The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is where manufacturers large and small reveal the latest technology in a hope to be the 'next big thing'. Reports suggest that Artificial Intelligence and HDR TVs are prevalent. Superficially, materialism and consumerism aren't going to have much to do with sustainability (and neither does Las Vegas!), but dig a little deeper, and one can see some real potential of technology being a sustainability enabler... Below there are sections on:
Vehicles and Mobility
The fact that several mainstream car manufacturers are choosing CES to launch their new innovations goes a log way to demonstrate some of the fundamental transformations that are happening to the industry:
BMW i Vision Future Interaction
The already desirable BMW i8 electric vehicle just got even better, with the roof removed in the gorgeous 'i Vision Future Interaction' concept (i.e. i8 Spyder). As a showcase for its autonomous driving and gesture controls, it's an eye on an all-electric future not too far away...
Faraday Future
Touted as a potential Tesla rival, Faraday Future have revealed their much anticipated all-electric supercar, the FFZERO1
Here's their inspiring teaser video, outlining their vision goes way beyond the traditional model of car ownership:
Ford
The expected announcement around a tie-up with Google hasn't happened (yet), but Ford did talk about their electric vehicle roadmap, suggesting they have more patents in the area than anyone else, and will bring 13 electric vehicles to the market by 2020.
They also announced a significant investment in its autonomous vehicle programme, with potential sustainability opportunities to support smart traffic management, reduced accidents (and therefore congestion), and vehicle sharing access models.
Volkswagen BUDD-e
With a desperate need to reposition itself with a robust sustainable future roadmap, VW have launched their BUDD-e - a futuristic reinterpretation of their iconic microbus. With 4WD, and all-electric powertrain, and estimated 233 mile range, its floor-mounted batteries can be charged to 80% within 30 minutes.
It remains to be seen whether this prototype, which is not dissimilar to their Bulli prototype revealed in 2012, can create the step-change shift required to win back customer loyalty.
Smart Cities
AT&T took the opportunity at CES to announce a major push into smart cities. Not only have they got strategic partnerships with Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, GE, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., but signed-up Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Why are smart cities important from a sustainability perspective? Well, quite simply with the population growth and migration to cities continuing unabated, unless cities find a way to manage traffic, air quality, water usage, building energy efficiency and waste minimisation, cities are going to become pretty unpleasant places to live. Or as Mike Zeto, General Manager of Smart Cities, AT&T IoT Solutions says more eloquently - “...Our holistic strategy can help cities save money, conserve energy, improve quality of life, and further engage with their citizens.”
Meanwhile, Panasonic has announced it has an agreement with Denver to provide its CityNOW proposition to support its transformation into a smart city.
Smart Home
The smart home has been the 'bread and butter' of science fiction for decades, but it's now very much reality. With a reliable, fast internet connection, and the prevalence of smart phones and tablets, smartphone control of the home is very accessible. Alongside security and entertainment, energy management (e.g. via smart LED lighting, internet-enabled thermostats, smart plugs, etc.) provides a real opportunity to optimise energy spend. Some manufacturers with new products are introduced below (in alphabetical order).
CastleOS voice-activated hub
Using Microsoft's Kinect microphone system, the CastleOS Hub provides voice-activated integration with a large number of other manufacturers' smart kit.
Elgato Eve
Providing integration with Apple Homekit, Elgato's Eve provides hardware and software to monitor "air quality, temperature, humidity, air pressure, energy consumption and more".
Honeywell Lyric
Honeywell have produced their own smart thermostat, with smartphone app, called Lyric.
They've obviously given their design teams something nice in the staff canteen, as the thermostat, and app look great. Water leak and freeze sensors are also available.
It's compatible with Apple Homekit and Samsung SmartThings.
iDevices
The connected home proposition from iDevices has been strengthen with some new devices (it already had switches and a thermostat in its lineup). The new devices, with Apple Homekit compatibility, are a wall socket, wall switch, dimmer switch and socket (for lights).
LG SmartThinQ™ Hub
Lowe's Iris
After recently announcing its next generation of Iris, at CES, Lowe's announced a professional security monitoring service for $20 per month, with cellular backup.
O2
O2 has announced it will be offering AT&T's 'Digital Life' platform and smart thermostat from tado° to its UK customers this year.
Panasonic ÔRA
Panasonic has introduced a flexible software platform, called ÔRA, aiming to provide smart-phone based control across a range of OS-agnostic devices to cover "lighting, heating, cameras, motion sensors and smart appliances".
Samsung
Just before CES, Samsung announced the inevitability that their TVs will be integrated into the SmartThings platform. Perhaps more interestingly, at CES they've now revealed a tie-in with BMW, so drivers can check-up on their smart home from the comfort of their seat (presumably whilst stopped!).
TP-LINK
TP-LINK have revealed their SR20 all-in-one router and IoT hub, controlling wi-fi, Zigbee and Z-wave wireless data.
Mobile Power
Finally, UK-based Intelligent Energy revealed some consumer electronics prototypes, powered by hydrogen fuel-cells.
All images © copyright respective manufacturers, unless otherwise stated.
Vehicles and Mobility
The fact that several mainstream car manufacturers are choosing CES to launch their new innovations goes a log way to demonstrate some of the fundamental transformations that are happening to the industry:
- Gas guzzling power to alternative powertrains
- Splendid isolation to reliable connectivity
- Car sales to mobility solutions
- Driving skills to relaxing autonomy
- Traffic congestion to smart traffic management
BMW i Vision Future Interaction
The already desirable BMW i8 electric vehicle just got even better, with the roof removed in the gorgeous 'i Vision Future Interaction' concept (i.e. i8 Spyder). As a showcase for its autonomous driving and gesture controls, it's an eye on an all-electric future not too far away...
Faraday Future
Touted as a potential Tesla rival, Faraday Future have revealed their much anticipated all-electric supercar, the FFZERO1
 |
| Faraday Future FFZERO1 |
Ford
The expected announcement around a tie-up with Google hasn't happened (yet), but Ford did talk about their electric vehicle roadmap, suggesting they have more patents in the area than anyone else, and will bring 13 electric vehicles to the market by 2020.
They also announced a significant investment in its autonomous vehicle programme, with potential sustainability opportunities to support smart traffic management, reduced accidents (and therefore congestion), and vehicle sharing access models.
 |
| Ford Fusion autonomous spatial mapping |
Volkswagen BUDD-e
With a desperate need to reposition itself with a robust sustainable future roadmap, VW have launched their BUDD-e - a futuristic reinterpretation of their iconic microbus. With 4WD, and all-electric powertrain, and estimated 233 mile range, its floor-mounted batteries can be charged to 80% within 30 minutes.
 |
| VW BUDD-e |
Smart Cities
AT&T took the opportunity at CES to announce a major push into smart cities. Not only have they got strategic partnerships with Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, GE, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., but signed-up Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Why are smart cities important from a sustainability perspective? Well, quite simply with the population growth and migration to cities continuing unabated, unless cities find a way to manage traffic, air quality, water usage, building energy efficiency and waste minimisation, cities are going to become pretty unpleasant places to live. Or as Mike Zeto, General Manager of Smart Cities, AT&T IoT Solutions says more eloquently - “...Our holistic strategy can help cities save money, conserve energy, improve quality of life, and further engage with their citizens.”
Meanwhile, Panasonic has announced it has an agreement with Denver to provide its CityNOW proposition to support its transformation into a smart city.
Smart Home
The smart home has been the 'bread and butter' of science fiction for decades, but it's now very much reality. With a reliable, fast internet connection, and the prevalence of smart phones and tablets, smartphone control of the home is very accessible. Alongside security and entertainment, energy management (e.g. via smart LED lighting, internet-enabled thermostats, smart plugs, etc.) provides a real opportunity to optimise energy spend. Some manufacturers with new products are introduced below (in alphabetical order).
CastleOS voice-activated hub
Using Microsoft's Kinect microphone system, the CastleOS Hub provides voice-activated integration with a large number of other manufacturers' smart kit.
Elgato Eve
Providing integration with Apple Homekit, Elgato's Eve provides hardware and software to monitor "air quality, temperature, humidity, air pressure, energy consumption and more".
 |
| Elgato Eve |
Honeywell Lyric
Honeywell have produced their own smart thermostat, with smartphone app, called Lyric.
 |
| Honeywell Lyric Thermostat |
They've obviously given their design teams something nice in the staff canteen, as the thermostat, and app look great. Water leak and freeze sensors are also available.
 |
| Honeywell Lyric App |
It's compatible with Apple Homekit and Samsung SmartThings.
iDevices
The connected home proposition from iDevices has been strengthen with some new devices (it already had switches and a thermostat in its lineup). The new devices, with Apple Homekit compatibility, are a wall socket, wall switch, dimmer switch and socket (for lights).
 |
| iDevices Connected Home |
LG SmartThinQ™ Hub
 |
| LG SmartThinQ™ Hub |
Lowe's Iris
After recently announcing its next generation of Iris, at CES, Lowe's announced a professional security monitoring service for $20 per month, with cellular backup.
O2
O2 has announced it will be offering AT&T's 'Digital Life' platform and smart thermostat from tado° to its UK customers this year.
Panasonic ÔRA
Panasonic has introduced a flexible software platform, called ÔRA, aiming to provide smart-phone based control across a range of OS-agnostic devices to cover "lighting, heating, cameras, motion sensors and smart appliances".
Samsung
Just before CES, Samsung announced the inevitability that their TVs will be integrated into the SmartThings platform. Perhaps more interestingly, at CES they've now revealed a tie-in with BMW, so drivers can check-up on their smart home from the comfort of their seat (presumably whilst stopped!).
TP-LINK
TP-LINK have revealed their SR20 all-in-one router and IoT hub, controlling wi-fi, Zigbee and Z-wave wireless data.
 |
| TP-LINK SR20 Smart Home Router |
Mobile Power
Finally, UK-based Intelligent Energy revealed some consumer electronics prototypes, powered by hydrogen fuel-cells.
 |
| Intelligent Energy Hydrogen Fuel-cell prototype |
All images © copyright respective manufacturers, unless otherwise stated.
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