CES 2016 viewpoint: The more things change, the more things stay the same

Like its previous iterations, the 2016 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics show unfolded with that same frenetic energy we’ve grown accustomed to over the years. It was a sensory overload, an adult playground in a city designated as the adult playground. But this year’s convention focused less on introducing radical new ideas and more on fine-tuning ideas from 2015, setting the tone for what to expect in consumer-facing technology this year round.

It wouldn’t be CES if giants like Samsung and LG weren’t commandeering huge portions of the event space with the latest in display technology and home appliances—this time Internet-connected home appliances. LG demoed its signature-line of OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) display panels, notable for their 2.57 mm thickness, while Samsung put out the first quantum dot LCD panels. 4K resolution with HDR capabilities (high dynamic range) has become the new standard benchmark. That’s not to say that 8K resolution has fallen wayside; nearly all TV-manufacturers present had their 8K models on display, hinting that the tech has moved beyond the concept stage.

CES has also taught us that while connected appliances are making homes smarter than ever, the industry has yet to agree on a single, consolidated platform. Samsung’s SmartThings platforms is doing its best to include support for third-party devices like Keen Home’s recently unveiled Smart Vent, but it remains incompatible with the Nest smart thermostat, which in turn, offers independent support for the Smart Vent.  

At the same time, the Internet-connectivity trend exploded into the auto-industry, with companies like Bosch and Faraday Future viewing the modern vehicle as an extension of our phone and serve as the link between the user and the smart home—a rather ambitious prospect given the continued Wild West nature of the IoT.

If there’s one thing CES2016 proved, it’s that people love drones. A few years earlier, CES featured only three to four drone exhibitors. This year, there were about 30 different manufacturers, whose distinguished entries include the 50mph fixed-wing Parrot Disco and Ehang’s man-sized 187 electric-vehicle-drone-hybrid.

What’s more, virtual reality took a huge step forward as Oculus VR and HTC demonstrated their consumer-ready headsets. The much-anticipated Oculus Rift was promptly put up for pre-order during the first day of the event, with HTC’s Vive to follow suit on the leap day, February 29, 2016. It looks like this will be a very fun year for consumer tech.