Tech Trends from CES 2015
I'm still buzzing from the excitement of January's Consumer Electronics Show, where the world's most innovative companies gathered to showcase everything from 4K TVs to driverless cars. Here are the top mobile trends we saw at CES this year (see page 69 for Best of CES awards):
The Rise of 3D Printing
3D printers are amazing, with the ability to produce anything from artificial limbs to entire homes. And now they've gone mobile! At CES, industry leader MakerBot showed off its free MakerBot PrintShop app, which lets you design things like vases and rings on your iPhone and print them from one of the company's 3D printers.
The Home of the Future
We heard a lot about Jetsons- like smart homes last year, and at CES, they were on full display. Panasonic displayed an entire prototype smart kitchen with embedded cameras that let you keep an eye on what's cooking from your iPhone.
Drones and Selfie Sticks—Your Personal Paparazzi
A flying camera may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of drones, but CES was teeming with these winged paparazzi. I had a blast seeing Parrot show off its tiny Bebop drone with a choreographed performance to classical music, and witnessing Hexo debut its GoPro-toting drone for capturing extreme sports videos. While less high tech, the monopod (otherwise known as the selfie stick) was around every corner at CES. Some say its nickname is unfair—after all, you can use the accessory for more practical purposes than snapping selfies at further than arm's length, like to get an awesome crowd shot, or to take a belfie (I'll let you look that one up).
Virtual Reality
Though I'd read the hype about Oculus VR, nothing could've prepared me for the intense immersive experience of the latest developer's edition, Oculus Crescent Bay. During a demo, I found myself on the ledge of a skyscraper, the open air whistling around me. I had to close my eyes to stop my knees from buckling only to find a T-Rex closing in on me when I opened them again. I left the demo understanding how such technology could have uses beyond gaming, such as for military training or to help people overcome their fears.
A Note on Productivity
Looking beyond cool gadgets, you'll also find a healthy dose of tips to help you become more organized and efficient. To make 2015 your most productive year yet, check out our featured section starting on pg. 36.