volatile environment – such as the constant sea of disruption that drives tech innovation – successful people are not the ones who know the most about known factors, but those who can most quickly and dynamically adapt to new ones as they emerge.

It covers a vast array of technologies and attempts to draw connections between them in a broader context, mainly centered on how they will impact the lives of ordinary consumers
Share on X

This is something that I have experienced over many years of working and reporting on tech, and fully agree with Shapiro on. In other matters, such as his approach to policy and data regulation, we differ quite considerably. For example, I believe GDPR is broadly a positive move and that Ninja companies will actually benefit from adapting their systems to comply with it rather than lazily and greedily scarifying privacy at the altar or “move fast and break things”. In fact, this is sentiment that has been recently echoed by the likes of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, yet whatever your personal take on it, the book still provides a useful summary of current policy, and leaves room for the reader to make up their own mind on what the future will hold.

As the much-missed playwright William Goldman once said, where it comes to predicting success, ‘Nobody Knows Anything’
Share on X

Ninja Future is the sequel to his previous bestselling book Ninja Innovation: The Ten Killer Strategies of the World’s Most Successful Businesses.

“This future will be marked by disruption. But the people and organizations who possess these qualities also view the challenges ahead as opportunities to generate a better future—a ninja future. In the midst of social, political, and physical upheaval, they will create progress. Growth. Integration. Diversity. Resilience.”

Inevitably, those who have more in-depth knowledge of certain technologies will find little new material about them here. A few pages are dedicated to the rise of Immersive Technologies and the role they will play in this Ninja Future for example, which is not nearly enough go into any sort of deep dive.

Shapiro’s combination of deep-dive analysis, access to the world’s leading innovators and years of industry expertise gives readers the confidence, creativity and clarity to thrive in the fast-approaching, high-tech future
Share on X

But that is, of course, not to the purpose of the book. It covers a vast array of technologies and attempts to draw connections between them in a broader context, mainly centered on how they will impact the lives of ordinary consumers.

It is an accessible and interesting read for those unfamiliar with how these often-intimidating technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Mixed Reality, Robotics, Internet of Things and Biometrics actually work, and offers concrete case studies and amusing anecdotes for those who are.

In over 30 years at the helm of CES Shapiro has seen the tech industry transform itself again and again, so he knows what it takes to succeed
Share on X

And those case studies come from the “belly of the beast” so to speak. For the past 30 years Shapiro has been in charge of the world’s largest and most famous consumer electronics show – CES which takes place every January in Las Vegas. Hi insights carry weight because they come from simple experience – seeing what works and what doesn’t, recognizing patterns, and embracing the fact that sometimes random luck also plays a part in that success.

“For business or government leaders to stay on the cutting-edge of their fields, they must adapt at lightning speed to evolving trends,” said Shapiro. “Ninja Future takes the key traits of ninja innovators from my first book and applies them to our global future. Ninja innovators will embrace the obstacles and opportunities thrown their way to usher in the ninja future and create value for their world.”

Ninja Future: Secrets to Success in the New World of Innovation will go on sale on December 31st, 2018 and is available now to pre-order on Amazon.

This future will be marked by disruption
Share on X

For companies looking for guidance in how to best leverage technology and digital transformation in their own organizations, Tech Trends offers a range of Consultancy services

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Review: Ninja Future by Gary Shapiro appeared first on Tech Trends.