CES 2017 Trends

Celebrating its 50th birthday, CES 2017 did not disappoint. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Las Vegas to get a first look at the latest technology for the upcoming year. During the 4 days, the biggest names in consumer electronics and startups alike wowed us with products and technologies that promise to make our lives easier and more efficient. Here are some of the trends we saw at the event and how we can support them.

Trend #1: Automotive of the Future

We have now moved beyond connected cars and entered into the era of intelligent vehicles. From self-driving cars to on-board, voice-activated assistants with AI capabilities, the lines between automotive and tech have blurred. A harmonious communication between in-vehicle cameras, displays, sensors and the actual driver will be critical to gain the consumer’s trust and take these features mainstream. Lattice offers multiple solutions to help manufacturers achieve that goal.

Toyota Concept-i

Trend #2: Robot Invasion

Based on what we saw at CES, you will soon find robots in your home, work space and practically anywhere. While personal home assistants, like the LG robots and Amazon Echo, dominated the floor, there were many new unique helpers. From a “teacher” robot to help students learn to robots that can deliver packages to your home, the applications are limitless.

Machine vision and voice recognition are just some of the capabilities needed for these robots to function successfully.

LG Home Assistant

Trend #3: Evolution of AR/VR

Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Samsung Gear VR were high in demand this past holiday season. But CES showed us that augmented/mixed/virtual reality has more to offer than gaming and entertainment. Many automotive brands used VR to create an in-vehicle experience, which could be easily translate into retail to help customers build the vehicle of their dreams. Or how about an AR motorcycle helmet that shows you traffic information and provides route guidance?

High-resolution displays, 360 cameras and the key components, while display bridging, gesture tracking and untethered HMDs are the capabilities necessary for making the VR experience real.

Samsung Gear VR Experience

While all of these trends point to an exciting future, they also highlight the need for robust connectivity. As we continue to bring more connected devices into the world, our networks need to be able to support them. Investments into backhaul and 5G will be necessary to continue to support the future of tech. And Lattice is here to support you all the way.