CES 2012: New technologies unleashed at show
The first technologies have been unveiled at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Waterproof smartphone coatings, diet-aiding armbands and a
social network that warns drivers of the latest police speed-traps were
all on show.
Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer will present his company's last keynote at the three-day event. The firm's pullout has led several attendees to speculate if the trade show will be a smaller event in future. But if that is CES's fate you would not know it from the
throng of press, analysts, executives and PRs packed into a huge hotel
conference room for the first teaser event - CES Unveiled. Some 70 companies were selected to take part in the "sneak peek" preview ahead of the show's official launch.
Among them is Qooq - a French company that has designed a tablet computer for the kitchen. The Linux-based device is splash-proof, is held off the
ground by feet that allow spilled liquids to run underneath, and can
shrug off temperatures of up to 60C (140F).
CES's organiser, the US's Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), predicts more than 50 new tablets will be launched before the end of the week to take advantage of a rapidly growing market. Its analysis partner GFK Boutique Research has predicted 96 million of the touchscreen devices will be sold before the end of the year, a 65% rise on 2011. The CEA said it also expects between 30 to 50 new ultrabooks to be unveiled at this year's event.
The Chinese computer maker, Lenovo, used the Unveiled event to show off its first take on what it terms a "business class, commercial grade" slimmed down laptop - the ThinkPad T430u. Users can choose to buy the 14in (35.5cm) computer with an added NVIDIA graphics card and a relatively large 1TB rotating hard disk drive.
The CES show is far from being just about new types of computer. In
fact much of the technology is based on mixing smartphone apps with
other technologies. One example is Bodymedia which is showing off the latest version of its health monitoring system. Its armband uses sensors to collect 5,000 bits of data about
the user's body every minute. They are used to calculate activity
levels, calories burned and how well its owner is sleeping at night -
all of which can be monitored through a smartphone app. Its developers
say the aim is to help people lose weight rather than become
hypochondriacs.
Sculpteo has also unveiled what it claims is the first ever app to turn the shape of a human face into a 3D printed object. The software is used to take a photo of the profile of a person's face. The image is then used to create ceramic objects such as a vase, whose contours mimic the shape of the person's face. The firm will then manufacture and deliver the object if the user wishes to purchase it.
Perhaps a bit more practical is Escort Live - a social network for motorists, which provides speed trap alerts. The app communicates via Bluetooth with Escort's existing detectors to record sites where speed cameras have been installed or there are police officers using laser guns or radar equipment.
Read the full story at BBC Technology