CES 2012: Top Three Trends
Hot this year are wireless devices, interconnectivity, smart TV, tablets
January 9, 2012 By Stephanie M. Adamow
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Before anyone saw the cool products that will grace the International CES showfloor, journalists were primed with the annual state of the industry by CEA's chief economist, Shawn DuBravac. In this yearly address, DuBravac outlines the growth of the industry over the last few years- in this case looking all the way back to the first CES in 1967-and projects the hottest trends for the 2012 show.
There aren't many industries that can claim its products can be found in 90 percent of households, DuBravac noted. But consumer electronics can. And that percentage seemingly will hold strong as the growth of smartphones and tablets propels higher.
DuBravac quoted himself as saying that there would be 100+ tablets introduced last year. He holds to that statement and adds that there will likely be at least 50 more announcements at this year's show.
Additionally, he believes that there will be approximately 30 to 50 introductions of ultrabooks unveiled at CES 2012. Moreover, DuBravac thinks this will be the strongest wireless show in history, with many smartphone launches.
While the last decade saw the initial digital transition, DuBravac says we are now entering the second phase, where consumers will leverage these devices.
On the showfloor, look for a proliferation of sensor technology; growing intelligence of products; wireless audio (Airplay devices); and electric vehicle technology.
Top 3 Trends
Narrowing it down, DuBravac named his top three themes he believes will pervade the showfloor. First is the "Morphing of Computing." "There is a friction between pulling computing power out of computers and pushing it into multiple non-core computing devices."
Smart TVs are an example as they are behaving more and more like computers, running apps, browsers, etc. DuBravac projected that half of all TVs will be connected by 2014. Superphones are also an example as they continue to act like mini computers in our pockets.
He said that more emphasis will be placed on other elements of the devices, not just their computing power. "How powerful the next computing experience is will determine what gains traction."
Interconnectivity will also be the next "big drive," according to DuBravac, with more cloud-oriented services and accessibility to information remotely.
The second trend for CES 2012 is the "Year of the Interface"-the Internet-enabled experience. "The home of the future will look a lot like the home of the past, because so much of our technology will be hidden. We are going from the birth [of a product] to complexity to simplicity to a natural experience."
Companies Mentioned:
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