Imagine an umbrella letting you know not to forget it. Or an infant car seat that wants to make sure your baby is going to have the safest ride ever. These are just two of the highlights from 2016's Consumer Electronics Show — the exhibition that defines technology trends and showcases gadgets for the year ahead.
Compared to recent years, the show's big themes weren't much different — there was still an emphasis on ideas like the smart home, virtual reality, and fitness gadgets. Whatwas different was a greater push from companies to make these ideas more accessible to the average person with practical gadgets. Other areas of life, like beauty and parenting, broke out more high-tech possibilities than ever before. For instance, this year saw the first-ever Beauty Tech Summit at CES.
Ahead, check out our picks for what we think will define tech in 2016. Don't be surprised if you find yourself a few months from now thinking about buying a smart fridge or high-tech thermometer.
Sure, kids can pick up a tablet or smartphone, but the true innovative toys are those that combine high tech and simplicity. The Moff band collaboration with Pac-Man is a perfect example of this. Kids wear the Moff band and swing their arms to play Pac-Man through an app — making them physically active while using a smartphone or tablet.
Everyday items are getting smarter.
Another trend picking up at CES? Turning common products into smart gadgets. Take the oombrella, for example. The smart umbrella lets you know when it's going to rain and reminds you not to leave it behind. It might not be the most necessary thing in the world, but it's pretty impressive.
Women's health is going high tech.
It's about time women's health took the floor at CES. Sure, we've had fitness trackers that appeal to women, but seeing products like the Pregnancy Pro stick by First Response that focus on reproductive health marks a step forward. It's the only test that connects via Bluetooth and offers several features in an app to take you through the steps of using it.
Virtual reality is becoming more accessible.
