The general theme for consumer technologies most likely to cross over into the event industry is flexibility. The ability to adapt quickly to a changing environment is at the core of successful event planning. This year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2018), we saw new technologies applied to old event technologies to make them more dynamic and responsive, raising the bar for what event attendees will expect in the near future.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Two leaders in the high-end display industry, Sony and Samsung, introduced products at CES that use AI. Samsung‘s QLED TV can convert HD and 4k content into an 8k experience. Though not confirmed, speculation is that Samsung relies on AI to process content for “The Wall,” its 146” modular TV that can be scaled up or down according to need. Sony’s prototype AI technology, X1®Ultimate, combined with its proprietary backlight technology, processes 8k HRD content in real-time minimizing blur and input lag. The Consumer Electronics Show has been a great indicator of where event technology will go next. While it may take time for these technologies to be deployed at events, many of them are available now. In the meantime, you can still create a captivating experience for your attendees using proven technology like video walls, and 4k and touchscreen displays. Our team of Project Managers and Solutions Architects can help bring your vision for an event to life. Contact us for a consultation today or request a quote here. Conceivably, the next generation of high-end displays using AI will make life a lot easier for content developers by making the display parameters much more flexible.
Convertible Laptops/Tablets
Flexibility and speed are always appreciated in the event industry. That is exactly what you get from three of the top next-generation laptops introduced at CES this year. Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Yoga offers four ways to work:
Lenovo also offers a less expensive convertible laptop that operates more like a smartphone, “Always-on and Always Connected,” the Miix 630. For those where graphics and travel weight are important, Dell introduced the which has a 4k infinity display.
Wireless Charging
The broadest selection of Qi wireless charging products yet was on display at CES this year. The phone accessory business has invested heavily in product development since Apple released the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, both of which allow for Qi charging. Many android phones already had the capability. While most of the products shown at CES require the device to sit on top of a charging pad, there are companies designing products that project a device charge across a room, covering multiple devices at once – much in the same way Wi-Fi works. Wi-Charge, an Israeli-based start-up, received FDA approval last year for its product that uses infrared technology to enable full room wireless charging.
The Consumer Electronics Show has been a great indicator of where event technology will go next. While it may take time for these technologies to be deployed at events, many of them are available now. In the meantime, you can still create a captivating experience for your attendees using proven technology like video walls, and 4k and touchscreen displays. Our team of Project Managers and Solutions Architects can help bring your vision for an event to life. Contact us for a consultation today or request a quote here.
